Latest news with #previousowner
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Yahoo
Spud the dog found abandoned in crate with heart-wrenching note
A heart-wrenching tale has emerged of an abandoned dog, believed to be a Staffordshire Bull Terrier cross named Spud, found in a crate with a note from its previous owner. Spud was discovered on 29 July, left alone in a crate in the Wirral, Merseyside. The four or five-year-old pooch was accompanied by a note from his former owner, expressing their inability to provide him with the home he deserved. The note described Spud as a "really loving house dog" but confessed that they were unable to "give him the life he deserves". The previous owners also revealed their unsuccessful attempts to re-home Spud over several weeks and apologised for "for resorting to this". READ MORE: Prisoner held hand of Gooch gang boss Lee Amos as he clutched chest in agony behind bars, inquest into his death hears READ MORE: Man, 19, rushed to hospital after suspected stabbing near Greater Manchester tram stop Following Spud's discovery, kind-hearted individuals took him to Jackson's Animal Rescue. Upon arrival, it was found that Spud was suffering from fur loss and claws growing into his pads. Despite being microchipped, the device was not functioning. Spud has since been fostered by a vet to aid his recovery, reports the Mirror. Lucy Welch, an Animal Rescue Officer at the RSPCA's Greater Manchester Animal Hospital, shared her impressions of Spud, highlighting his sweet nature despite his unfortunate past. She stated: "Spud is a lovely, gentle natured dog. All he wanted to do was sit on my lap and have a cuddle and be showered with affection. He was very polite to the other dogs he saw at the hospital and walked really nicely on a lead when I took him to my van. "His overgrown claws are an indication he'd probably not had enough exercise. They were growing into his pads which were red and sore - possibly from urine staining - and he would have been left feeling very uncomfortable. "I'd like to say a huge thank you to the person who found Spud and took him to a place of safety, to Jackson's Animal Rescue for kindly transporting him for initial treatment, and to the veterinary teams who provided wonderful care." Despite Spud settling in rapidly to his new surroundings, Lucy warned that he had still been traumatised by his ordeal. She explained: "Being on his own in a crate in an unfamiliar environment would have been a distressing experience for Spud and it's heartbreaking to think of him being left to fend for himself. "We'd plead with people to seek help and advice from appropriate organisations if they are experiencing difficulties and not to abandon their pets in vulnerable situations like this. It was a remote location and we could be looking at any number of possible scenarios had he not been found." Furthermore, Lucy also emphasised how, due to the rising cost of living, many people can find the expense of caring for a pet overwhelming. Sometimes they do not discover the full extent of the costs until after the pet has arrived. She explained: "Our Animal Kindness Index showed us that costs remain a concern for many pet owners - while issues like pet behaviour can be another challenge - but, whatever the reason, abandoning an animal like this is never acceptable. "There's help out there, and the RSPCA website - including our pet care and cost of living hub - is a one-stop shop to help owners who may be struggling financially." Figures from the RSPCA's Animal Kindness Index revealed that more than half of pet owners, 52 per cent, were concerned about the expense of veterinary bills and the impact on their ability to afford the animals they cherish and adore.
