Rugby Player Hospitalized Due to Infection from Dog Fouling
An amateur rugby player has called for a ban on dogs from local sports pitches after he was hospitalized following an infection caused by falling in dog faeces during a match.
Adam Lang, 28, who plays for Tondu RFC in Bridgend, did not initially realize that a cut sustained during the game had become infected until he experienced severe pain in his arm after the match.
"It's been very tough mentally. Staying in hospital is never a nice thing to have to do but the support of the club, team mates, family and work colleagues has helped massively,"Lang said.
He described the issue as one players
"shouldn't have to deal with"and noted that the incident remains a concern for him after the infection spread, necessitating more than 24 hours of hospital care.
Bridgend council is currently considering measures to ban dogs from marked sports pitches throughout the county borough in response to such incidents.
Details of the Incident
Lang was playing in the second-row position for Tondu RFC on Saturday 14 February during a match against Crymych from Pembrokeshire when the incident occurred.
He recalled falling from a line-out and cutting his elbow during the game.
Although he received treatment from the team's physiotherapist at half-time, Lang was unaware that the cut had become infected until he noticed swelling and increasing pain while working a night shift later that evening.
He sought medical attention at an Accident & Emergency department the following day, where he was prescribed antibiotics. However, the infection progressed to his hand.
The condition worsened, leading to his admission to the Royal Glamorgan Hospital, where he was administered a course of intensive intravenous antibiotics. Medical staff indicated that the infection was most likely caused by contact with dog faeces.
Club and Council Responses
Graham Thomas, chairman of Tondu RFC, acknowledged ongoing issues with dog faeces on their pitches at Pandy Park.
"It's really frustrating when it happens. This has happened before but not for a while,"Thomas said.
He emphasized that while the majority of dog walkers are responsible,
"it only takes that 1% to give every dog walker a bad name."
Thomas expressed his support for Bridgend council to implement a ban on dogs from marked pitches, similar to policies adopted by other local authorities in Wales.
"It's something that should be mandatory if adults and children train there practically daily. Why should dogs be allowed to run around on the pitches? Pandy Park is a big place with plenty of space for everyone,"he added.
Several local councils, including Rhondda Cynon Taf and Caerphilly, have already introduced Public Spaces Protection Orders prohibiting dogs from play areas and marked sports pitches within their boroughs.
A spokesperson for Bridgend council confirmed that a report has been requested to explore the possibility of banning dogs from marked sports pitches across the county borough.
The council encourages members of the public to report any instances of dog fouling via a form available on their website.
They further stated that the
"small minority"of dog owners who do not clean up after their pets should
"consider the serious impact their actions can have on other members of the public."
