Residents’ concerns over fox attacks
Vicki Toner with one of her cherished pet cats
DISORDER in Seafar has been well-documented of late - but one rogue element has four legs instead of two.
We understand that a fox which darts in from surrounding woodland has savaged a number of local pets, leaving them bloodied and battered after a stealthily mounted onslaught
The News and Chronicle has been contacted by a number of concerned pet owners who are keeping cats and dogs under lock and key amid fears their treasured animal compaions will be killed.
There are even worries that a child could be targeted – with calls for animal welfare officers to take the fox away.
Vicki Toner (44) is afraid to allow her two beloved tabby cats Ziggy and Marley out her house in Braeface Road. According to Vicki, the fox is actually a long-time resident of the area as it seeks out nearby woodland that borders so much of Seafar - and is wreaking havoc on a daily basis.
“There’s no way I am letting my two cats outside when this fox is prowling about - I just can’t take that risk,” said Vicki who also fears that a child might be attacked. “I asked North Lanarkshire Council if they could do something about this but apparently they don’t deal with foxes and when I phoned the Scottish SPCA they weren’t very helpful either.
“They refused to remove it and it’s got to the point that you don’t know what to do. Everyone here with a pet is terrified.”
The Scottish SPCA confirmed that they were not willing to take the fox away from the neighbourhood - for a good reason for that. Scottish SPCA chief superintendent Mike Flynn said: “We have received a call to our animal helpline reporting that a fox in the Cumbernauld area has attacked a number of pets.
“Our advice is that anyone with small animals kept outdoors should keep them secure in a hutch overnight.
“Unless this fox is sick or injured, we would not disturb a wild animal by removing it from the area.
“The urban fox is a common visitor to gardens, particularly if there is food present. We recommend people don’t encourage foxes by leaving food out for them and ensure rubbish is kept in a bin.”
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Weather for Cumbernauld
Saturday 25 May 2013
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 7 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 10 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: South west
