A pet food company is on the hunt for someone to taste test its new dog food, and is willing to pay them a huge sum for the pleasure.
You may have wondered what your dog’s food tastes like. Hell, you may have even had a cheeky nibble in the past. They say that curiosity killed the cat, after all, but everyone forgets the other half of the saying – that satisfaction brought it back.
Fun story – I once accidentally ate one of my dog’s peanut butter cookies, having mistaken it for a focaccia crisp. It actually wasn’t that bad. So as bizarre as this is, I would probably give it a go.
£5,000 is certainly enough to sway me. Oh, and the dog food is all vegan, so you’re not going to find any cheap and nasty animal by-products in there.
To get that £5,000, the successful dog food taster will be required to eat an all-vegan dog food diet for five days.
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They’ll also be expected to keep a daily record of their experience, reporting back – not just on the food’s taste, but also on their mood, energy levels, and bowel movements.
The dog food, created by company OMNI, is entirely plant-based and made up of a mix of sweet potatoes, lentils, brown rice, pumpkin, blueberries, peas and cranberries. It actually sounds pretty tasty.
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The founders have eaten it themselves, and they’re super proud of using human-grade ingredients that are not just ‘good enough’ but actually desirable.
Shiv Sivakumar, co-founder of OMNI, said: “OMNI is a clean label, meaning that it doesn’t have any mysterious ingredients.
“While all dog food has to use human grade ingredients by law, many brands use cheap animal by-products and unwanted leftovers that humans would definitely not want to eat themselves given the choice.
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“We firmly believe that OMNI is good enough for even humans to eat, and more importantly enjoy, that we’re going to put our money where our mouth is.
Image: Omni Pet Food
“We decided to recruit a human taste tester to prove just how tasty and healthy plant-based dog food can be.
“Me and the other founder of OMNI would even eat our products – and we’re sure many other dog food brand producers wouldn’t.
“So, if you are looking to try out a new diet change and earn a little extra on the side, please sign up!”
The successful taste tester will have access to a registered dietician and will be sent a number of recipes over the week. Expenses will be covered on the food, and once the five days of testing is complete the £5,000 payment will be made.
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If you’d like to apply, you can do so here before 31 May. Applicants must be over the age of 18 and live in the UK.
Former Manchester City player Joey Barton found guilty of assaulting his wife
Danny Jones
Ex-footballer Joey Barton has officially been found guilty of assaulting his wife following his two-day trial in the capital this week.
Barton, who played for Manchester City, Newcastle United, Queens Park Rangers and a number of other clubs, was convicted at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 25 March, following an incident back in June 2021.
The former midfielder left his wife, 37-year-old Georgia Barton (McNeil), with a bleeding nose and a bruise on her forehead following a drunken row at their home in London.
Barton is said to have grabbed and pushed her to the floor before kicking her in the head. Married in 2019, the two have four children and are thought to still be together.
The 42-year-old was still employed in professional football as the manager of Bristol Rovers at the time, but he was ultimately sacked in October 2023.
His wife called 999 at the time, telling police that he had hit her, but later retracted her statement.
Born in Huyton, Merseyside, the chief magistrate Paul Goldspring recognised that the one-time England has a history of violence.
He was given a 12-week suspended prison sentence, meaning he won’t serve time unless he commits another offence and has been ordered to pay £2,138.
Since dropping out of mainstream football, in particular, Barton has come under heavy criticism for allegations of racism, sexism and controversial right-wing politics; he even started an ‘anti-woke’ podcast called Common Sense with Joey Barton.
Back in June of last year, he was ordered to pay £35,000 in damages to settle a libel claim with presenter Jeremy Vine after a series of inflammatory comments made online.
The Radio 2 presenter sued Mr Barton earlier this year, after the former footballer wrote a series of posts suggesting Mr Vine had a sexual interest in children.
He also accused of threatening fellow former pro, Eni Aluko, after a torrent of abuse regarding her punditry online – the ex-England international even went so far as to say she no longer felt safe staying in the country.
Police appeal after man seriously injured in Northern Quarter stabbing
Daisy Jackson
Greater Manchester Police are appealing for witnesses after a stabbing in the Northern Quarter left a man seriously injured.
The incident occurred around 7.45pm on Thursday 20 March, on Tib Street near Market Street and Piccadilly Gardens.
Emergency services scrambled to the scene and the victim, a man in his 20s, taken to hospital with serious injuries.
Thankfully his injuries aren’t believed to be life-threatening or life-changing.
No arrests have yet been made and officers are now appealing for witnesses to assist with enquiries.
DI Geoffrey Machent, of the City of Manchester Division, said: “At around 7.45pm on Thursday 20 March, we were called to reports of a stabbing on Tib Street.
“A man was subsequently taken to hospital with injuries that are not life-threatening or life-changing. He remains there for treatment.
“At this time, we do not believe the incident presents any threat to the wider public or local businesses operating in the area.
“Neighbourhood officers will be deployed to provide reassurance in the locality over the coming days, including our newly formed Piccadilly Gardens team.
“We would like to appeal to the public for any information, or anyone who witnessed this incident, to please come forward.”
If anyone has information regarding this stabbing in the Northern Quarter, contact police by calling 101, or via the Live Chat service at gmp.police.uk.
Alternatively, you can call the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111. Always dial 999 in an emergency.
Georgina Pellant -
20th May 2022 
