Rugby player’s injury highlights dog mess row
SELFEMPLOYED builder Wayne Richards is in a desperately difficult situation.
The 30-year-old is going to be unable to work for the next six to nine months after breaking his leg badly in two places during a rugby game on a public playing field.
Yet his situation could have been far worse. A photograph of his broken leg, with his rugby sock appearing to be smeared in dog’s mess, was shared and debated widely on Twitter after his injury.
The man who tweeted it had written: “Compound fracture and dog s*** don’t mix!”
Top Welsh rugby referee Nigel Owens replied, tweeting his support for the councils and clubs trying to ban dogs from their playing fields, replying: “Agree 100%. No need to walk them on the actual field, walk around and clean up the mess after.”
Although he now faces a difficult time, Mr Richards’ good luck was that whatever was on his sock did not cause an infection in his leg. Doctors told him that had there been an infection, his leg could have had to be amputated.
Yet he described the fear that gripped him as he lay on the pitch.
“When I collided everyone heard the bone snap and I was worried straight away. Everyone was worried dog mess had got in and there was a strong chance of infection as it was an open fracture,” he said.
“I felt faint and couldn’t remember much, but both teams stopped and the referee called off the game straight away and the ambulance.”
The winger was playing for Penygroes RFC away against Ammanford RFC in a friendly.
“People were saying I may have to have my leg amputated if it had caught an infection, that was worrying. On the way to the hospital I was worried as the paramedics weren’t sure what had gone into my leg. It was only when we got to the hospital and they had done their scans we found out there was no dog mess.
“The doctors told me I was lucky as if there was an infection, my leg could have been amputated.”
Even though Wayne was lucky that whatever called was on his leg did not cause an infection, it has still played into the row about how councils should stop dog owners allowing their pets to foul on playing fields.
Club secretary Neil Armstrong, from Penygroes, says they have had long standing issues with “irresponsible” dog owners.
“We are always telling dog owners to keep their dogs off the pitch as there has been a long issue. Most dog owners understand but some are irresponsible.”
Mr Richards added: “I have two dogs myself, I absolutely love dogs, but letting them loose on park pitches is dangerous.”
Penygroes councillor Dai Thomas says the council are considering putting signs up to warn dog owners.
Carmarthenshire Council’s executive board member for public protection, councillor Philip Hughes, said: “The majority of dog owners clear up after them, however, there are a minority that show total disregard to their communities and it is totally unacceptable.
“We will continue to use our powers to fine anyone who is caught, in person or through information linked to CCTV footage, not cleaning up after their dog.”