The RSPCA is appealing for information after a woman found two abandoned ducklings who had been “left to suffer” after being dumped in a wheelie bin in Bolton.
The birds were discovered earlier this week when a resident of Moorfield Grove heard noises coming from her bin.
She looked inside and found two ducklings had been wrapped in blue plastic carrier bags.
The woman reported the find and the animals have since been taken to Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre in Cheshire to recover.
They will remain there until they are ready to be rehomed.
The RSPCA said the two ducklings had been “clearly abandoned as unwanted pets” / Image: RSPCA
Inspector Catherine Byrnes said the ducks had been discarded as unwanted pets and were “lucky to be alive”.
She said: “It’s so important people know it is never okay to abandon an animal – and to callously dump them in a bin to suffer a lingering death is just terrible.
“These were domestic ducks, not wild birds. If people are struggling to care for an animal, there is so much they can do to look for help – but abandonments are never the answer.
“Treating an animal like that can also constitute an offence under the Animal Welfare Act.”
The RSPCA is now appealing for information about the incident.
The charity stated: “Anyone with information about who is responsible for dumping the ducklings on Monday July 20 at around 6.30am should contact the appeal line on 0300 123 8018.”
Manchester Thunder and AO help provide grassroots netball teams with new kits
Danny Jones
Our native netball team, Manchester Thunder, and Bolton-based principal sponsor, AO, recently helped provide new kits to grassroots clubs in the region.
We love to see it.
Acting in collaboration not only with the local electrical retailer but with the team’s very own kit manufacturer and sportswear supplier, VX3, who design gear for all manner of disciplines, Manchester Thunder visited the Platt Lane Sports Complex in Fallowfield to visit some youth netball teams.
Surprising the girls at the popular Greater Manchester community sports venue – operated by Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) – a trio of different outfits from the North West and beyond were kitted out with jerseys, shorts, netball dresses, t-shirts and more.
Ribble Valley NC, Bangor’s Thundercats, and Chester, who were named North West Netball Club of the Year back in 2023, were all presented the boxes of brand-new netball kit.
These training and match-ready sportswear packages were worth more than £500 each, with VX3 renowned for their top-quality products, particularly prominent in both netball and rugby.
With approximately 700,000 women and girls playing netball nationwide every year, and an estimated 3.1 million people playing the sport annually, it remains the highest female participation sport in the country.
Multiple Manchester Thunder players were also in attendance on the day to help dish out the new kits, delighting youngsters who are no doubt hoping to follow in their footsteps one day.
Better still, not only were the kits bespoke to each club, but they also included tickets to a Thunder match, as well as an exclusive training session with the senior stars themselves.
Thundercats Under 12sRibble Valley U11sChester Netball ClubManchester Thunder presented netball kits to dozens of aspiring young players. (Credit: Supplied)
When it comes to the likes of Chester, the nearby netball team saw their previous season hit by multiple obstacles, including their summer club tournament, which typically serves as a key annual fundraiser, being called off due to adverse weather conditions.
That being said, competitions and generous donations like these prove vital for spotting organisations up and down the UK.
Maya Nelson, Head Coach of Ribble’s under-11s squad, said of the heartwarming event: “Getting the kit means a lot to the club.
“I think the dress, especially with them being different to our usual kit, is a really nice touch, and it’s something that we can wear to competitions and different events, and feel a little bit special.
“We’re always trying to recycle kit through pre-loved sales, so it’s nice for the girls to be able to be gifted something new through the competition, and not having to wear second-hand kit. We were all absolutely buzzing and we couldn’t believe it.”
At the time of the launch, Arafa Heneghan, Director of Brand at AO, said: “We’re incredibly passionate about supporting young people and grassroots team sports at AO, so we’re thrilled to run this competition for the next generation of netball stars, alongside Manchester Thunder.
“We know how much pride players take in their kits, so ten lucky teams getting the chance to create something bespoke with VX3 is really exciting.”
As official partners of the legendary AO Arena, the city’s iconic venues will also host the return of the England Netball team for an important international test series.
Featured Images — Supplied (via Manchester Thunder/AO)
Bolton
RSPCA appeal launched after ‘young pup’ found in river weighed down with rocks
Daisy Jackson
The RSPCA are appealing for information after a dead dog was found dumped near a river tunnel, stuffed into a bin bag and weighed down with rocks.
The young German Shepherd, identified as ‘Alpha’ from his microchip, was discovered in a remote location near Barrow Bridge Road in Bolton.
The RSPCA has described it as a ‘very distressing scene’, with the young dog ‘deliberately concealed’ from passers-by.
Two-year-old Alpha had had a bin bag pulled over his body, and rocks placed on top to weigh him down in the water near the river tunnel.
He was moved to the Destitute Animal Shelter in Bolton after being reported to the local dog warden, before being moved to the animal welfare charity’s Greater Manchester Animal Hospital.
Alpha’s body was covered in blood but vets found no visible external injuries or fractures and his cause of death remains unclear.
His microchip linked him to a previous owner who said the dog was rehomed earlier this year – the new owner is believed to have connections to Bradford in West Yorkshire.
The RSPCA is now appealing to the public for information, especially from anyone who may have seen suspicious activity near Barrow Bridge Road or who has CCTV or ring doorbell footage from nearby homes, farms or cottages.
The RSPCA has issued an appeal after a young German Shepherd was found weighed down with rocks in a river
RSPCA Inspector Deborah Beats said: “This was a very distressing scene. The circumstances in which Alpha was found suggest someone went to deliberate lengths to conceal his body.
“To leave any animal like this is deeply concerning. We want to understand what happened and whether this dog suffered before his death.”
She added added: “This is a quiet spot, but not far from a main road. It’s possible someone local saw or heard something unusual in the early hours of Sunday 13 June.
“We’re urging anyone with relevant information to contact the RSPCA Inspectorate appeal line on 0300 123 8018 quoting incident number 01574838.”
For more information about how to report an incident of animal cruelty, visit the RSPCA website.
The Manc -
29th July 2021 
