NEWS

As spring arrives this week, dog owners across Ballymena are being urged to stay alert — with a warning that some of the season’s most popular flowers could pose a serious risk to pets. Dogs Trust Ballymena  has issued a timely reminder ahead of Friday, 20 March, highlighting the hidden dangers lurking in gardens, parks and woodland areas as blooms begin to flourish. While longer days and warmer weather are a welcome change, the charity says common spring plants — including d

PSNI PD Jess A remarkable police dog who helped take more than £1 million worth of drugs, cash and firearms off the streets has retired after an eight-year career with the Police Service of Northern Ireland. Retired police dog Jess, a nine-year-old Labrador, joined the PSNI as a search and detection dog in 2018 and worked alongside her handler Sarah throughout a distinguished career that saw her repeatedly uncover hidden criminal caches. Now, after hanging up her harness at t

The abandoned cat found in a pet carrier cable-tied to the gates of Mid-Antrim Animal Sanctuary A cat was discovered secured inside a carrier and cable-tied to the gates of Mid-Antrim Animal Sanctuary on Wednesday evening (25 February), prompting a renewed appeal from the charity about the risks of abandoning animals. The cat is now safe and receiving veterinary care, the sanctuary confirmed. However, the animal was not microchipped, making it impossible to trace an owner. Wh

USPCA Chief Executive Heather Weir with DAERA Minister Andrew Muir at the USPCA shelter in Newry. The festive glow may have faded, but for some animals across Northern Ireland, the fallout is only beginning. The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) and the Ulster Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (USPCA) are urging the public to think twice before abandoning a pet in the wake of post-Christmas “pet regret”. Each year, once the excitement

Inset: South Antrim MP Robin Swann Northern Ireland is poised to finally introduce its own version of Lucy’s Law — but concerns remain that determined breeders could still sidestep the rules by selling animals across the water. South Antrim MP Robin Swann  has welcomed a commitment from Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir  to ban the third-party sale of puppies and kittens in Northern Ireland. However, he has warned that a “grey area” in current regulations could undermine the l

The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) has renewed its call for responsible dog ownership after new figures revealed that farm animals in Northern Ireland worth an estimated £152,000 were severely injured or killed in dog attacks during 2025. The warning comes ahead of the busy lambing season, a critical period for sheep farmers, when pregnant ewes and newborn lambs are particularly vulnerable. Figures released by NFU Mutual show a 30% decrease in the financial cost of livestock att

DAERA Minister Andrew Muir announces next steps towards introducing new rules on selling and supplying puppies and kittens in Northern Ireland. Minister Muir is pictured with Laura Orr and Adam Clowes from Dogs Trust, members of Northern Ireland Companion Animal Welfare Group (NICAWG). Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister Andrew Muir has announced the next steps towards introducing new rules on selling and supplying puppies and kittens in Northern Ireland, incl

Audry the spaniel from Dogs Trust Ballymena is seeking her loving forever home A 12-year-old Spaniel crossbreed is searching for a loving forever home this Valentine’s Day at Dogs Trust Ballymena , after being returned to the charity’s care due to a change in circumstances. Audry, described as a “sensational Spaniel” by staff, first came into the care of Dogs Trust Ballymena as a young pup in 2014 and was quickly adopted. After spending 11 years in a loving home, she was ret

Rescue dog Tyson, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, was involved in a collision with a vehicle A senior rescue dog named Tyson is facing the loss of a leg after being struck by a car while straying in Ballymena, prompting an urgent fundraising appeal by local not-for-profit rescue The Half Way Dog House to cover his life-saving veterinary treatment. Tyson, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, is currently being held in a local pound and is expected to be released to The Half Way Dog Ho

Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council has backed a motion supporting the use of silent fireworks at council events and on council-owned property. The motion was proposed by Antrim DUP Councillor Paul Dunlop BEM at a meeting of the council in Mossley Mill, Newtownabbey, on Monday evening. Cllr Dunlop asked the council to note the “negative impact” the noise of fireworks can have on children, pets and livestock, and called for a council-led campaign to raise awareness of

