Manchester-based property developers and community-led residential brand, Affinity Living, are bringing the world of renting and pets closer together with their brand-new dog adoption fair this month November.
The first of its kind Manchester city centre has ever seen, the ‘Doggy Adoption Fair’ by Affinity Living is part of their new charity partnership with Manchester Dogs’ Home (MDH) and is totally free to attend.
Aiming to find rescue dogs their fur-ever home, the event of open to anyone interested in taking the leap and adopting a dog as well as any furry friends they might want to have a sniff around as well.
Visitors will be able to learn more about the wide range of breeds up for adoption at Manchester Dogs’ Home and, of course, there will be plenty of pictures and information on all of the rescue pups who are ready to be picked up and petted as soon as possible.
Credit: Affinity Living
MDH will also have a team of experts on hand to chat with guests about the prospective adoptee doggos and give special insights into the quirks and unique personalities of each pooch looking for a new home and loving family.
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Guests will also be able to meet some of the happy hounds who have recently been successfully rehomed with the help of the organisation and there’ll even be an urban-pup masterclass giving top tips on how to best raise a dog in an urban environment — especially in apartments like Affinity’s.
Volunteers from the dogs’ home will be able to introduce guests to the dogs being brought along on the day, provide eye-opening stories of rescue dog adoption in action and stress the importance of rehoming dogs in need of a home rather than shopping around for one.
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Manchester Dogs’ Home will even be selling customisable mugs on the day, with guests and potential pet parents able to take home a custom-printed mug for just £5 featuring themselves and their four-legged friend. 100% of the proceeds go straight to the charity, of course.
But the fun don’t stop there. As well as Affinity Living’s on-site Loaf MCR coffee shop serving up refreshments for humans and their ever-hungry guests — pupcakes and puppicinos incoming — there’ll also be pop-up stalls organised by Manchester-based dog treat brand, All You Need is Woof.
Once again, proceeds will be going towards Manchester Dogs’ Home and whilst you’re busy deciding whether you need a new companion around the flat, there’ll be a host of canine carnival games to keep them busy throughout the day.
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At Affinity Living, unlike most other city centre apartments, pets (not just dogs) of all shapes and sizes aren’t just allowed: they’re welcomed with a warm embrace only man’s best friends themselves can rival.
With no additional fees and almost instant pet agreements on offer, Affinity Living not only want to put an end to the anti-pet landlord culture, but they also want to help make sure all dogs have a chance to find their forever home.
Taking place at their Riverview Apartments on New Bailey Street over in Salford, right next to Spinningfields, their dog adoption fair won’t just be the first Manchester city centre has ever seen but hopefully it will be the start of a change when it comes to pets and renting policies.
Better still, the entire event and all of the funds raised will go straight back into one of the region‘s most beloved charities in Manchester Dogs’ Home who continue to carry out their vital work for the purest souls on this planet year in, year out.
The 2023 Doggy Adoption Fair starts at 2pm and runs until 5pm on Sunday, 26 November. You can grab your completely free tickets HERE.
Manchester Museum has made a stunning new addition to its natural history collections, and in the process has ensured a ‘national treasure’ stays in the UK.
Not long after claiming the coveted title of European Museum of the Year for 2025, Manchester Museum has done it again – this time working together with John Rylands Library to acquire Henry Dresser’s unique personal copy of his anthology A History of the Birds of Europe so that this ‘invaluable resource’ can remain in the UK for future generations.
The beautifully-illustrated collection of books provide an important historical record to help understand how and why bird populations have changed over time.
Dresser’s personal copy is heavily-annotated with personal notes and observations.
These books are deemed to be of ‘outstanding significance’, not only for scientific purposes but also for their aesthetic value, as they have also been illustrated by some of the leading wildlife artists of the day.
The volumes were recognised as a national treasure by the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest, which is supported by the Arts Council, and this meant that the Government placed a temporary export deferral on them to allow time for UK buyers to raise the funds to keep them in the country.
Brilliantly, the acquisition of these books reunites them with Dresser’s own bird specimens that are already cared for by Manchester Museum, including species such as the Slender-billed curlew, which is now believed to be extinct.
The now-extinct species’ presence in both Dresser’s beautifully-annotated volumes and the ornithological collections at Manchester Museum highlights the vital role that historical records play in tracking biodiversity loss over time to uncover the long-term impact of environmental change.
Manchester Museum has saved a ‘national treasure’ to ensure it stays in the UK / Credit: Manchester Museum
“Threats to the natural world and biodiversity have never been greater and while this anthology has historical value, it also speaks to the urgent issues of the present,” commented Esme Ward, who is the Director of Manchester Museum.
“These books are breathtakingly beautiful, and by bringing them together with natural history collections, we believe they will not only provide scientific benefit, but also capture the hearts of future ornithologists and conservationists.”
A History of the Birds of Europe will be officially unveiled at a private view on Friday 27 June, before being displayed to the public for the first time in Manchester Museum’s ‘Living Worlds’ gallery from Saturday 28 June 2025 right through until Sunday 25 January 2026.
An exclusive new documentary taking an inside look at the the disappearance of Jay Slater is coming to Channel 4.
On the morning of 17 June 2024, 19-year-old Jay Slater – an apprentice bricklayer from the Lancashire town of Oswaldtwistle – disappeared on the island of Tenerife in Spain, after attempting to walk 14 hours back to his accommodation when there was no local taxi service available and no bus due for 90 minutes.
From then commenced one of the biggest missing persons cases in recent British history.
As the world’s media were following the story minute by minute last summer, producers at Channel 4 were in the incredibly-unique position where they had access to the Coronial process in Lancashire, and this has led to the exclusive documentary title The Disappearance of Jay Slater.
From Jay’s post-mortem to Jay’s inquest, the team have been with the family every step of the way over the last year, as they try and understand exactly what happened to Jay outside of the public gaze
Jay was ultimately pronounced dead on 15 July 2024 after Spanish police reported the discovery of a body in the vicinity of the area of interest, but before this discovery and eventual announcement, the internet became awash with public discourse, conspiracy theories, and more.
The Disappearance of Jay Slater is described as being ‘the family’s story’.
Channel 4 will air an exclusive new documentary about the disappearance and death of Lancashire teen Jay Slater / Credit: GoFundMe
The documentary is set to follow them as they search for answers about what happened to Jay, witnessing the conspiracy theories raging online and the subsequent horrific abuse they received as a family – which is an hourly onslaught that continues to this day.
These cameras were the only media in the world granted full access to film both Jay’s post-mortem and inside the church at his funeral.
But the broadcaster claims this documentary is not only the story of Jay’s tragedy, it’s also the story of ‘the new world we live in’ where so-called true crime armchair detectives run wild.
“The story of Jay Slater captured the nation last summer with a fervour and intensity fuelled by armchair detectives and internet culture,” commented Channel 4’s Commissioning Editor, Rita Daniels, ahead of the documentary airing.
“We are so glad to be working on a sensitively handled exploration of the family’s experience, and understanding the impact of being in the middle of a social media storm, amplified by grief.
“The film holds a light up to our current society and is exactly the story that is a necessity for Channel 4 to tell.”
Executive Producer Anna Hall added: “It is appalling what has happened to Jay’s family, and we hope this film will help to bring awareness of the real life consequences of online speculation. It is an unmonitored world where fake news runs rife, and this film shows the devastating impact this has had on one grieving family.”
The Disappearance of Jay Slater is expected to air on Channel 4 later this year, but no official dates have been confirmed as of yet, so keep your eyes peeled.
Danny Jones -
3rd November 2023 
