IRRESPONSIBLE dog owners have been slammed by several of the region's sports administrators.
Football and rugby pitches in Newtown, Welshpool and Llandrindod Wells, among Powys' most populous towns, have suffered an increase in dog fouling.
Football Association of Wales Trust development officer Tim Broome insisted the time had come to “name and shame” dog owners who allow their pets to foul on scarce recreation land.
Broome said: “I hate seeing dogs walking and fouling on the football pitches. I would support anything that would deter irresponsible owners.
“Football pitches and recreational land for children’s sport are in short supply in the area and I find it unacceptable that people allow dogs to foul on these areas.
“Volunteers that help run children’s teams should not need to carry a poop-scoop in order to clear a pitch before allowing teams to play and worry about children falling into dog mess.
“Football is helping to achieve a healthier county and encourage more children to play outside.”
Mid and North Powys Junior Football League chairman Vaughan Harding agreed the problem of dog mess on sports pitches in the area is a growing problem.
“Newtown, Welshpool and Llandrindod Wells have a particular problem,” said Harding. “At Welshpool Juniors we are extremely fortunate that we have a group of volunteers who clear up after other people’s dogs but it is a situation we have to self police.
“It is not right that people have to clean up for irresponsible dog owners, I have got to the point where I take a shovel with me to training.
“There are signs up asking people to clean up after their dogs and at Welshpool’s ground on Salop Road there is also a dog waste bin nearby so there are no excuses. At the end of the day it is a health risk to hundreds of children and these irresponsible people should be named and shamed.”
Newtown Rugby Club’s Recreation Ground has also experienced an increase in the problem to prompt spokesman Alan Owen to call for a change in behaviour.
“It is a lack of respect for the people who tend the pitches and also to those who use it,” said Owen. “It is a growing problem and as far as I’m concerned there is no excuse.”