A local animal shelter has shared horrific details of a litter of kittens being dumped in a Manchester park.
The seven tiny cats were left in an airtight plastic box with their mother in Debdale Park, where they were discovered by a dog walker.
Tragically, one of the eight-week-old kittens had to be put down after he started suffering seizures believed to be caused by the lack of oxygen in the container.
The box the animals were dumped in was taped shut, with no holes to breathe.
Millstream Animal Shelter in Oldham named the six remaining kittens after the Game of Thrones dragons – Balerion, Vermax, Syrax, Tessarion, Vermithor and Sunfyre.
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Millstream posted on Facebook: “These adorable kittens with their mummy were Dumped in Debdale Park. Hidden in bushes all of them crammed into 1 plastic box with the lid taped down and no holes to breathe. Luckily a kind member of the public found them and brought them straight into us.
“We assessed them all and unbelievably they were all healthy and in good condition, sadly apart from one little boy who soon after started fitting. We rushed him straight off to the vets, where he had further seizures and heartbreakingly died.”
All of them have now found loving new homes.
The shelter also told the Manchester Evening News: “It’s awful. The mother was traumatised and needed a lot of love and coaxing when brought to us, and if they hadn’t been found they would have all died.
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“It’s absolutely sickening and needs bringing to attention that people would kill their pets than bring them into shelters.”
You can find out more about Millstream Animal Shelter, make a donation or buy items from their Amazon wishlist here.
Featured image: Millstream Animal Shelter
The Debdale Park Dumping UPDATE ALL KITTENS ARE NOW RESERVED.
😭 So we’ve now got these 6 cuties ready for homing Next Weekend. They are 8 week old. We have 3 females and 3 males. Syrax black and white female Sunfyre black female Tessarion black and white female Balerion black male Vermax black and white male Vermithor black and white male They are all confident friendly well handled and socialised A real sweet lovely cute family of kittens. They can go in any combination. Any kitten that goes by themself Must Go where there is an existing friendly cat if Not where someone is home Most of the time. They should be OK with children 6 years old plus used to cats. If you think you can give any of them the right home please ONLY Private Message us on here with details of Yourself Family and Home and any other pets you may have. You Must be ready to adopt Next Weekend and Not Due to Go Away Anytime Soon. The adoption fee is £70 for one and £120 for a pair Cash Only They are flead and wormed. Thanks
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Arrest made after 14-year-old boy found in critical condition on Market Street
Daisy Jackson
An arrest has been made after a teenage boy was found unresponsive on Market Street in Manchester city centre.
Detectives believe that the boy, 14, was approached by seven males who stole a designer jacket from him.
Following the altercation, he went into cardiac arrest and was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
Thankfully, the teenager is continuing to recover well.
Detectives from Manchester City Centre Criminal Investigation Department confirmed that an 18-year-old male was arrested yesterday, Thursday 20 February.
He has been arrested on suspicion of robbery and remains in police custody.
Detective Inspector Mark Astbury of GMP’s City Centre Criminal Investigation Department, said: “We hope the victim can continue his recovery following what must have been a terrifying ordeal for him.
“Officers are fully investigating all aspects of this shocking incident that has left a man with serious injuries in hospital.
“Our work doesn’t stop here, we are continuing to investigate this incident and information from the public plays an incredibly important role in our investigations and I ask that the community keep talking to us and keep sharing their concerns with us so our teams can act.”
If you have any information, contact GMP 101 or 0161 856 4305 quoting log 2854 of 16/2/25.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials
Emily Sergeant
Trials are currently underway to see if comedy could be an alternative to antidepressants as a way to reduce NHS costs.
UK tech company Craic Health has secured important funding for its ‘comedy on prescription’ project that’s aimed at helping the Government work with the comedy industry, communities, and organisations on comedy-based social prescriptions in the hope that they can solve financial struggles within the NHS.
The groundbreaking scheme uses stand-up shows and workshops to help people who are isolated, lonely, and vulnerable.
Craic believes comedy is an ‘untapped opportunity’ to improve health and wellbeing, and has a goal to make comedy easier to access, so that it can help communities experience its mental health and social benefits.
To achieve this, the company has started trialling Comedy-on-Prescription experiences in the UK – starting in London, with the potential for expansion – which includes things like curated comedy panel game show events and workshops, and general stand-up comedy shows at some of the capital’s world-famous venues.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
“Mental health issues like loneliness, isolation, and stress are more common than ever,” the company explains.
“So much so that it’s projected that by 2030, mental health problems, particularly depression, will be the leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally, [but] in this challenging world, comedy stands out as a universal language that breaks barriers.
“Research shows that comedy and laughter have powerful effects – they bring people together, create positive connections, and make life more enjoyable.”
Craic Health says that social prescribing, of which Comedy-on-Prescription is a part of, is all about inclusivity, which makes it making it suitable for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
Its focus is on personalised support, tailored to individual needs and preferences.
Daisy Jackson -
30th November 2022 
