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Herne Bay mum’s call for crackdown after cancer-battling toddler falls in pile of dog poo

A disgusted mum-of-two is calling for a crackdown on dog fouling after her cancer-battling toddler fell into a pile of poo.

Kelly Williams was walking along Beacon Hill in Herne Bay with a friend when her son Logan took a tumble.

Kelly Williams with her one-year-old son, Logan
Kelly Williams with her one-year-old son, Logan

When he rose to his feet she saw the one-year-old had landed in dog mess and had it on his hand and arm.

The teaching assistant said: “Logan was walking off with his brother and they were in the grass bit when he fell over straight into it.

“He fell right on top of this disgusting amount of dog mess – it was awful.

“He got it on his hands, front and up his arm – there was loads of it.”

Little Logan was diagnosed with neuroblastoma in August 2018 after he was rushed to hospital with a distended stomach and black marks on his eyes.

Following a course of chemotherapy, the 35-year-old was told that recent results show the tumour has shrunk.

But immediately after his fall, she grabbed the toddler and stripped him of his soiled clothing in order to prevent it from affecting his fragile immune system.

“It was lucky I grabbed him straight away to get it off,” she added.

“I had to strip him down and wrap him in my scarf to get him home.

“It’s not the nicest thing for any child; but he’s still more vulnerable than your average child.

“His immune system is getting there, but he still has to fight that little bit harder against things.”

"We are absolutely disgusted by the actions of the lazy and selfish dog owner who did not clean up after their pet..."

Following the incident on Saturday, February 1, Ms Williams is calling for tougher sanctions to be imposed on those who fail to clear up after their dogs.

She says it is a scourge across the town, with the streets surrounding Herne Bay Infant and Herne Bay Junior schools among the worst-hit.

“It seems like there are lots of threats and warnings, but there don’t seem to be any consequences,” she explained.

“That’s why it happens; people just don’t care.”

Canterbury City Council spokesman Rob Davies says in order to fine dog owners they need to be caught in the act of not picking up mess left by pooches.

But people “tend to behave” when enforcement officers are present.

Council spokesman Rob Davies says dog owners need to be caught in the act to be fined
Council spokesman Rob Davies says dog owners need to be caught in the act to be fined

The council is urging people to report hot spots so the authority can “take direct action”.

He added: “Just like Ms Williams, we are absolutely disgusted by the actions of the lazy and selfish dog owner who did not clean up after their pet.

"All it needed was a few seconds and a dog poo bag and this whole incident would have been avoided.

“The vast majority of dog owners behave responsibly, carry dog poo bags with them and do the right thing by picking up the poo.

“Those that do not need to take a good look at themselves in the mirror and ask why they behave in such an irresponsible way.

“We would urge owners to make sure they take enough bags with them and also remind them that dog poo bags can go in normal litter bins.”

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