Latest news with #Enfys
South Wales Argus
21-07-2025
- South Wales Argus
Dog treats with fish hooks spotted at Blaen Bran Reservoir
Bone marrow treats containing fishhooks were spotted around Torfaen. The laced dog treats were reportedly found near the Blaen Bran Reservoir in Cwmbran to the Mountain Air Car Park between the Upper Cwmbran and Pontypool area. Dog treats laced with fishhooks found in Abergavenny Castle Meadows (Image: Tracey Leake-Jones) In a post in online group 'The Dogs Of Torfaen' Caroline Quigg wrote yesterday (July 20): 'Hope this is OK to post here... WARNING TO DOG WALKERS! FROM BLAEN BRAN WOODLAND TO THE MOUNTAIN AIR CAR PARK... someone has put down marrow chewsticks with fishhooks inside them. Police have been called and a warning issued....' Land near Mountain Air where a 'dog poisoning' was reportedly carried out (Image: NQ) Public reaction to this has been strong. Ruthie Hamblin said: 'How awful!!! We walk our doggys up there, thanks for the warning!' Becky Murphy said: 'Not again Abergavenny too! Too scared to take dog most places now nowhere safe it's so sad and just makes me so angry' Chris Mercury commented: 'Bloody scumbags.' Enfys with her owner Charley Meates (Image: Charley Meates) Earlier this month similar cases of dog treats containing fishhooks were reported in Castle Medows in Abergavenny. According to Abergavenny locals the problem has been ongoing since March. 31-year-old Charley Meates is one dog owner who has first hand experience of the fishhooks. Her Jack Russell Enfys had to undergo surgery last March after swallowing the hooks in Abergavenny. Post surgery scars on Enfys a Jack Rusell Terrier who ingested two fishhooks in Castle Meadows (Image: Charley Meates) Charley told the Argus: 'The hook was completely concealed inside the treat. The eye of the hook was placed in the centre so it couldn't be attached to a fishing line, clearly showing this was intended to cause harm. 'They immediately rushed her into surgery because there was a high risk of perforation, especially if one of the hooks had already moved into her bowel.' Gwent Police have been contacted for further details.
South Wales Argus
01-07-2025
- South Wales Argus
Anger after Abergavenny dog poisoned in Castle Meadows
52-year-old Claire Stone often walks with in the Castle Meadows, Abergavenny, with her partner David Seabridge 52, and their red Labrador Benson. The couple were shocked to discover dog treats laced with fishhooks. Dog treats laced with fishhooks found in Abergavenny Castle Meadows (Image: Tracey Leake-Jones) Claire told the Argus: "My partner David and I love walking Benson in Castle Meadows, and it was frightening that this could happen. "Whether it was a careless fisherman or something deliberately put out to harm dogs, we were scared for our dog, but also for all the lovely dogs that walk in the meadows." Benson's owners Claire Stone and David Seabridge who were shocked to find dog treats laced with fishhooks in Castle Meadows (Image: Claire Stone) The couple said they feel reassured that police are monitoring the area closely. "We won't let this spoil our dog walks in our beautiful local area," Claire added. "Castle Meadows is a special place for so many people and their pets, and we're determined to continue enjoying it safely." Benson a Red Labrador who was at risk of fishhooks in Castle Meadows (Image: Claire Stone) A post by Tracey Leake-Jones in the Facebook Abergavenny Voice read: 'Just went to Castle Meadows in Abergavenny to give the dog a good run. A nice couple approached me to say they had found a dog treat with a fishing hook inside it along one of the paths and to be careful. Sure enough, not five minutes after their warning I found another.' A 'fishhook problem' has been ongoing since March. Charley Meates, 31, has family in Abergavenny. She first noticed fishhooks with dog treats back in March whilst walking her Jack Russell Enfys. Dog treats laced with fishhooks found in Abergavenny Castle Meadows (Image: Charley Meates) In Abergavenny Voice on March 27, she posted: 'I just want to stress that this doesn't seem to be bait. The eyes of the hooks were completely concealed within the middle of the treat, so no way to attach it to a line. 'My dog doesn't like water, and this was in the middle of castle meadows in the grass. Please be careful.' Shockingly Enfys ingested some of the hooks. Enfys with her owner Charley Meates (Image: Charley Meates) Charley said: "At first, I thought it was just a stick, but when I realised it was a treat, I immediately took it out of her mouth. It broke as I pulled it out, and she swallowed half of it. "The hook was completely concealed inside the treat. The eye of the hook was placed in the centre so it couldn't be attached to a fishing line, clearly showing this was intended to cause harm.' Without hesitation, Charley rushed Enfys to Abbey Vets. Despite showing no immediate symptoms, X-rays revealed that Enfys had swallowed not one, but two hooks. Post surgery scars on Enfys a Jack Rusell Terrier who ingested two fishhooks in Castle Meadows (Image: Charley Meates) Charley said: "They immediately rushed her into surgery because there was a high risk of perforation, especially if one of the hooks had already moved into her bowel.' Fortunately, both hooks were successfully removed during emergency surgery and Enfys recovered well. Monmouthshire Council have advised residents to keep their dogs on leads and to avoid letting them eat anything found on the ground. Post surgery scars on Enfys a Jack Rusell Terrier who ingested two fishhooks in Castle Meadows (Image: Charley Meates) A statement from the council said: 'We have received reports that dog treats containing fishing hooks have been placed on the footpaths at Mill Street, Abergavenny, which leads to the River Usk and may also be found in Castle Meadows itself. 'The police are aware of the situation. If you are walking your dog in the area, please exercise caution.' Inspector Emma Sowrey of Gwent Police said, "Following this report we will be carrying out patrols in the local area, we would encourage dog owners to be vigilant and if anyone has any information, they can contact the local council or ourselves."
