Two dogs die in early morning stable fire in Middleton

A fire has destroyed most of the resources at Tennyson Road Horse and Pony Shelter in Middleton

Two dogs have died in a stable fire in Middleton during the early hours of Thursday morning (22 November).

Fire crews from Heywood and Chadderton were called to the fire at Tennyson Road Horse and Pony Shelter, Boarshaw, at 2.31am.

Horses and ponies at the sanctuary have been left without shelter, leaving owner John Starkey urgently requiring help of any kind.

He said: “A petrol can was found on site, and it’s absolutely barbaric that anyone can do this to animals. I’ve lost two of my three dogs, two American Bulldogs that were eight years old and 11 months old.

“I’ve lost absolutely everything: rugs, tack, horse feed, tools, mucking out equipment, quads for land maintenance. Absolutely everything has gone.

“My priority is getting the horses sorted; we can't even put rugs on them. We have nine Shetland ponies, a cob-Arab cross and a mountain pony. I’m in shock that anyone could do this.”

Anyone with information should contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

If you can help John and the horses out in any way, please contact him on 07707 932 856.