TO the inconsiderate dog owner who allowed their dog to foul in the children’s play area at Marbury Country Park on the morning of Monday, June 16 – thank you for ruining my walk, my day and my sandals.

I had just spent a lovely morning with my two children, aged four and two, strolling through the woods in the park, feeding the ducks and testing my eldest daughter’s new birthday scooter.

We finished our walk with a quick visit to the playground, when on entering the children’s area my buggy and my foot met with a huge pile of fresh, stinking dog muck.

My child’s buggy was covered in it and I was wearing open sandals.

Can you imagine my horror?

I am guessing you can’t, otherwise you would not have been so selfish as to allow this to happen.

Firstly, Mr or Mrs Dog Owner – dogs are not allowed in the children’s area.

Did you not see the signs?

Secondly, even if you had not been aware that dogs were not allowed in this area, did you not think it would be appropriate to clean up after yourself?

Clearly not.

While you may think that your pooch is the most precious thing ever, I beg to differ. My children’s eyesight is.

Did you know that contact with dog faeces can lead to toxocariasis, a human infestation which still causes partial blindness in up to 100 children every year?

Less dramatic than this, spending an afternoon scraping it from buggy wheels is not a pleasant task.

So next time you allow your dog to defecate in a public place, spare a thought for others, be a decent human being and clean up after yourself.

Much obliged.

C Baylis Hartford