North Wales Live
26-04-2025
- North Wales Live
Mum quit English city life for rural Wales – what happened within 30 minutes shocked her
A mother exchanged her "predictable" English city existence for an entirely different life, only to face disaster within half-an-hour. Enfys Maloney, 40, originally from Wales, left the country for the University of Manchester at 18, where she met Rick, now her husband. Since 2018, they had made their home in Bedford, raising two daughters, now aged seven and nine. However, last year they decided to leave their modest semi-detached townhouse for a sprawling farm and historic smallholding in Eryri National Park (Snowdonia), Wales. Situated near the beach and the mountains, they've embraced a slower pace of life, with their children attending a small school with just 15 pupils, a stark contrast to the 400-strong cohort they were once part of. The family's new chapter includes 20 sheep and a river at the end of their garden, but their transition to this idyllic setting began with a bumpy start. "We were really happy," stated Enfys. "I don't want to paint a negative picture of Bedford because it was lovely. "But we decided it was very predictable and a very conventional setup and we decided to trade that predictability for the unknown wild rural life in Wales where actually there would be a lot of question marks as to how life would look as opposed to doing that town living thing indefinitely without much change." The downturn caused by COVID-19 spelled the end for Enfys's travel business before she embarked on a fresh endeavour, crafting sales training programmes for business proprietors. Rick, an engineer by trade, reached a crossroads when his request to cut his working week down for better work-life balance wasn't granted. Enfys recalled the pivotal moment: "They said no to the reduction and we swore then. We thought, 'Sod it, we are quitting and we are going to move to Wales' - and that was a very instant decision. "That night we went on RightMove and the house we wanted to buy was back on the market at a reduced price - let's do it. And honestly, it was completely terrifying. Are we mad? It would be stretching us financially. Would my business be able to support two full-time salaries because it was still a junior business?" Reflecting on such a life-altering choice, Enfys shared her apprehension: "That decision, you are giving up the known for the unknown and that is always going to be a scary thing." The leap of faith paid off for her venture, Sales Training With Enfys, which has flourished significantly, reaching milti-six-figure earnings last year, with Rick now being part of the team. Despite the eventual professional success, their initial experience in the new home presented unexpected challenges, as detailed by the mother-of-two. She laughed "You think you are going to skip into your new life like those idyllic postcards and that is going to be all roses - and it was that for the first few seconds." However, the reality soon hit as they found their new property had suffered in their absence with even the windows boarded up after a lengthy sales process. Just 30 minutes into their new life, after turning on the taps for the first time in months, Enfys recounted a dramatic moment. She explained: "I was stood in the kitchen and there was a massive flooding noise all of a sudden. Underneath the aga something had rusted and the whole cylinder floor flooded the kitchen and the water was going everywhere and there were no towels, no mops. "We had a massive lorry arriving any minute with all of our stuff and Rick's parents and the kids arrived and the whole place was flooding. It was like, 'Oh my God, idyllic life?'" The beautiful 400-year-old stone house, a traditional Welsh longhouse that has been extended, didn't come with instructions but they eventually managed to fix the issue. Despite the initial turmoil, Enfys has fallen in love with the property's charm, and she's unfazed by the ongoing work it requires, viewing it as a continuous project. Celebrating her 40th birthday this month, Enfys received chickens as gifts and shared a glimpse of her daily experience. "We have 10 acres here," she explained. "I can step outside and see the sun rise over the mountain. We are not overlooked, there are no neighbours. We have 20 sheep; I am looking at them now and they are lovely. "At the end of the day we can see the sunset, it is just beautiful, it is greenery, hills, and then at the bottom of our field we have a river we can go and swim in. "We can go down there and throw rocks into the stream with the kids and there is just a lot of space, it feels really expansive, and it is just awe-inspiring here the natural beauty, it is just wonderful. "There are a lot of birdsongs and the stars at night are just unbelievable. People always think of daytime views but if you step outside in the night and there are no clouds - it is insanely beautiful." She continued: "It feels extremely safe and I think that is another part of it – it doesn't feel isolating. "We are not lonely at all and that can be a big scary thing about moving to the country but I was brought up here and I went to see my oldest friend and her mum yesterday and I see my family." As for missing old parts of her life, Enfys said they are still in contact with pieces of her past existence, and still sometimes travels to London for work where she runs events. However, as for what it is returning to urban areas, she said: "I visited Bedford and I was like, 'Oh my God the traffic is relentless' and the feeling of when I got to London now, like I hold my handbag and you don't even realise that you are behaving cautiously until you realise you live freely I think. "You hold your kids a bit tighter, like in the park I am always watching them, whereas here it is like, well the kids will turn up." Enfys and Rick are delighted with their decision to relocate, a sentiment likely bolstered by the revelation last year of grants being awarded to Welsh-speaking and young families who choose to move back to some areas. The incentives included up to £5,000 for expenses related to resettling, such as transport, accommodation, childcare, or even Welsh language classes. Although Enfys didn't benefit from the scheme for her own move, she is supportive of others seizing the opportunity. She encouraged: "You only live once and you need to pursue a life you want to live and you can always move back as well. For people considering the grant, go for it. What have you got to lose? North Wales has so much to offer. It is beautiful, it is friendly, the towns are nice, the landscapes are beautiful, and you can just integrate with community." Sharing pearls of wisdom, Enfys added: "I think there has to be a lot of self trust. You make a big decision and you figure out the rest when you get there. You don't have to know everything before you arrive.
