An online personalised pet gift shop is on a mission to ensure rescue dogs in Greater Manchester have a happy Christmas.
Yappy.com has announced it will be donating toys, warm beds and everyday essentials to a number of local rescue centres in the area, including Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary in Ramsbottom, and Manchester & Cheshire Dogs’ Home in Harpurhey.
Due to current lockdown restrictions and social distancing guidelines, many animal rescue centres are currently unable to re-home dogs to new owners, meaning that hundreds of dogs in Greater Manchester could remain in shelters this Christmas while they wait for restrictions to be lifted and new owners being permitted to visit them.
In addition to donating a dog toy to each and every dog at the centres in the run up to Christmas, Wythenshawe-based Yappy.com will be playing Santa Paws and offering brand new cosy beds, harnesses, food and water bowls plus other essential items to make life a little easier for the dogs and staff working at the rescue centres.
How brilliant is this?
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John Smith – Founder of Yappy.com – says he’s on a mission to give back to the dedicated rescue centres who have worked tirelessly during the pandemic and spread a little festive ‘yappiness’ to dogs in rescue. He said: “2020 has been a really difficult time for rescue shelters and after hearing that so many dogs might still remain under their care this Christmas,
“[so] as a business, we wanted to give something back and donate a few treats that will make a small difference to the pups who haven’t been rehomed before Christmas due to lockdown restrictions.
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Yappy.com / Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary
“We hope that the toys will help to entertain the remaining dogs a little and that the dog beds make their life a little more comfortable whilst they wait for their new owners to provide them with a happy and safe home in the near future.”
Gemma Atkinson – Actress, Hits Radio presenter and President of Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary – added: “We are pleased Yappy.com have chosen Bleakholt as one of their Christmas charities. Our dogs who are in the kennels over the festive period will love their new toy and cosy bed,
“It will help make a difficult time a little easier for everyone.”
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Karen Weed – General Manager at Bleakholt, which re-homes around 1,300 animals each year including dogs, cats, rabbits, donkeys and horses – said: “Despite being closed to the public for visiting and rehoming appointments, sadly we are still taking in many animals who need a new home and we expect this number to rise in 2021 given the impact of COVID-19 and changes in owners’ individual circumstances.
“In the meantime, Bleakholt is still accepting applications to adopt the animals in our care and we are working hard to arrange new homes for the 60 dogs under our wing when lockdown restrictions lift.
“Sadly, some of these are still likely to be with us over Christmas but with the support of our incredible volunteers and kind donations, we will ensure that they all receive a few Christmas treats. We’re always so grateful for the donations we receive and even more so at Christmas and during this second lockdown period.
“Despite our two shops being closed, our online shop is open offering a range of gifts, cards, hoodies, toys and treats at affordable prices whilst helping to fund the work that we do.”
Bleakholt Animal SanctuaryManchester and Cheshire Dogs’ Home
Joanne Barrow – Spokesperson for Manchester and Cheshire Dogs’ Home – added: “This year has been a challenging year for everyone [and] I want to thank all our staff, volunteers and supporters for everything they have done and going over and above in helping us to help the dogs in our care.
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“Donations like this help us keep the dogs enriched and entertained in kennels and it really boost the staff morale to know there are others looking to help the dogs in our care.”
To make an application for one of the animals at Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary, you can visit the website to fill out the application form here, and the animal sponsorship scheme is also available online offering the chance to sponsor a dog, cat, horse or donkey for £25 a year.
You can enquire about adopting a dog from Manchester and Cheshire Dog’s Home here.
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IKEA is hosting a massive pyjama day with free breakfasts and £15 discounts this weekend
Emily Sergeant
IKEA is hosting a massive pyjama day at stores across the UK this weekend, and it sounds like the perfect excuse for a lazy day.
Don’t you just wish it was socially acceptable to wear your pyjamas in public sometimes?
Well now you can actually get away with it for once, as Swedish furniture retailer IKEA is hosting one of the most unique shopping experiences there is this weekend, and is inviting customers to ditch their daywear and don their favourite PJs instead.
Promising to be “a fun day out for all the family”, IKEA’s Pyjama Day is the perfect opportunity to shop for all your home needs in the most comfortable attire imaginable.
