DOG poo certainly hit the proverbial fan this week, when an irate and heavily pregnant Tavistock mum had to once again clear up the latest mess left by an irresponsible dog owner.

Mia Alaoui, who lives in Bannawell Street, is so disgusted by the anti-social thoughtlessness of a minority of dog owners who allow their pets to mess without clearing up after them, that she has started a 'one-woman' campaign to highlight its consequences and public health dangers.

She and her husband Paul are going to the drastic action of installing CCTV at their home to catch the persistent offender 'in action', so they can be prosecuted and 'named and shamed'.

Mia, aged 37, has even tied a sign on her gate with a picture and details of a little girl who was blinded, after her eyes became infected through dog faeces.

She told the Times: 'Don't people realise that dumping dog poo on the street can have serious health and safety implications? One doctor has said that blindness from dog faeces would be the least of a person's problems because there is still the danger of brain damage.'

Mia is about to give birth in a few weeks time and has a daughter, Dibeh, just twoand a half years-old. She is seriously worried that either her unborn child or Dibeh, could be in danger from infection.

She said: 'This morning some idiot allowed their dog to mess outside our gate. It had been stepped in and walked all up the path by the time our builder notified me that it was there.

'I had to leave my toddler in front of the TV and check on her every time I filled my bucket with hot water and bleach to wash it all down.

'In the last few weeks I have walked it into my car and my home and as a result have thrown away a new and purpose-made door mat.

'On Boxing Day my daughter tripped up, landed in some and had it on her tights and in the Velcro of her shoes. I threw the shoes away as I was worried that there may be traces left in them, and as she insists on putting her own shoes on I could not take the risk.

'Yesterday was my first day on maternity leave —I am due in three weeks and don't feel that anyone should clean up after another person's dog — let alone a heavily pregnant woman with a toddler!'

So exasperated and angry was her husband that he said if he ever finds them 'in the act' then he would happily pick up the poo and put it through the culprit's letterbox.

Mia has been working with children for almost 20 years and runs a children's events business, including a musical class for children in Tavistock.

She regularly sees around 40 fellow mums and she said they are as fed up as her with the problem of dog mess in Tavistock.

'There are mums I know who will not walk up the path to St Peter's School because it is littered with dog mess,' she said.

'They are afraid of their children stepping in it or the wheels of their buggies being covered in poo. Now they take their children instead by car to school.'

Mrs Alaoui insists she is not anti-dog, and acknowledges that it is only a minority of dog owners who do not clear up properly after their pet.

'I love dogs. I would love one myself if I had the time to look after it properly so this is a double whammy to me as not only can I not have a dog but I find myself having to clean up after other people's pets. My message is simple. If you cannot clean up after your dog, then don't have one!

'If that picture of that poor little girl who was blinded by dog faeces won't make those irresponsible owners pick up after their pets, then I don't know what will!'