Every dog deserves a second chance, and there’s plenty of pups in Manchester currently looking for their “forever homes”.
Dogs Trust Manchester’s rescue centre in Denton has been responsible for the rehoming of countless four-legged friends since it opened in 2014, and since lockdown alone, more than 350 dogs have found love with new owners – which staff say is “a real testament to how effective our virtual rehoming has been”.
But there’s always more dogs with love to give to those ready to receive it.
Reckon you’re a good fit and can provide a suitable home for these five dogs in Manchester currently searching for a place to call their own?
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Vinnie
Crossbreed | Male | 1 – 2 Years Old
Manchester
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Dogs Trust Manchester
Vinnie is a one-year-old large crossbreed looking for a patient, experienced, and confident family who is prepared to put some work to have a fabulous dog.
Giving an insight into Vinnie’s character so prospective owners can get to know him a little better, Dogs Trust Manchester said: “Vinnie is a sweet but sensitive boy who has lacked in socialisation so he can easily go from being very excitable – particularly around new people – to suddenly being unsure, and [he] shows this by mouthing his handler for reassurance.
“He loves his toys, so much so that he will happily play with them on his own, but is always up for sharing them with his human friends [and] he is keen to go and see hello to other dogs, but is actually a bit shy and quickly gets overwhelmed.”
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Vinnie is looking for an active, adult-only home with a large private garden and who have experience and are confident around large breeds.
You can find more about giving Vinnie a home here.
Luna & Ghost
Siberian Huskies | 1 – 2 Years Old
Manchester
Dogs Trust Manchester
Luna and Ghost are a sweet and intelligent pair of young pint-sized huskies who are searching for their new forever home.
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Typical of the breed, they are an active pair who love running around and playing with each other, and they both enjoy getting lots of fuss and attention from her human friends – but after a busy day, they will snuggle up with each other for a nice snooze.
Dogs Trust Manchester say: “Luna and Ghost are to be re-homed together, and because of this, a home with more than one person is needed and they will need a good sized secure garden with at least 6ft fencing for them to have lots of playtime off the lead. They have been friendly with other dogs and could meet with doggy friends out and about [but] they can just be a little shy at times, so will need to be the only dogs in the home.”
The pair can live with children aged 11 and older, but unfortunately cannot live with other dogs.
You can find more about giving Luna & Ghost a home here.
Barry
Crossbread | 2 Years Old | Male
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Manchester
Dogs Trust Manchester
Barry is an adorable two-year-old American Bulldog Cross with bags of love to give and on the lookout for his forever family.
His “goofball personality” has made him a firm favourite amongst his handlers at Dogs Trust Manchester who say: “Barry adores his favourite humans and loves to lean in for a fuss and a cuddle. He has loads of energy and enjoys playing with his toys and hopping in the car to go off on adventures where he can have a good sniff and explore everything – he’s sure to provide his new family with plenty of love and entertainment.”
Barry can be over the top and will need patient owners that have experience with strong / big dogs, and experience with bull breeds is essential.
He cannot have any young visiting children, and although he is dog friendly and has mixed with multiple dogs at the rescue centre, he can be over the top with them and so will need to be the only dog and pet in the home to allow him all the focus to settle.
Three-year-old crossbreed Dobby is a very active boy who loves to be out on long hikes in quiet areas and would be a great addition to an active family that can give him the stimulation he needs.
Dogs Trust Manchester say “there’s never a dull moment with Dobby around”.
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“He loves to chase his favourite toys around or spend his time playing food games… and once he’s all tired from a day of running about and showing us his tricks, Dobby loves a nice gentle fuss with his favourite handlers.”
Dobby is looking for a home with a private secure garden with no neighbouring dogs where he can relax and play, and adopters that are able to build his leaving hours and confidence at his pace. He can live with children aged 16 years and over who are comfortable around large dogs, but will need to be the only pet in the home as heis a bit worried by certain dogs – particularly larger males – but has been friendly towards some smaller dogs and females.
Macie is a beautiful nine-year-old Cocker Spaniel that loves nothing more than a couple of tasty treats, going on walks, and having sniffing adventures, and although it takes her some time to get to know people and will therefore need her adopters to be patient, Dogs Trust Manchester say she loves having a fuss and cuddles from her well-known handlers at the centre.
“She is such a sweet girl and one of her absolute favourite things to do is roll around in the long grass or in a sand pit on a lovely sunny day.”
Macie is looking for a female single owner that can keep visitors to a minimum, no visiting children as she can be uncomfortable around some people, and a secure garden with the facility to separate her from the front door so she doesn’t meet people she doesn’t know.
Macie can walk with other dogs, but prefers to do her own thing and doesn’t like them in her face so will need to be the only dog in the home, and also cannot live with cats.
A brand-new immersive ‘walking theatre’ and XR experience has landed in Greater Manchester
Danny Jones
We hear the word immersive thrown around a lot these days, but if the notion of walking through some of your favourite fantasy and sci-fi worlds in a state-of-the-art XR tour doesn’t fit the definition, we don’t know what does.
Get ready to pull on a headset and be dropped into a different universe, Mancs.
This is Immersia XR: an industry-leading immersive entertainment and XR (extended reality) experience has just been unveiled right here in Greater Manchester.
Anyone for a ride on a magic carpet?
Credit: The Manc GroupCredit: Immersia XR (supplied)
Immersia XR specialises in what they call ‘Walking XR Theatre – a new term for a new kind of experience’, and boasts big plaudits across the board, with an average Google rating of 4.8 from dozens of reviews already.
