Dog Waste and Surrey Farms

Picture this: you’re out for a peaceful walk in the Surrey countryside, enjoying the open spaces with your dog. It’s easy to see why so many of us love escaping to these beautiful landscapes, especially over the last few years. But while the countryside is a fantastic place to relax, it’s also a working landscape for many farmers—and an unexpected problem is on the rise: dog waste. What may seem like a small oversight can cause big problems for farmers and their livestock.

Many people don’t realize that dog waste left on farmland can have devastating effects on livestock. Mark Frost, a tenant farmer in Surrey’s Norbury Park, has experienced this firsthand. Over the past year, he’s seen a surge in cases of Neospora, a parasite that can infect cows and cause miscarriages or serious health problems for their calves. For farmers like Mark, these consequences are not just emotional—they’re financially crippling.

What’s the Big Deal with Dog Waste?

It might sound dramatic, but dog waste can be a real danger to cows. Even if your dog looks and seems perfectly healthy, it can still carry Neospora, a parasite that isn’t harmful to dogs but poses a significant risk to cattle. This parasite can find its way into dog waste and, if left in fields, it can be picked up by cows either directly when grazing or indirectly through feed harvested from the grass.

The infection can be heartbreaking for farmers because it’s often only detected after serious damage has been done. The disease can cause cows to miscarry their calves or lead to calves being born with debilitating neurological issues. Farmers have to deal with the loss of these animals as well as the ongoing stress and cost of keeping their remaining herd safe.

How Neospora is Affecting Surrey Farms

Mark Frost’s farm has always dealt with some cases of Neospora, especially with more people bringing dogs onto countryside paths. But the recent surge in countryside visitors has pushed things to a new level. “Because of public access, we’ve always had a few cases,” Mark explains, “but we’re now up to a quarter of the herd infected. This has been the worst year by far.”

To put this in perspective, Mark estimates that Neospora now costs his farm between £7,000 and £8,000 each year. “My father has been farming here for 42 years, and this is the most worrying time we’ve seen,” he says. For a small family farm, the impact is huge. “If this carries on, we could get to the point where we can’t carry on,” Mark adds. The farm is at risk, and the frustration comes from knowing that a big part of the problem could be prevented if visitors took a bit more care.

The Hidden Danger: Contaminated Feed

One of the biggest issues is that the impact of dog waste doesn’t go away when people leave. Grass fields contaminated with dog waste can stay dangerous long after the waste has been left there. Farmers cut and store grass as feed, which means contaminated grass could be stored and fed to cattle months later, putting the herd at risk long after dog walkers have come and gone.

Unlike other types of litter that are visually obvious, dog waste is often less noticeable once it’s left behind. This hidden danger makes it particularly hard for farmers to manage, especially in areas where cattle graze freely.

A Call to Dog Owners: Clean Up, Every Time

For Mark and other farmers, the plea to dog owners is straightforward: clean up after your dog. The countryside is for everyone, and it’s great to see people out enjoying it, but it’s also a shared space with unique risks and responsibilities. Picking up after your dog isn’t just about keeping paths clean; it’s about protecting the livelihoods of those who work the land and the well-being of animals who call it home.

As Steve Mitchell from Surrey County Council’s Countryside Access and Operations team puts it, “Please come to Surrey’s wonderful countryside, but please respect it and understand the implications of what you might do. Minimize the impact of your visit, and particularly, take your dog waste home.”

How You Can Help Protect Surrey’s Countryside

Keeping Surrey’s countryside safe is easy when we all do our part. Here are a few practical steps for dog owners that can make a big difference:

1. Carry Bags and Use Them – Bring more than enough waste bags with you. Some areas don’t have bins nearby, so be prepared to carry the waste out if needed.

2. Stick to Designated Paths – Staying on marked trails can reduce the risk of contaminating fields where cattle graze. It’s also safer for you and your dog to avoid wandering into areas designated for farming.

3. Know the Risks, Even if Your Dog is Healthy – Even the healthiest dogs can carry Neospora. By cleaning up after your dog every time, you’re helping prevent the spread of this parasite to cattle.

4. Be a Role Model – If you notice other dog owners not picking up after their pets, consider politely mentioning the impact it can have on local farms. A little education can go a long way in encouraging responsible behavior.

5. Support Local Farmers – Share information on the impact of dog waste with others. The more people understand, the more likely they are to be mindful on their next walk.

   
   
   
   

Why Your Actions Matter

The countryside is a shared space where people, animals, and livelihoods intersect. For farmers like Mark Frost, their work is more than just a job—it’s a way of life that’s under threat because of preventable issues. By taking a few extra steps to pick up after our dogs, we can help preserve this way of life and protect the animals that are central to it.

Visiting the countryside is a privilege, but with it comes responsibility. Respecting the land, cleaning up after pets, and understanding the hidden impacts of our actions can make a huge difference. So next time you head out for a walk, remember that a little extra care goes a long way in keeping our countryside safe and sustainable for everyone.

In the words of Mark Frost, “If this carries on, we could get to the point where we can’t carry on.” Let’s all do our part to make sure it doesn’t come to that.