Special Big Issue edition on sellers and their dogs

Many vendors have dogs as a much-needed companion on their pitches, which is said to have a huge impact on their lives.

Bath Big Issue seller Ian Duff’s dog Marlene and Truro vendor Nick Cuthbert’s Labrador Bracken are among those featured in this week’s Big Issue.

Mr Duff’s previous dog, Boycie, died on Christmas Day 2021, but the seller acquired a mongrel, Marlene, a year ago, rescuing the dog from a life as a stray.

“She was picked up and neutered, then put back on the streets,” said Mr Duff.

““Two days later, she made her way back to the kill shelter, imagine, trying to get into a kill shelter!, then she was rescued.”

This week Marlene, festively donned in Santa hat and tinsel, features on the cover of Big Issue.

Marlene and Mr Duff’s other dog Trigger (all Ian’s four-pawed friends have been named after characters from Only Fools And Horses) are well known in Bath.

“They’re loved by all my customers and the people of Bath.

“Everyone knows their names.

“I enjoy taking them to work because they really enjoy being outside.”

Also featured in the magazine is Mr Cuthbert, a Truro-based Big Issue vendor, who had a difficult start to the year when his dog Bryony died in February.

“I didn’t realise how big a following Bryony had until she’d passed,” Nick said.

“On Cornwall Live there were 1,600 little love hearts and 500 comments on the post about her death.”

After a few months, Mr Cuthbert got a black Labrador puppy, holding a contest asking customers the chance to suggest names, and raising over £1,000 for charity after a winning name of Bracken.

“Big Issue vendors and dogs go so well together because we have such a close bond. We’re with them 24/7.

“Our bond is not like anything else. People say, ‘Why don’t they run away?’. Why would they? I’m here.

“If Bracken could speak, she would say to me, ‘I love you’. And if she could speak to customers she would say, ‘Stop stroking me and buy Big Issue.”