Having just made its Manchester debut to the public at Trafford Palazzo (located right next to 0161’s famous Trafford Centre) this summer, the new addition brings cutting-edge technology blended with iconic family-favourite tales in an “unforgettable walk-through format.”
A lucky few have been treated to our first time, including us here at The Manc, and you’ll have to take our word for it when we tell you it’s a truly incredible experience.
It’s the first of its kind in the UK and Europe, and although there are other similar VR and AR offerings around the region, you won’t find anything quite like ‘walking theatre’ and this free-roam experience.
Credit: Supplied
As you can see above, there are a number of experiences to be enjoyed right from the off, including two modes inspired by childhood classics, Alice in Wonderland and Tales of Aladdin.
Ever fancied trying your hand as an astronaut and walking on the surface of the moon as you look back at the Earth below? Course you have! No training involved in this one, either.
Take that, Katy Perry, you can keep your short-lived Blue Origin nonsense to yourself.
Immersia XR’s ambition doesn’t stop there, though, as they are also preparing to introduce the exciting new ‘Terracotta Army’ experience in the near future.
Here’s a glimpse at how it looks inside the goggles:
Already open to the public and running up until Sunday, 6 July 2025, Immersia XR is fun for all ages, with kid-friendly zones and accessible narratives built into the experience.
Best of all, there are actually very few bells and whistles; no screens, no controllers – it’s just you walking through the story of your choice.
Immersia XR’s founder, Ian Xiang, said: “We’re not just launching a new attraction—we’re pioneering the future of storytelling. Walking XR Theatre is where cinema, theatre, and technology converge to create magic. You don’t just watch the story—you walk through it.”
Tickets are on sale now, with adult prices starting from only £17, children (ages 3–15) from just £12, and family tickets (2 adults, 2 kids) from £54. Great value for money.
Concession tickets are also available for students and over-65s, priced from £16, and group bookings of 10 or more receive 10% off. You can even get 20% off all ticket types with the early bird code: PRESS20. You can grab yours HERE.
5 Easter foods that are toxic to dogs and what to do if they eat them
Emily Sergeant
With Easter upon us, and households nationwide tucking into a feast of chocolate treats and festive leftovers, we need to make sure we keep an eye on those food vacuums.
And by food vacuums, we of course mean our four-legged friends.
We all know that a lot of themed foods and sugary goodness tends to get consumed over the Easter period, and with so much to make your way through, it can be tempting to treat your dogs to some of the leftovers.
But did you know that some common Easter foods can actually make them seriously ill? This is why it’s so important to know which ones should be avoided.
Whilst it’s perfectly fine to offer your pooch small snacks in moderation, there’s lots of foods around at this time of year that your dog may help themselves to if they aren’t stored away, and many of them are extremely toxic – so pet expert and founder of Yappy.com, John Smith, has highlighted which are dangerous for our dogs, what to do if they do consume them, and some of the safer choices to dogs as a well-deserved treat.
Here’s five Easter foods that are toxic to dogs.
Did you know that some common Easter foods can actually make dogs seriously ill? / Credit: Pxfuel
1. Chocolate
Chocolate is obviously one of the most popular treats to find in homes during Easter, but it contains a chemical called theobromine, which is seriously harmful to dogs, and this means that eating even a small amount of chocolate can have serious consequences and result in symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, and death in some serious cases.
2. Hot Cross Buns
Hot Cross Buns are another delicious Easter food that should be kept far away as most contain dried fruit such as raisins, sultanas, and currants, which are toxic to dogs.
The reasons behind why these fruits are toxic is a bit of a mystery, as some dogs have eaten large amounts of dried fruit without feeling unwell, whereas others have become unwell after eating just a small amount – but John says it’s “definitely best to err on the side of caution” and make your own buns using a vet-approved dog-friendly recipe that you can enjoy together as a family without fear.
3. Cooked Bones
Cooked bones come with serious health risks for dogs.
Although they aren’t poisonous, they’re prone to splitting when gnawed and chewed, and this can lead to bone fragments getting stuck in their throats – which can result in choking.
4. Bulb Vegetables
Bulb vegetables are a roast dinner essential, but those such as onions and garlic can cause nasty stomach upsets for dogs, and in some cases, can even cause red blood cell damage, so it’s better to keep them on your plate and out of your pets’ mouths.
5. Meat Skin
It may be tempting to give your dog skin from the leftover chicken, or a fatty piece of meat – but this is far too rich for their tummies, and in some of the worst cases, it can cause inflammation of their pancreas.
Properly-cooked boneless pieces of chicken added to their dog food bowl is a better way to involve them in the Easter fun without risking their health.
Chocolate and hot cross buns are just some of the Easter foods toxic to dogs / Credit: Pexels & FreeImages
What should I do if my pet has eaten something it shouldn’t have?
Even if your pet has only eaten a small amount of these foods, it’s important to do the following:
Call the vet straight away – Don’t wait for your pet to start showing symptoms. A vet will be able to offer advice, and the quicker you act, the better chance your pet will have of recovery.
Note the time and quantity of food ingested – Provide the vet with as much information as you can. This includes the time your pet ate the unsafe food, brand names, the ingredient list and how much you think they consumed.
Don’t try to make your pet sick – Attempting this can cause further health complications. Leave this to your vet, as they are trained to do this in a safe manner.
John adds that dog owners should “keep any dangerous Easter foods well out of paws reach in a high cupboard”, and check that floors are “clear of toxic food scraps” that children may have dropped during Easter egg hunts and parties.
Emily Sergeant -
24th September 2021 
