Council members stunned by online abuse

COMMUNITY council members have been subjected to threats and abuse after warning pet owners to protect their animals from foxes.

Buckhaven and Denbeath Community Council was stunned by the backlash to its Facebook post alerting people to the fact that less traffic during lockdown had led to wildlife entering the town.

The group was later forced to update its post to explain it does not condone “any violence or cruelty towards any animal” following a number of “horrendous” messages from animal rights protesters.

Members were accused of demonising foxes and inciting violence towards them after urging locals not to approach or feed the animals and to dispose of household waste correctly.

The original post said: “They may look pretty. However, household pets are at risk.

“If you have rabbits, guinea pigs and or any other small animals i n your garden, please take extra measures to keep them safe and please be extra vigilant.”

The following day, the community council revealed it had received private messages from people demanding the post’s removal or it would be reported to animal rights groups.

“Some of our members are also getting private, threatening messages about it, which is unacceptable,” they said.

The council said it could not believe it was having to explain t he intent behind the original post.

The abuse has been condemned by Labour councillor Ryan Smart, who said the community council had simply been doing a public service by warning people to be on their guard.

“The community council was doing its job,” he said. “It has a duty to represent the needs and interests of people in Buckhaven and all it was saying was to keep an eye out.

“There was no malice behind it and it’s a shame the animal rights activists who provoked this haven’t seen it from that point of view.”

THE BBC has unveiled which classic Eurovision performances will feature in a one-off special celebrating the competition.

Acts from different decades including Abba, Katrina And The Waves and Bucks Fizz (pictured) will feature in the programme Eurovision: Come Together.

Swedish band Abba’s 1974 performance of Waterloo will be broadcast.

UK entries Making Your Mind Up by Bucks Fizz, from 1981, and Love Shine A Light by Katrina And The Waves, from 1997, will also be shown.

DOG ow ners bel ieve would-be snatchers may be posing as workmen and targeting pets in the area.

St Mary’s resident Mandy Milne contacted the police after two separate incidents involving two men in a white transit van asking questions about local dogs.

Mandy, who has lived in the area for 28 years, said she was “alarmed” enough to report them to the authorities.

The pet lover, who has a West Highland terrier and a Newfoundland, was approached on two occasions.

After hearing that other people in the area and in Ardler had similar experiences, she decided to alert police.

She said: “There were incidents on St Fillans Road and St Kilda Road where the same van was involved – the same driver but a different passenger.

“The passenger asked me what breed my Newfoundland was as he was thinking of buying one.

“I immediately thought that if you’re looking to buy one, surely you’d know the breed?