Irish Times
3 days ago
- General
- Irish Times
A rose by any other name: Fionnuala Ward on a garden visitor with a life of its own
There is a rose in my garden, a leftover from the previous owner. I've never pruned this rose. I've never watered this rose. But I have nothing against roses. I need to make that clear. There is a wonderful rose garden in the Botanic Gardens and, like everyone else, I pause on my walk to reach and smell and check for a fragrance. And the benches in that section of the Bots, which look out over a palette of shades and tones and of blooms climbing and static, are always the most popular. It's just that I know next to nothing about roses. Although, let's be honest, they do seem a little too cultivated. A little too perfect. So, all right, maybe I'm not their biggest fan. READ MORE But the rose in my garden is different. The garden is entirely wild now. It's filled with thistles and nettles, clover and ragwort. But this rose, this one rose, has survived in the midst of it all and I have to admit that I am in awe of it. A couple of years ago, the wall between myself and my neighbour had to be replaced. The rose's patch is close to this boundary. Very close, and I figured that would be that. Builders trampled in and out. Concrete was poured. A wasteland developed. The rose duly disappeared and I thought no more about it. But some time later, to the delight of my neighbour, it popped up on her side of the wall. The grass was clearly greener over there. Things were better. Life was less precarious. It was hard not to take it personally. It was true that I hadn't looked out for this rose but I didn't do it any harm either, leaving it to its own devices. And then, as if sensing that the coast was clear, it reappeared on my side of the wall as well. This rose was hedging its bets. Burrowing deep under the concrete blocks, it had set up residence in both gardens to maximise its chances of survival. It's now in bloom. And in keeping with the nature of this rose, this is no ordinary blooming. No common-or-garden effort happening here. There are two offshoots on my side, with only one producing buds but it's the proliferation of buds on this one offshoot that is quite something. There are eight viable buds on this one branch. Eight. I've checked with my neighbour and, to date, there are none that side. She too has adopted a benign-neglect approach to looking after this rose, so some may yet appear. I can't help wondering if eight on one stem is a kind of record. The top bud has now opened up to the sunshine. A delicate peach colour, it exudes the loveliest of aromas that wafts around that part of the garden. The stem is long and languorous, bending out and down so that sitting on my chair in the garden I can take in the wonder of this bloom. There are seven more to go. I'm pretty sure one stem couldn't cope with eight buds blooming at once, so they'll probably go in turn. I've taken to checking the status of these buds every morning, deciding on the ones that look most likely to burst forth next. I have a feeling that they won't all make it but I'm hoping that most will. I'm keen on having a bee-friendly garden but I know roses are next to useless for bees. And sure enough, while the clover and thistles are alive with whirring and buzzing, the rose remains an activity-free zone. Roses, it seems, are too dense and complicated a flower and the bees just can't get in there to nestle up to the pollen. But even though, the rose in my garden (and please note how I can't bring myself to claim that it's 'my' rose) is not pulling its weight pollinator-wise, it's welcome to stay. Truth be told, it's more its garden than mine. I've long since decided that this rose is a combination of delicacy and single-mindedness. [ Gardening Q&A: How can I resuscitate my dying roses? Opens in new window ] If it were a person, it would be a painter or sculptor or, more likely yet, the leader of a fascist resistance. Its tenacity knows no bounds. And so, with the summer drawing in, I'll keep an eye on proceedings. I'll watch how those blooms develop. And I'll check in on how things are going on the other side of the wall. But all in an information kind of way. Nothing else. I've no intention of doing anything. The rose in my garden happily has no need of me.
News.com.au
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
See the incredible discovery underneath newly bought home in Melbourne's northern suburbs
When Daniel Xu and his wife finalised the purchase of their new home in Melbourne's northern suburbs, he couldn't imagine the astonishing discovery hidden in the property's basement. Underneath the brick home, through a small hatch on the side, was a sprawling model train network dating back to the 1960s. The model, with an extensive number of railway lines and detailed miniature landscapes, was unearthed after Mr Xu entered the undercroft with plans to renovate. 'To do the renovation, I would have to go downstairs to have a look and do some inspections and when I got down I saw this massive incredible train model just sitting there,' he said. 'I was shocked and I immediately asked my wife to come down to have a look - she was shocked. 'It's unbelievable, so massive, so huge.' Mr Xu, who told SBS News there had been no mention of the elaborate setup during the open home inspections, got in touch with the previous owner to find out the history. He was told the model trains were built by the previous owner's father some 60 years ago when they were a child, and had not been used for a while. Coincidentally, Mr Xu is a train enthusiast himself. The hobbyist plans to upgrade the separate control desks - which operate each of the different zones of the train tracks - with something more modern and test what still works. 'I have to clean everything and do some continuity tests on the rails to make sure the power is good,' he said. 'After that, I would like to upgrade some controllers, because now the technology is (a lot more) advanced. 'My friends kids come and play, they don't want to leave, they spend the whole afternoon here although there is no power at all (connected to it).'
