The mum of a toddler who almost lost an eye when she wiped dog dirt in it has welcomed news that more dog owners are cleaning up after their pets.
Amiee Langdon, two, caught a rare infection after she fell in a gated children’s area in Platt Fields Park in Fallowfield.
Doctors said her left eye would have to be taken out if antibiotics failed to clear the problem, but the tot made a miraculous recovery.
Mum Suzanne has welcomed news that dog fouling in Manchester is down almost a quarter since this time last year.
A report to Manchester council shows that reports of dog mess was at an all-time high last year – with an average of 85 reports per month.
But after the publicity surrounding Amiee’s case, the number of incidents has plummeted to just 63 per month.
Suzanne, of Driffield Street, Rusholme, said it was excellent news.
She said: "It’s great that people are starting to get the message that dog fouling is unacceptable.
"We have worked really hard to raise awareness that it’s actually very dangerous and we’ve set up a Facebook campaign to get the message out there.
"It really is just laziness – people should pick up after their dogs."
Amiee was playing in the park when she put her hand into dog mess and wiped her eye.
Hospital tests confirmed toxocariasis, an infection which is spread by dog dirt. It resulted in optical lobe cellulosis, a potentially deadly infection that could spread to the brain and lead to blindness and even death if not treated within 72 hours.
Amiee responded well to treatment at Manchester Royal Infirmary, but will be left with permanent scarring and will be 75 per cent blind.
Suzanne, a nurse, said: "Amiee’s doing a lot better now. She’s back on track now, she lost over a stone when her body was fighting the infection but she's starting to put weight back on again and she’s doing brilliantly."
Manchester council has also launched a crackdown on stray dogs, and seized 117 strays this year alone.
The area with the highest incidents of dog fouling was Old Moat in south Manchester, with 27 reports since April, followed by Moston with 26.
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Well done Suzanne for bringing this to the publics attention.
Evident that your story impacted on others to be more responsible.
It is also fantastic that Aimee is better. I am often in Platt Fields and have noticed that
it is much more cleaner of Dog dirt.
"Dog mess" is such a childish term.
I'm pleased some dog owners have heeded the clean-up call, but there are still far too many - try walking around Lidgate Grove/Evans Close/Springdale Gardens in Didsbury - who flout the law, indicating the message isn't getting through around here.
The cold, dark nights and mornings are the worst; the dog-walkers wrap themselves up in various disguises, then skulk around, abandoning their dog's deposits behind them.
But here's a question... how do you intend making your pet unrecognisable?
So think on, next time you see that camera flash on your nocturnal poop-runs - and some of you have - do you really want to go to court for the sake of not carrying a couple of plastic bags with you?