Greater Manchester’s leading dog rescue centre, Dogs4Rescue, has published an emotional plea for dog lovers to help secure a second site – guaranteeing a home for the alarming numbers of unwanted canines across the country.
The kennel-free dog rescue needs £550,000 by Friday (11 September) to purchase land for a brand new centre – which has already attracted high interest from property developers.
If successfully acquired, the charity will transform the rural area into a 40-acre world-class Dog Rehabilitation Retreat and Sanctuary – giving unwanted, abandoned and abused dogs a home on the outskirts of Greater Manchester.
It is predicted that as many as 40,000 dogs will enter the UK rescue system due to the ‘lockdown puppy boom’; meaning Dogs4Rescue are set to be inundated with new arrivals.
Emma Billington, founder of Dogs4Rescue, said: “We have proven the kennel-free dog rescue model works having successfully rehomed almost 1,500 dogs in the last seven years.
ADVERTISEMENT
“By happy coincidence we have also discovered the dogs living together as pack creates an amazing window for rehabilitation, the kind of which traditional kennel-based dog rescues cannot offer.
“We have 16 permanent sanctuary dogs here who provide a backbone of stability to our pack and are fantastic at helping rehabilitate other shut down and frightened dogs.”
ADVERTISEMENT
During lockdown, Dogs4Rescue took in dogs stuck inside the kennel system, as well as pooches considered to be more ‘problematic’.
But with such a high volume of dogs requiring a special environment, Emma has said that the current Dogs4Rescue centre is nearing capacity and “cannot take any more difficult cases”.
“Every day we have to turn down beautiful innocent souls who I know we could help, if we only had a second centre,” Emma commented.
ADVERTISEMENT
“It’s our goal to save as many dogs as possible during our lifetime, and for that to become a legacy as we teach more people how to work with difficult dogs who just need a little more time, love and patience.
“We’re leading the way with our kennel-free rescue and the second site will help that legacy touch the rescue industry to change for the better.
“Donations will be a gift to all the dogs that no-one wants now, during our lifetimes and a lasting legacy into the future.”
Every penny makes a difference here. To help Dogs4Rescue secure an essential second home, please donate whatever you can via their JustGiving page.
For large donations or offers of corporate support, email Emma at [email protected] or ring 07412361769.
Twitter and Insta: @dogs4rescue
News
Bolton man jailed for rape and ‘violent’ sexual assault of vulnerable woman
Emily Sergeant
A man who subjected a vulnerable woman to a violent sexual attack and then refused her medical help has been handed a lengthy jail sentence.
Kieran Naylor, of Bold Street in Bolton, was sentenced at Manchester Crown Courtyesterday (25 November) after being found guilty of two counts of rape, a section 18 assault, false imprisonment, and theft.
The offences took place around this time last year (9 and 10 December 2024), Greater Manchester Police (GMP) explained.
Naylor approached the victim at a nearby petrol station and invited her to his home, and once the pair were there, he became violent and sexually assaulted her. During the attack, the victim sustained serious injuries, including a broken wrist and femur, which required multiple surgeries.
Despite the injuries the victim sustained during the attack, Naylor refused to call for medical assistance and instead locked her inside his property.
The 39-year-old later left the address, taking the victim’s bank card along with him and attempting to make purchases in Bolton town centre.
#JAILED | #Bolton man subjected a vulnerable woman to a violent sexual attack and refused her medical help has been jailed for 14 years pic.twitter.com/EXlCr0hHM7
The victim eventually managed to reach the doorway, where a member of the public found her and called emergency services.
Police arrived at the scene and arrested Naylor there and then.
Following the trial at Manchester Crown Court, Naylor has been jailed for 14 years – with the police describing him as a ‘dangerous individual’.
“This was a shocking and deeply disturbing crime,” explained Detective Constable Lucy Birch, from Bolton CID. “Naylor is a dangerous individual who is rightly behind bars for a long time.
“We know how difficult this has been for the victim and her family, and her bravery ensured justice was served.”
Sadly, the victim passed away before seeing Naylor face justice, but GMP says the evidence she provided ensured he received a ‘substantial’ sentence.
DC Birch concluded: “It is saddening that she passed away before seeing Naylor sentenced, but her courage has helped protect other women from harm.”
Featured Image – GMP
News
Sankeys nightclub is returning to Manchester
Danny Jones
It’s officially happening: iconic local club Sankeys is coming back to Manchester city centre almost a decade on from its gutting closure.
The iconic ‘Sankey’s Soap’ nightlife space – which started out over in Ancoats during the mid-’90s – enjoyed numerous stints during its time in the clubbing world, as well as opening multiple partnered venues in the country and even overseas.
Now, approaching nine years after the shutdown, Sankeys is returning to Manchester in the new year, and Mancs are currently losing their minds.
Whether you are one of those who ‘remember it when’, or someone who sadly missed out on the halcyon days in the old Beehive Mill, we assure you that everyone is in agreement that this is nothing short of massive news…
First teasing the comeback back in July, as our city and the world at large were gripped by ‘Britpop Mania’ 2.0, the largely dormant Instagram account posted: “This week Manchester, and the UK, has been blessed with a homecoming of our very own, Oasis.
“We think Manchester deserves another homecoming… Definitely, maybe?”
The North West corners of the internet and veteran revellers alike were understandably quick to get excited by the potential revival, but nothing else had been said for months – until now.
Confirmed on Tuesday, 25 November, the infamous and storied nightclub’s social media team began by writing, simply: “The Legend Returns” and beckoning “a new era for Sankeys”.
It is still unclear as to where exactly the new and improved club(s) will be, but we do know that the events will be in the city centre. However, we do know we’ll be getting a familiar matrix grid installation as part of the design once again.
They will also be enforcing a strict new no-phones policy, which has become increasingly popular across the scene, thanks to the likes of Amber’s right here in Manchester.
Sankeys first opened in Manchester as "Sankeys Soap" in June 1994.[3] It was so called due to its residence inside Beehive Mill, Ancoats, which once was used to manufacture soap. The basement of the mill was transformed into a club and live music venue#pub#historypic.twitter.com/cnM6Nt23uZ
Sankeys may have remained an active promoter in the days since the building on the corner of Radium and Jersey Street (M4 6JG) closed – going on to become an unsuspecting office development – this will be the first event of the aforementioned next chapter in a flagship venue.
Promising a limited capacity of no more than 500 people, Sankeys is set to make its landmark return on
“We will only be open one night a week on Saturday. There will be no VIP or phones allowed on the dancefloor — everyone is a VIP. People need to stop taking pictures and start dancing to the beat.”
Hordes of clubbers, ravers, students and more are already signing up for early access and general admission tickets for the first two nights on Friday and Saturday, 30-31 January 2026 go on sale at 9am this Friday (28 Nov).
Get ready to grab yours HERE and party like it’s, well, 1994, 2017 – take your pick.
The Manc -
8th September 2020 
