RSPCA sends warning to dog owners ahead of July 19
The UK's leading animal welfare charity has offered a reminder that all dog owners will have to put plans in place for their pets when they return to work.
Ahead of the country’s so-called ‘Freedom Day’ on 19 July, the RSPCA has issued an urgent warning to all dog owners.
As next Monday sees the final step in the government’s roadmap to lifting lockdown commence, with the rules on the wearing of face coverings, social distancing measures, and mass gatherings all set to change, it signals a return to the workplace for many.
But after what may have been nearly 16 months at home for some, it’s not just us who will have to adapt to an altered way of life.
Pointing out that millions of people have welcomed new four-legged friends into their lives over the course of lockdown, the UK’s leading animal welfare charity has offered a reminder that all dog owners will have to put some plans in place for their pets as life returns to something resembling normality.
Most notably, the RSPCA has suggested that dog owners split their time between the office and home, take their dog to work occasionally where possible, or ask friends to help mind the dog when they are out.
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Animal welfare experts at the charity have pointed out that dogs can become extremely anxious when left alone, even for relatively short periods of time.
The RSPCA has suggested that dog owners split their time between the office and home / Credit: Unsplash (Bruno Emmanuelle)
“There are now an estimated 12 million dogs across the UK,” Dr Samantha Gaines, Pet Welfare Expert at the RSPCA, told the Liverpool Echo.
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“Sadly, research suggests that around eight in 10 dogs can struggle to cope when left alone [and given that] many families have taken on a new dog during lockdown and some of them may have never experienced being home alone, this could pose real challenges after ‘Freedom Day’ in England.”
Offering advice on how best to approach the situation, Dr Gaines added: “When we pop out to the shops or head out to work, our dogs can become very anxious or worried.
“Some dogs can struggle with nothing to do or be frightened by loud noises outside, but many dogs form close bonds with us and don’t like to be alone [and] if they haven’t learnt that being by themselves is a positive experience, then it can be very difficult.
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“It’s really important that we help them learn to cope with being left at home and gradually teach them to be alone in a positive way [and] we’re urging owners to think about this before they head back to the office and to come up with a plan to help their dogs cope with this change in routine.
“Some dogs who find being left home alone difficult may exhibit behaviours that are usually associated with stress and anxiety, like barking, toileting in the house, or being destructive.
“But others may not give any clear signals that they’re struggling and can often suffer in silence.”
Fearing that this is just the beginning of what could become “the biggest dog welfare crisis of a generation”, with behavioural problems said to be one of the key reasons why dogs are relinquished to RSPCA rescue centres, Dr Gaines is encouraging owners to be “dog kind” and “understand your pet’s needs”.
“Many dogs can find changes in our routine very unsettling, so it’s really important to introduce any changes gradually.” she continued.
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“Prepare now and help them to be happy and healthy in the long-term, [because] if not, we fear the biggest dog welfare crisis of a generation, and millions of dogs suffering everyday when their owners go out to work.”
Full list of road closures set to be in place for Manchester Day 2024
Emily Sergeant
Manchester Day is back for 2024 this weekend, and the full list of road closures set to be in place has been confirmed.
Now that schools are officially out across Greater Manchester, and the summer holidays are well and truly here, the hugely-popular Manchester Day is making a return once again this Saturday 27 July, and as always, it’s set to be “the day summer officially starts” in the city centre – with a massive celebration of “all things Mancunian” on the cards.
The theme of this year’s annual event is ‘Let The Games Begin’, and it’s inspired by the international summer of sport, just 2024 Olympics kicks off over in Paris.
The day will be packed full of free events and activities to get involved with.
Some city centre roads will be closed on Friday 26 and Saturday 27 July for Manchester Day.
These will include:
🛣️Deansgate 🛣️St Ann Street 🛣️St Mary’s Gate 🛣️Market Street 🛣️King Street
— Manchester City Council (@ManCityCouncil) July 21, 2024
But of course, in order for the all the fun to go ahead as safely as possible, and as tends to be the case for events like these, Manchester City Council says it will need to make some temporary road closures to facilitate it.
The full list of road closures has now been confirmed by the Council, and there’s some major city centre thoroughfares set to be out of action.
Here’s everything you need to know.
