The longest resident dog at an animal sanctuary in Bury has been successfully rehomed after nearly a decade.
Humbug has finally found his forever home… and we honestly couldn’t be happier for him.
The Akita-cross – who was described as being a “popular pooch” among the staff at Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary in Edenfield, near Ramsbottom in Bury – was actually born at the rescue site all the way back in 2014.
He was initially rehomed along with his siblings, however ended up being returned to Bleakholt as a youngster due to being wary of strangers, and then sadly struggled to find another home as he was considered to be, in Sanctuary Manager Karen Weed’s words, “a complex little soul”.
Due to his extended kennel life, Humbug unfortunately had insecurities and phobias, so he needed ltos of training and a patient owner.
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The longest resident dog at a Bury animal sanctuary has finally been rehomed after nine years / Credit: Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary
The lovable pup waited and waited, and in that time, went on to become a firm-favourite of staff and volunteer dog walkers, who he would often “shower with cuddles and smooches” once he got to know them well, and was known for being everyone’s “very best friend”.
Although Humbug was taken home at weekends by who Bleakholt called a “fantastic and devoted” foster carer to get him used to going on long walks and being within a domestic environment – which was said to have helped to “greatly improve” his confidence and behaviour – staff at the sanctuary wanted nothing more for him to “leave his heated kennel and find a heated house” for good.
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And finally, that day eventually came earlier this month.
Humbug was successfully rehomed by Ken Marsh and his partner Sandra Rothwell after nine long years at Bleakholt, and he’s said to already be “settling in well”.
Explaining why they knew Humbug was the one for them, and giving a little update on how he’s settling into his new surroundings after being welcomed into their loving home, Ken said: “Humbug is my seventh dog from Bleakholt. I went to get Herbie five-and-a-half years ago, and asked for the dog that had been there longest.
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“When Herbie died, I went to Bleakholt, and asked again for the one who had been there the longest, and also looked at a few others. We went home and talked about it, and then decided on Humbug.
“It’s the longest I have ever been without a dog since I was 21-years-old, so it was good to pick him up. It’s so far so good. He has two beds, one downstairs and one upstairs, he loves his squeaky toys, and he is a slow walker – I have a 25 minute walk to the canal, but it takes me 45 minutes with Humbug.
“He has settled in well, and it’s a pleasure to have him.”
Featured Image – Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary (via Facebook)
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Classic FM will be back playing calming music for anxious pets this Bonfire Night
Emily Sergeant
Classic FM will be back playing calming music for anxious pets during this year’s fireworks season.
Bonfire Night may be loved by us humans for the spectacular firework displays and all the festive-themed activities that come along with it… but sadly, the November holiday isn’t quite so fun for our four-legged friends.
Loud bangs, flashing lights, and unpleasant strong smell of spent explosives are just some of the reasons why fireworks are frightening to pets.
Not only that, but with multiple bangs occurring from numerous displays across this time of year, pets are rarely able to pinpoint when and where the booming explosions are coming from, therefore creating even more anxiety around this time of year.
Classic FM will play calming music for anxious pets during this year’s fireworks / Credit: DESIGNECOLOGIST (via Unsplash)
Which is why, for the ninth year running now, Classic FM is once again teaming up with the RSPCA for two Pet Classics programmes packed with ‘the most soothing and comforting classical music’.
The music has been handpicked to help calm and settle any anxious pets.
A survey by the RSPCA revealed that almost two-thirds (63%) of animal owners reported their pet was distressed during fireworks season, and that playing relaxing music was the most common way (36%) to help calm or prepare their animal.
Presenters Dan Walker, Aled Jones, and Dawn O’Porter will each host a night of the specially created programme to help keep the nation’s pets calm through the whizzes and bangs.
Dan will present the first programme on Bonfire Night itself (Thursday 5 November), and then as celebrations continue throughout the weekend, Aled will be on hand to bring some peace to Friday 6 November, and Dawn picks up the baton on Saturday 7 November.
All three Pet Classics programmes will be broadcast from 5pm to 10pm, and you can listen on Classic FM or Global Player available across the UK.
Featured Image – The Manc Group
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What is the UK’s national dish? New survey reveals Brits’ pick in landslide victory
Emily Sergeant
If you’ve ever thought to Google the question ‘what is Britain’s national dish?’, then you probably came away thinking it’s chicken tikka masala.
But is that actually the truth? A new survey has disproved the claim, massively.
There’s no denying that chicken tikka masala – an Indian curry that’s actually widely thought to have been created in Britain – is a popular dish that’s loved by many, but despite what many headlines have claimed over the years, a new YouGov survey has revealed it’s not what Brits consider to be the country’s ‘national dish’.
YouGov conducted two online surveys earlier this month, made up of 2,079 and 2,104 adults aged 18+ living in Great Britain.
And, in their own words, Brits chose fish and chips as the country’s national dish, making it the ‘resounding’ winner with 49% of the vote.
What is the UK’s national dish? A new survey has revealed Brits’ pick in a landslide victory / Credit: The Manc Group
With nearly half of the overall vote, this puts fish and chips far ahead of the roast dinner in second place, which only 24% of people picked – including the 6% who made sure to specify a beef roast.
In fact, only 3% of Brits actually name chicken tikka masala as the UK’s national dish, although 52% in the survey did confess that they eat some form of curry at least once a month, so it is still a popular pick regardless.
Fish and chips is by far the most common answer across all generations too, according to the survey (45-50%), with the biggest difference between age groups being that 18-24 year olds are less likely to have nominated roast dinner and more likely to have chosen chicken tikka masala instead.
What do Brits say is the UK’s national dish?
Fish and chips – 49%
Roast dinner – 24%
Chicken tikka masala – 3%
Curry (non-specific) – 2%
Full English breakfast – 2%
Bangers and mash – 1%
Cottage or shepherd’s pie – 1%
Other – 3%
Don’t know – 15%
The survey also showed that, of the three top contenders for the UK’s national dish, roast dinners are the most frequently eaten, as 52% of people said they eat them on a monthly basis – including 16% who do so every week.
Aside from the frequently mentioned dishes, some survey respondents also gave shoutouts to the full English breakfast (2%), bangers and mash (1%), and cottage or shepherd’s pie (1%).
Emily Sergeant -
26th January 2024 