Siblings Christopher, Eeyore and Tigger, along with Robin (second left) was the first dog to be adopted from Dogs Trust Ballymena in 2026 Dogs Trust Ballymena has begun 2026 with renewed determination to help more dogs find loving, permanent homes, after successfully rehoming 455 dogs during 2025. With demand for kennel spaces remaining high, the charity is encouraging people from across Northern Ireland to visit its Ballymena rehoming centre, where there are currently 31 dog

Pet lovers across Northern Ireland are being invited to start the New Year on a high note as Barket, the much-loved market celebrating pets and their people, returns to The Junction Retail and Leisure Park in Antrim on Saturday 17 January 2026. Running from 11am to 4pm, the event promises a lively, family-friendly atmosphere, with over 50 stalls and exhibitors offering everything from gourmet dog treats and eco-friendly toys to bespoke collars and pet wellness products. Now f

As cold weather warnings are issued by the Met Office across Northern Ireland, Dogs Trust Ballymena has issued a stark warning to dog owners, urging them to keep their pets well away from frozen lakes, ponds and waterways. While many dogs enjoy swimming, the charity warns that familiar splash spots can become extremely dangerous during freezing conditions. Ice may appear solid, but in most cases it is not strong enough to support a dog’s weight. If it breaks, dogs can plunge

L-R: Junior Minister, Aisling Reilly MLA, joins Rosie’s Trust celebrity ambassador, James Nesbitt, and Chair, Aileen Martin, together with deputy First Minister, Emma Little-Pengelly, at Parliament Buildings for a special celebration to mark the charity’s tenth anniversary. Rosie’s Trust, Northern Ireland’s only charity dedicated to caring for people by caring for their pets, has marked its tenth anniversary by honouring its longest-serving volunteers at a special celebration

Officers from Belfast Harbour Police with the rescued cockapoo puppies Ten cockapoo puppies rescued from an illegal smuggling operation at Belfast Harbour are now thriving in loving new homes, as DAERA Minister Andrew Muir urges the public to think carefully before buying a pet this Christmas. The puppies, discovered in February while being trafficked through Belfast Port, were intercepted following a multi-agency operation involving Harbour Police, Stena Ferry staff, DAERA P

Diane with her beloved girl Molly! A former stray dog who spent more than 700 days at Dogs Trust Ballymena is set to enjoy her first Christmas in a loving home after forming an unbreakable bond with her new owner. Ten-year-old Border Collie Molly arrived at Dogs Trust in June 2023 after being found wandering alone, with no clues to her previous life. Despite her uncertain past, staff quickly discovered a bright, affectionate dog who simply needed time, patience and trust to r

Dogs Trust Ballymena is encouraging festive shoppers to consider a heartfelt and meaningful Christmas gift this year by sponsoring one of the charity’s dogs, including much-loved English Springer Spaniel, Zebedee. With Christmas preparations well underway, Dogs Trust’s ‘Sponsor A Dog Scheme’ provides an ideal present for the canine enthusiast in your life. A sponsorship not only supports the charity’s work caring for around 1,500 dogs at any one time, but also includes a rang

A new partnership between the Northern Health and Social Care Trust and charity organisation Pets as Therapy is helping bring comfort, companionship and emotional support to patients through regular therapeutic pet visits in hospital wards. As part of the initiative, therapy dogs Pickle, Charlie and Bailey – accompanied by their volunteer owners – have begun visiting patients in a number of specialist units at Antrim Area Hospital. Gillian and her golden retriever-poodle

The potential for locating a dog park at the Ecos Nature Park in Ballymena has been dismissed at a meeting of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council this week. The issue was raised through a public question submitted ahead of Monday evening’s meeting at The Braid in Ballymena. Responding, Interim Chief Executive Valerie Watts said: “After consideration of this question, it would be council’s view that Ecos is not a suitable location for a dog park for a number of reasons. “A key

Good Boy Olly who can't contain his excitement to meet Santa Paws at Dogs Trust Ballymena's Christmas Fair Festive fun is on the way to County Antrim as Dogs Trust Ballymena prepares to host its much-loved Christmas Fair on Saturday 6 December, complete with a special appearance from the one and only Santa Paws. The annual event is a firm favourite with local supporters, and this year promises to be no exception as the team welcomes families, dog lovers and their four-legged