WORKING with Keep Wales Tidy, volunteers from Chepstow Rugby Club are placing posters and being armed with environmentally-friendly chalk based marker spray to literally highlight dog poo around their fields to draw attention to the problem created by irresponsible owners.

35 dog poos were highlighted on and around the pitch on the first round.

The rugby club are very tired of continually finding dog mess around and on their pitches, needing to make a clearing sweep each time they use them.

Aside from the sheer unpleasant- ness of having to remove often rain softened dog mess, they are extremely concerned about being able to guarantee a playable and safe pitch for train- ing and games.

Chepstow RFC appeals to the dog owning public to please pick up after their pet.

People are to be reminded that dog poo bins are provided in the community and that it is also acceptable to place bagged dog poo in a litter bin.

The rugby club is very grateful to the vast majority of dog owners who make the right decision by taking plenty of dog bags out on their walks, picking up after their dog and dispos- ing of it in a public bin or taking it home. People should remember too that it is an offence not to pick up after your dog.

Despite an overall improvement in dog fouling on the streets of Wales, according to the All Wales cleanliness survey (LEAMS) 2014, it still remains a serious and dangerous problem for many neighbourhoods in Wales.

Apart from dog poo carrying harmful bugs which can lead to infection, asthma and even blindness, all sorts of worm and bacteria can live in soil long after the dog mess has wasted away.