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.
The full list of Greater Manchester Olympians representing Team GB at Paris 2024
Danny Jones
The Paris Olympics are nearly here and this year Greater Manchester happens to have eight athletes competing at the 2024 Summer Games.
It just so happens that eight is also the exact same number of local Olympians who brought home medals from Tokyo 2020, and we’re hoping these lot will help Team GB bring back a record number, with the previous competition seeing them match their all-time record (65) set at London 2012.
Honestly, there are few times in the year that we love as much as when the summer of sport fully kicks in and with the heartbreak of the Euros finally starting to drift, we can fully throw ourselves into the Olympics and get behind our Mancs flying the flag for 0161.
But who exactly is representing Greater Manchester at Paris 2024 and what events are they competing in? Look no further.
Greater Manchester’s 2024 Team GB athletes and their sports
Without further ado, let’s meet our local Olympic heroes:
Keely Hodgkinson – Wigan – Athletics
Starting out over in the home of the Latics, pie barms and The Verve, we have Wigan‘s very own Keely Hodgkinson: a two-time European champion who also recently broke the all-time British record in the 800m at the Diamond League in London on 20 July.
Born in Atherton, the 22-year-old middle-distance runner’s career is already off to a flyer and having already picked up the silver in her event at the last Olympics at just 19, we have every faith she’ll be bringing home the gold this time.
Aimee Pratt – Stockport – Athletics
Over to Stockport (don’t start with that Cheshire nonsense today, just be proud she’s from around here) and our 3000m steeplechase specialist, who already broke the national record twice in 2022 and produced the UK’s best-ever finish (7th) in the women’s event at the World Athletics Championships.
A long-standing member of Sale Harriers running club and a University of Manchester graduate, Aimee Pratt, 26, has got so much local backing behind her and has quickly gone from rising star to very much looking like she’s going to live up to the expectations of becoming ‘world-class’ as coaches predicted.
The third and final Manc representing us in athletics events is Bury-born and bred Hannah Kelly, 23, who is also a member of nearby Bolton United Harriers.
She was part of the crack team at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow that helped Great Britain reach a women’s 4x400m national record, picking up the bronze medal and will no doubt be looking to go on further in her Olympic debut.
Now into the world of combat sport and the incredible story of Trafford boxer Pat Brown’s journey to Paris 2024 who beat Poland’s Mateusz Bereznicki in a qualifier back in March and now finds himself heading to his first-ever appearance at the Olympics.
Coming through the ranks at his local clubs Moss Side Fire Station and Sale West ABC, the 24-year-old has gone through his fair share of challenges of late, losing his best friend and cousin shortly after sealing his place at the Games but now has more spirit and motivation behind him than ever.
Moving over to the world of cycling and there’s just one local name taking part in two-wheeled events this year: 28-year-old sensation, Charlotte Worthington, from just down the road in Chorlton.
One of the select few Team GB athletes who managed to pick up an Olympic gold at Tokyo 2020, the BMX star is not only ready to defend her title – becoming the first women’s champion freestyle park champion in history – but is looking to come back stronger than ever after some time out.
Insane stuff.
Anthony Harding – Ashton-under-Lyne – Diving
On to those wading through Paris waters in the name of Manchester, the first of two aquatic athletes competing at this year’s tournament is Antony Harding from Ashton-under-Lyne in Tameside.
Joining forces will Britain’s first-ever Olympic diving champion, Jack Laugher (who won the gold at Rio 2016), the duo have already brought home Commonwealth and European gold in the 3m synchro, as well as a pair of World Championship silver medals in the last two years. Is 2024 set for more gold?
And completing the water-bound Team GB athletes hailing from 0161 is multiple-gold medal-winner James Guy who, to use a phrase the kids are using, really is ‘that guy‘.
Another Bury native, the 27-year-old swimmer already has a big collection of gold medals in both the 200m and 4x200m freestyle at the Worlds, as well as silvers across multiple events over the past few years. With five Olympic medals in total to date, we’re desperate for him to add a gold to that list.
Georgia Taylor-Brown – Droyslden – Triathlon
Last but certainly not least is Droyslden’s Georgia Taylor-Brown, who was born to be an Olympian after her mum and Dad swam and ran, respectively, but continues to chase her own story of greatness, having picked up silver on her Olympics debut at Tokyo 2020 – even whilst nursing an injury.
With two golds at the 2019 World Triathlon Mixed Relay Series and AJ Bell World Triathlon in Leeds as well, we already know the colour looks good on her. You can listen to her full interview about going for gold yet again on BBC Sounds HERE but, for now, we’ll admit that her talking about coping with missing her dog come race time has made us love her even more:
Passport ✅ Hotel ✅ Alfie the cavapoo 🥰@TeamGB triathlete Georgia Taylor-Brown from Droylsden on what she can't live without at the Olympics.
Fingers crossed out Greater Manchester Olympians will absolutely smash it at Paris 2024 and regardless of how many medals they come home with, we already know they’ll give it their all.
No matter what, they’ll be welcomed back with a lovely homecoming party over at the AO Arena and we already have a great place to watch the events too.
Best of luck to our Mancs and all of Team GB – now go and do us proud!
Beloved Manc butty shop Bada Bing set for a sensational return to the city centre
Danny Jones
Sandwich lovers rejoice because one of the finest butty shops to ever grace Manchester is returning: that’s right, Bada Bing is bada-back!
The Sopranos-inspired deli and sandwich shop that took its name from one of the central locations featured in the iconic US drama (yes, the strip club), was a huge success when it first opened in Manchester a few short years ago, so it was a huge blow when it closed in February 2022.
Starting out by serving sandwiches out of a window at The B Lounge pub on Paton Street near Piccadilly, before moving to a small kitchen on Radium Street and eventually setting up their stall inside Ancoats General Store, they would regularly have lines around the block every lunchtime.
These Italian-American sarnies were so popular you’d often struggle to get your claws on one – and believe us, they really are a two-handed task – as they’d sell out on what felt like most days. But now, whether you were a regular or someone who missed out, there is hope once again:
Announcing their sensational return to a new site over in the Northern Quarter, which will now mark the fourth premises they’ve popped up at, Bada Bing is back with a bang and, as you can, they dropped the news with one of the best reveal videos we’ve ever seen.
If you know, you know…
Set to take over 125 Oldham Street, owners Sam Gormally and Meg Lingenfelter haven’t yet graced us with an opening date but the new unit should hopefully be open sooner rather than later.
The duo, who previously worked at fellow NQ favourite Another Heart to Feed, came up with the concept during lockdown and it didn’t take long for the idea to take off, nor for them to earn their spot amongst the very best sandwich places in Manchester.
Seriously, these things were so big and unwieldy (in the best way possible) that they even used to come with eating instructions: both hands and the trademark Tony Soprano hunch recommended, though the slightly stained wife-beater, boxer shorts and open dressing gown look is optional.
From slices of provolone cheese, all the thinly sliced Italian meats you could think of and the closest thing to actual ‘gabagool‘ as you’ll find in Greater Manchester, the menu was fitting of being served up to the iconic characters that once sat outside Satriale’s and a big approving grin from the man himself.
Simply put, we cannot wait and we will certainly keep you posted when we find out exactly when Bada Bing confirms their official reopening date.