Give a dog a dinner

A CAMPAIGN to raise money for neglected dogs has been launched by the RSPCA — with the help of a star from the cobbles.

Coronation Street’s Sam Aston and the Bury, Oldham and District branch are urging residents to help their “Give a Dog a Dinner” appeal at a time of the year when hundreds of unwanted animals are brought to the shelter or abandoned.

The help goes directly to animals like Great Dane Babe — who branch manager Mandy Tierney recalls as the worst starvation she has seen in 11 years with the charity.

Babe weighed a third of her normal weight when she came to the RSPCA centre at Rhodes Bank, Oldham.

The dog had been abandoned by her owners after giving birth to 11 puppies, and was so weak she couldn’t stand up.

Mandy said: “We had to syringe feed her, she was so ill. The first night, I thought she was going to die.

“It was obvious her owners weren’t feeding her and she had been left outside for a long time.”

After three months of care Babe was fighting fit again, and has since been rehomed in Nottingham. Her former owners received a 10-year ban from keeping animals by the courts.

Lancashire pint-sized actor, Sam Aston (18), who plays Chesney Brown in the hit soap, is famed for his friendship with his character’s pet Great Dane, Schmeichel — who died in the programme earlier this month.

The Corrie star, who recently become a patron of the RSPCA animal centre, said: “I really urge the public to donate whatever they can. These animals are left at the branch in the most unimaginable state — either through neglect or cruelty.”

The branch, which receives no lottery finding or government support, costs £1million a year to run.

Find out more about the appeal from Mandy on 633 1734 — or visit the Rhodes Bank centre on Sunday for its annual Christmas Fair (from 11.30am).