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8 January 2025

This England: Barking up the wrong tree

This column – which, though named after a line in Shakespeare’s “Richard II”, refers to the whole of Britain – has run in the New Statesman since 1934.

By New Statesman

A Labrador called River has lost her role as a guide dog for chasing squirrels in Kent. River failed to meet the requirements for guide dog duty, due to her love of pursuing the bushy-tailed rodents – despite numerous warnings not to. However, Sergeant Ian Sutton of Kent Police saw River’s potential to be a calming influence for those in emotional distress. She was enrolled in his custody canine initiative and is now a therapy dog at Maidstone police station, helping to keep the peace.
The Mirror (Adam Robertson)

Britain’s luckiest turkey survived the Christmas Day chop by going on a 5km Parkrun with her owner. Dave Brooker, 58, takes his beloved pet turkey Trouble Version Two – T2 for short – everywhere, including to the pub and dentist. Brooker feeds T2 the meat from Scotch eggs as well as cheese-and-onion crisps at the pub. The turkey has had such an effect on her owner over their three years together that he has now turned fully vegetarian.
Metro (Steve Morley)

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