A dog stolen from her family’s home in March was found and reunited with her owners just in time for Christmas.
Minnie the French Bulldog was sadly found abandoned at the side of a canal in Liverpool Road, Hapton, near Burnley – 170 miles away from her owner Staci Day’s home in Gloucester – by a woman walking her dog, and after noticing she had some severe leg injuries, the RSPCA was thus called to help Minnie, who needed life-saving surgery to amputate her leg.
The leg wound had been bandaged, not by a trained professional, and was severely infected.
Minnie had no feeling in her severely damaged limb, and a vet decided an emergency leg amputation was needed to save the pup and provide her with the best chance for a happy life.
She was then taken to the RSPCA’s Greater Manchester Animal Hospital where she had to have her leg amputated further, and it was here that a microchip was found which revealed her owner’s details and the fact she had been reported as missing in March.
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All was healed and Minnie was returned home where she immediately recognised her emotional owner and ran up to fuss her.
PA News / Staci Day
Owner Staci Day said: “We weren’t sure we would ever see her again when she went missing, so we are over the moon to have her back in time for Christmas.
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“We reported her missing but thought she may have been involved in a road accident as there is a busy road nearby. We thought we might not ever find her, especially as time went by.”
She said the family were “shocked” to get a call from the RSPCA to say Minnie had been found.
“It is so sad she had been neglected and has lost her leg but she doesn’t seem to be letting it bother her and she is back to her playful and loving self,” she added.
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The animal charity has launched an investigation following reports that a dog had been found abandoned with a severe leg injury at 11pm on 28th November.
PA News / Staci Day
Ryan King – Inspector at the RSPCA – has launched an investigation to find out who dumped Minnie, saying: “It was great to see such a happy ending after all Minnie has endured.
“She was so excited to see her family.
“As soon as I got her out of the van and started walking towards the house, she started pulling me as she knew where she was going. She rushed straight over to Staci with her tail wagging and jumping up at her.
“She looked so happy to be home – and was enjoying getting lots of fuss and love.
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“This really does highlight why microchipping your pet is so important and it is vitally important to tell the chip company yourself if any contact details change.”
Anyone who knows about the whereabouts of Minnie during this period is encouraged to contact the RSPCA appeal line.
You can do so on 0300 123 8018.
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Coronation Street and Emmerdale cancel filming after news of cutbacks and reduced schedule
Danny Jones
Coronation Street and Emmerdale production crews are said to have cancelled at least one day of filming this week following news of more cutbacks and a reduced schedule of programming.
The beloved British soaps have been up against it for some time now, with viewing figures and costs struggling at both ends of the spectrum, and the latest development doesn’t spell great news for the cast and crew, not to mention audiences.
According to Digital Spy, regularly scheduled filming was due to take place in Manchester and Leeds on Tuesday, 5 February, with each show shooting roughly six to eight weeks in advance of storylines.
However, following reports of more hits to the industry and the latest steps ITV, specifically, which will see fewer episodes of both Corrie and Emmerdale air each week, film crews are said to have been stood down as they await further updates.
Part of the Coronation Street set over in Salford Quays. (Credit: The Manc Group)
Announcing steps at the start of February, ITV confirmed that Coronation Street and Emmerdale are to see their content cut by an hour a week between them from next year.
While Corrie currently broadcasts three hour-long episodes per week and Emmerdale four half-hour episodes plus one full-hour instalment, the new slate will see both soaps dial back to only air 30-minute episodes, with a so-called ‘soaps power hour’ every both shows at 8pm and 8:30pm.
Put in simplest terms, viewers will have half an hour less of their regular soaps to watch overall each week but with episodes airing at more regular intervals, which the network claims is “viewer-led” and will allow fans to enjoy the shows “in the most digestible way.”
Metro writer Duncan Lindsay has labelled the decision as a tough one to make but something that could ultimately “save” the two long-standing soap operas in the long run.
On the other hand, this obviously means a big chunk of work being lost for those working on sets across the board, with ITV having already taken steps to cut costs ever since the pandemic, and the UK’s viewing public has given mixed reactions, to say the least.
The hour of scripted content saved from the overdue cut to Corrie and Emmerdale should be pumped into a new continuing drama. It’s the only way to justify the loss to the industry.
With an increased focus on streaming and making both shows more accessible, episodes will continue to be released from 7am on ITVX before airing on live telly later that evening.
Responding to the changes, the performing arts union Equity admitted that the steps do cause “further cause for concern”, especially following the cancellation of other soaps like Doctors and Hollyoaks also having recently seen its schedule adjusted.
It remains unclear when the respective cast and crews will return to filming.
What do you make of the cutbacks: will you miss the sum total of 60 minutes being shaved off your Corrie and Emmerdale catch-ups, or do you think it’s a bittersweet step that could help freshen up the format and sustain it for years to come?
New survey reveals one in three shoppers admits to stealing at self-checkouts
Emily Sergeant
Almost 40% of UK shoppers have failed to scan at least one item when using self-checkouts, new research has revealed.
Self-checkouts started to become popular in the UK in the 1990s, and since then have evolved to meet consumer demands and solve the problem of queueing, especially taking on a life of their own in supermarkets from the 2010s onwards… but now, some exclusive new research for The Grocer has revealed that could be causing more hassle than they’re worth.
A national survey of more than 1,000 shoppers found that only 63% said they ‘never’ failed to scan an item when using self-checkouts, which leaves almost two in five who do so at least occasionally.
A third (32%) also admitted to having weighed loose items incorrectly, while 38% said they had put through an incorrect loose item.
Experts say these statistics show that “a new breed of shoplifter” has been created.
A new survey has revealed that one in three shoppers admits to stealing at self-checkouts / Credit: Aldi
“You’re creating opportunities for people who otherwise wouldn’t even think about shoplifting,” commented Matt Hopkins, who is an associate professor in criminology at the University of Leicester,
When it comes to the biggest culprits of failing to scan items at self-checkouts, the survey revealed that the under 35 age group, and men overall, came out as the most common, but it’s unclear whether this could be blamed on system error, missing barcodes, or rushing shoppers, instead of being intentional.
Surprisingly though, despite public perception and a recent headline-grabbing move by supermarket chain Booths to remove self-service checkouts from all but a select few of its busiest stores, this new research also shows that shoppers actually prefer to use self-checkouts (54.2%), over staffed checkouts (29.8%).
“In a short space of time, the self-checkout option has gone from zero to an accepted norm – and now to an active preference for many,” commented Lucia Juliano, the UK head of research and client success at Harris Interactive.
The speed and relative freedom provided by self-checkouts were the main advantages of using them, according to shoppers, with 56% choosing to use them because they’re faster.
52% cited the fact that self-checkouts allow them to ‘go at [their] own pace’.
Juliano did, however, comment that shoppers’ preference for self-checkouts may only be a reality “when there are no tech issues during the transaction”, which is said to be the “biggest bugbear by far” according to the survey.
Emily Sergeant -
28th December 2020 