Manchester Day is back for 2024 to celebrate the international summer of sport / Credit: Manchester City Council
Manchester Day 2024 – Road Closures
Saturday 27 July
From 6am to 11:59pm, Manchester City Council has confirmed that the following roads will be closed:
Deansgate (Manchester Cathedral to John Dalton Street) – access will be maintained to Marks and Spencer’s car park and Number One Deansgate.
St Ann Street (Deansgate to Cross Street)
St Mary’s Gate (Exchange Street to Deansgate)
St Mary’s Street (Southbridge Street to Deansgate)
Market Street (Exchange Street to Cross Street)
Fennel Street (Corporation Street to Cathedral Street) – access will be maintained for morning deliveries only.
Cathedral Street (Fennel Street to Exchange Square) – access will be maintained for morning deliveries only.
Cateaton Street (Exchange Square to Deansgate)
Barton Square (St Ann’s Square to St Ann Street)
King Street (Cross Street to Deansgate) – no access for deliveries.
All accessible bays, bus lanes, and taxi ranks within the closed areas will also be suspended during from 6pm on Friday 26 July to 11:59pm on Saturday 27 July.
The parking suspensions set to be in place are:
Deansgate (Manchester Cathedral to John Dalton Street)
St Ann Street – including the bays outside St Ann’s Church (Deansgate to Cross Street)
St Mary’s Gate (Exchange Street to Deansgate)
St Mary’s Street (Southbridge Street to Deansgate)
Southgate (St Mary’s Street to King Street West)
Market Street (Exchange Street to Cross Street)
Fennel Street (Corporation Street to Cathedral Street) – access will be maintained for morning deliveries only.
Cathedral Street (Fennel Street to Exchange Square) – access will be maintained for morning deliveries only.
Cateaton Street (Exchange Square to Deansgate)
Victoria Street (Cathedral Approach to Deansgate)
Todd Street (Corporation Street to Station Approach)
King Street (Spring Gardens to Southgate)
South King Street (Ridgefield to Deansgate)
Barton Square (St Ann’s Square to St Ann Street)
King Street West (Deansgate to St Mary’s Parsonage)
St James’s Square (John Dalton Street to South King Street)
Cross Street (King Street to Corporation Street)
Museum Street (Peter Street to Windmill Street)
Marsden Street (Cheapside to Brown Street)
Manchester Day 2024: Let The Games Begin! will take over the city centre on Saturday 27 July from 12pm-6pm.
Check out everything you need to know ahead of the event here.
‘Complex’ Metrolink repairs to the Rochdale via Oldham line could take weeks to complete
Emily Sergeant
Work currently underway on the Rochdale via Oldham line is expected to take several weeks to complete.
Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has confirmed that land movement affecting the Metrolink network near Derker has now “slowed”, and this means that detailed ground investigations and temporary repair works have been able to get underway.
In order for trams to run again on the crucial line from the city centre to the two major Greater Manchester towns, TfGM says that a small section of track has to be moved back – also known as ‘slewed’ – into its original position.
The overhead line poles also need to be repaired too, the transport operator revealed.
Rochdale line update
Land movement affecting the Metrolink network near Derker has slowed, enabling detailed ground investigations and temporary repair works to get underway.
To get trams running again, a small section of track has to be moved back into its original position… pic.twitter.com/byERjitdi1
Unfortunately though, due to the “complex” nature of these works, and despite the fact that TfGM says it’s actively looking to “accelerate” the repairs, the project is expected to take up to five weeks to complete in full.
On top of this, the detailed ground investigations will also establish whether any further work to strengthen foundations beneath the track will be needed at a later date.
TfGM has apologised for the inconvenience caused to passengers.
‘Complex’ Metrolink repairs to the Rochdale via Oldham line could take weeks to complete / Credit: TfGM
Speaking on the scale of works currently underway, and how long he expects them to continue for, Pete Sommers, who is TfGM’s Network Director for Metrolink, said: “I’m sorry for the impact this is having, and will continue to have, on people’s journeys.
“We are working to get trams running through the area again, but this remains a complex and challenging issue and it could still be a few weeks before this happens.
“We will of course keep passengers updated, and I’d encourage people to check our social media channels and website for the latest information and advice.”