A man living next to a feral rat colony says the situation is so bad, the rodents killed his show pigeons and granddaughter’s pet rabbit.
Scot Allan McWilliams reckons he’s caught “easily over 100 rats” in the last year, that live in fly-tipped rubbish near his home.
He says East Renfrewshire Council in Strathclyde has told him they won’t get rid of the rats, unless he “disposes” of his prized birds.
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However the 60-year-old argues the rodents, which live and breed in the rubbish-riddled area directly behind his back garden, were there long before his pigeons.
(Image: Newsquest / SWNS)
Allan moved into his council home in Barrhead around two years ago and says council workers have laid down poison twice in effort to illuminate the infestation.
When Allen moved his pigeon hut into his garden around a year after moving in, the rodents invaded the hut and killed several birds. Allan has since spent £1,000 “rat-proofing” the hutch.
He said: “They killed the babies, and they stole all my pigeons’ eggs. Then they started on the parents.
“My pigeons to me are my life, all I’ve got is my family and my pigeons so it’s not very nice. I was breaking my heart at the carnage.
(Image: Newsquest / SWNS)
“Every time I go to the hut, I get a cold feeling expecting more pigeons to be dead.
The rats also attacked and killed Allen’s granddaughter’s rabbit after they made a hole in its hutch.
“The wean went out to get her rabbit, breaking her heart, and from that day I’ve been fighting the council,” Allan said.
“She was screaming so from that day, that’s how I’ve not let up. I had to fling all her toys out too because they were stinking of rat pee.”
Allan said the council’s ultimatum is “bullying” in his eyes, adding: “Who do they think they are?
(Image: Newsquest / SWNS)
“My pigeon hut was in storage and before I could bring it anywhere near this garden, I had the council out twice to put poison down.
“They also took my neighbour’s hut away because that became infested. The rats are there constantly.”
The grandpa added that while he doesn’t see the rats during the day, the rats are persistently active at night.
He said: ”You can hear them squeaking and fighting with each other.
(Image: Newsquest / SWNS)
“Every address I’ve stayed at I’ve had a pigeon hut and there’s never been a problem, ever. I told [the council] ‘Don’t go there with my pigeons, it’s a waste of time’.”
Allan’s mate, Stuart Henry, 55, has been helping Allan with his fight with the council. He said: “The situation really affects Allan badly.
“Two people from the council came out and are blaming the pigeon hut.
“It’s this area out the back that’s causing problems. One of Allan’s pals does pest control and he told us there’s a harbourage of rats.
Allan said while the rubbish has been there for years, no new rubbish has been added since he moved in. The council sent Allan a letter stating it was not in a position to dispose of the rubbish because the high cost involved and it does not consider that it “constitutes a major problem”.
A council spokesperson said: “We’re aware of the issues Mr McWilliams is experiencing at his property and are working with him to find an amicable solution.”
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