Residents were horrified when a rotting sheep carcass lay on a Fife beach for two weeks despite pleas for it to be removed.
The dead animal on Anstruther’s Castle Street beach was reported to police and Fife Council a fortnight ago, amid concerns for the health of children or dogs if they touched it.
Initially there was confusion about whose responsibility it was to dispose of the remains.
Once the council established the job fell under its remit, officers were initially unable to locate the decaying animal, which washed in and out with the tide.
Christine Keays, who first reported it, said: “We were concerned it took so long to deal with it.
“Would it have taken that long if it had been a cow?”
Someone had been seen allowing their dog to sniff at the remains and people were worried that children might touch it.
Christine said: “You really wouldn’t want people to be poking around at a dead animal.”
It is thought the sheep may have been washed down the Dreel Burn during heavy rainfall a couple of weeks ago, as it was first spotted near where the burns meets the beach on January 3.
At that point its fleece was intact but by the time it was removed on Wednesday, its wool was gone and the mushy carcass was beginning to fall to pieces.
East Neuk and Landward councillor Bill Porteous stepped in to try to get the issue resolved.
He said: “First of all they had to establish who would deal with it then they had problems locating it, and it was all too lengthy for everyone.
“People were concerned about the health implications.”
John Haskell, the council’s parks, streets and open spaces team manager said: “We were alerted to this on Friday but it has taken until today to locate the remains of the sheep carcass because of it being moved around by tidal flow.
“It has now been removed from the beach and disposed of accordingly.
“We reported the incident to SEPA.”