IKEA is hosting a massive pyjama day this weekend / Credit: IKEA
In a move that’s sure to be a bit of a dream come true for lazy Mancs, all late risers and loungewear lovers can get themselves down to either the Ashton or Warrington IKEA stores to make the most of all the cosy action.
Anyone signed up to be an ‘IKEA Family’ member who visits their local store wearing pyjamas this weekend can help themselves to a free breakfast of either a small cooked Full English or a breakfast roll, with veggie and vegan options available, or any children’s breakfast for those under 16.
That’s not all either, as pyjama-clad shoppers will also be able to snag an exclusive £15 discount when they spend £50 or more in-store on the same day.
If all of that wasn’t enough to get you down there as it is, there’s also set to be a special visit from BJÖRN bear in the restaurant for little ones, as well as loads of other free events in stores nationwide to get yourselves stuck into.
To bag your free breakfast and £15 discount, you just need to become an ‘IKEA Family’ member first by signing up for free on the IKEA website to unlock access to a range of exclusive deals and benefits, as well as up to 20% off on IKEA ‘Sleep Essentials’ until Monday 30 September.
To turn up in your PJs though? That’s open to all.
IKEA Pyjama Day is taking place at stores nationwide this Saturday 7 September, and you can find out more on the IKEA website here.
Featured Image – IKEA
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Costa, Greggs, and more unveil 2024 autumn menus full of new toasties, cakes, and seasonal drinks
Emily Sergeant
Tasty toasties, cakes, seasonal drinks, and more all feature on the new 2024 autumn menus at a handful of popular high street coffee shop chains.
As summer draws to a close and the colder months edge closer, it’s not uncommon the high street’s best-loved coffee shop chains to unveil their limited-edition autumn menus around this time to help get us in the spirit.
Thankfully, Costa, Greggs, Starbucks, and Pret have all delivered so far.
Chicken and chorizo paninis, hog roast toasties, salt beef baguettes, salted caramel chocolate cakes, stem ginger cookies, and pumpkin spice doughnuts are just a selection of the mouthwatering foodie treats forming part of the new seasonal menus that you’ll soon be able to tuck into at each of the chains.
And of course, what would autumn be without pumpkin spice lattes? The cult-classic drink is now on the menu in both hot and cold format at Greggs, Pret, and its original home, Starbucks.
Costa, Greggs, and more have unveiled their new autumn menus for 2024 / Credit: Costa
Over at Costa, there’s a wide range of new items having been added to the lineup for the next couple of months, with some of the highlights being the Brie, Bacon, and Chilli Jam Panini, the Chilli Beef and Cheddar Toastie, a Sticky Pecan Mini Loaf, and a spooky iced gingerbread ghost biscuit, perfect for little ones or as a sweet snack.
Alongside the newbies, Costa’s fan-favourite Hog Roast Toastie, Roast Chicken and Bacon Sandwich, and Chocolate and Salted Caramel Cake will also be returning, as will the massively-popular Maple Hazel drinks range.
At Greggs, there’s a stunning selection of pumpkin spice treats to choose from, including the Pumpkin Spice Doughnut and classic Pumpkin Spice Latte, as well as other seasonal hot drinks like the Orange Mocha and Orange Hot Chocolate, and the much-loved Salted Caramel Latte, while when it comes to savoury options, there’s a new Mexican Bean and Spicy Cheese Flatbread, and an All-Day Breakfast Baguette to see you through the day.
The limited-edition menus are full of tasty toasties, sweet treats, and seasonal drinks / Credit: Pret | Greggs
Pret has also joined the pumpkin spice and salted caramel bandwagon for another year, with both lattes returning yet again, but some of the stand-out new additions to its menu include the Mushroom Florentine Toastie, the Beef & Horseradish Baguette, the Cinnamon Crown, and Spiced Apple & Pecan Muffin.
Starbucks is yet to fully unveil its new autumn menu, but is expected to do so very soon so make sure to keep your eyes peeled.
However, what we do know is that the original Pumpkin Spice Latte is already back in all its glory.
Greggs and Pret’s new autumn menus are now available to tuck into for a limited time only, while Costa’s launches nationwide this Thursday (5 September), and Starbucks will be in due course.
Emily Sergeant -
27th November 2020 
