Litter pickers find dead dog by roadside
A dead dog was found on the B863 roadside during a clean-up run by Kinlochleven Community Council.
A group of 30 people spent their Saturday cleaning up rubbish from the high and low roads beside Loch Leven on October 12.
They were shocked and saddened to find a dead dog in a black bin bag, thoughtlessly tossed over the bank beside the road.
Chairwoman of Kinlochleven Community Council Yvonne Rosie said: ‘An awful amount of rubbish and larger objects were dumped in this beautiful part of the world, even the remains of a dead dog in a black bin liner. Shocking, disturbing and so unnecessary.
Shocking
‘What kind of person does this is beyond my comprehension.’
The SSPCA told the Lochaber Times that when a deceased animal is found the police or local council should be contacted to investigate the incident.
Scottish SPCA chief superintendent Mike Flynn said, ‘We are sorry to hear about the death of the dog.
‘If anyone suspects an animal welfare concern, they should contact our confidential animal helpline on 03000 999 999.’
Among the piles of rubbish collected were copious amounts of empty alcohol bottles and drink cans, along with a bag of human excrement.
Volunteers were unable to safely dispose of some discarded car parts and even a couple of white goods, tipped down the bank of the high road.
Ms Rosie is appealing to people to be proactive about cleaning up the road verges throughout the year, but the community is planning an early spring clean of the sections it was not able to get this time around.
Councillor and Kinlochleven resident Andrew Baxter praised the work of the volunteers.
He said: ‘Our community is going from strength to strength at the moment and this clean-up demonstrates what can be done when the whole village works together.
‘However, I am both saddened and angered by some of the things that were unearthed. The thought that someone could dump a dead dog in this way is sickening. And I am particularly annoyed that within a few hours of this amazing effort it is spoiled by those selfish idiots dumping their fastfood rubbish in lay-bys close to the village. They should be ashamed.’
And in a great display of community spirit volunteers were welcomed back to the village on Saturday with bacon rolls, home-baking and hot drinks.
If anyone wants to volunteer for the next clean-up then they can stay up to date with the Kinlochleven Community Council on its Facebook page.