Lola gets back her life – and her name
EVERYONE likes a story with a happy ending - and this one had us smiling at the Downs Mail office. It all started so traumatically for Lola. This lovely
little Jack Russell was pregnant and close to death when she was abandoned, sealed in a cardboard box, in woods on Penenden Heath, Maidstone. After being spotted by a passer-by the young
pup was rushed to a vet's for an emergency Cae- sarian before being transferred to the RSPCA centre at Leybourne, where the staff called her Daisy. She was looked after there for three
weeks before going back to the veterinary centre at Newnham Court, where she had the initial op- eration. Robyn Stevens, who works there, said they had
called her Lola when she was first brought in. She and her boyfriend, David Miles, could not re- sist taking Lola back to their home in Marden. Lola has nowrecovered from her ordeal - and is
lapping up the attention. "She's happy as long as she's on someone's lap - she's a real princess now!" said Robyn. But she cannot comprehend how Lola's own-
ers could have been so cruel. "Her uterus had ruptured and we feared she may have peritoni- tis. What was going through their minds when they did that." Now, a £1,000 reward is being offered by ani-
mal rights organisation PETA for information leading to a conviction. Call 020 7357 9229.
Lola in playful mood in her new home
Meanwhile, there was a far from unhappy ending for two other dogs. A severely injured Yorkie cross terrier was
left to die on a doorstep in Yeoman Way, Bearsted. The stunned resident went to the door after
hearing a car speeding away to find the ginger- coloured dog cowering there, unable to stand. The dog had suffered multiple injuries and
had to be put to sleep. In another horrific incident, a tan terrier bitch
was found drowned in the River Medway close to the Millennium Bridge at Maidstone, having been tied up in a carrier bag weighted down with bolt cutters. Police are investigating both incidents.
Healthier times for council staff
MAIDSTONE Council staff sickness rates are down by more than two days a year. The average number of sick days per employee is now 5.26 compared to 7.8 at the end of 2009-10. "This is a major achievement," said an officer's report to council- lors, "and implies there has been an increase in staff productivity."
Ringlestone Inn rises to challenge
from the Guides THE Ringlestone Inn near Harriet- sham stepped in at the last minute to help KentWeald Guides’ annual challenge InvictaWalk. Teams competed by walking a
preset route and completing vari- ous challenges on the way. The walk rotates around the
county’s eight divisions with this year’s hosted by North Downs Divi- sion.
Last-minute changes meant that
the Guides had nowhere to hold the planned fourth challenge, which was when Ringlestone Inn landlords Christina and Kevin stepped in and allowed use of the garden and car park free of charge. The Guides also thanked the
other landowners who allowed challenges to be set up on their land and for their understanding with around 160 Guides tramping through on a very muddy day.
Flats demolition plan A PLAN has been submitted to de- molish four self-contained flats, re- placing them with seven one-bedroom flats at 56-58 Boxley Road, Maidstone.
Free entry to Graham’s Nativity play
“JOE Carpenter and Son”, a Nativity play written by local artist Gra- ham Clarke, is being performed at All Saints’ Church, Holling- bourne, on Thursday and Friday, December 16 and 17. Admission is free but a collection will be taken after each performance, with proceeds going to the church and Hollingbourne School.
To contact Downs Mail just phone 01622 630330
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