A DORCVHESTER area rural police officer has posted a warning on social media to residents whose dogs' defecation is making local cows ill!

The message, posted on the town's community policing website, says: "Whilst on patrol in some of my rural villages today I was told of a farmer who had some poorly cattle due to ingesting dog poo.

"This had not been picked up by its owner and was in the grass the cattle were eating.

"Dog poo can be seriously harmful to livestock due to toxins and parasites which can ultimately lead to the animal having to be put to sleep.

"This is not only distressing to the animal and farmer, it is also costly.

"Dog poo can also be very dangerous to humans especially children so please be a responsible dog owner, keep your dog in sight at all times and pick up after it has done a poo ."