Dogs that have transformed the lives of Big Issue vendors: “Our bond is not like anything else”

Bath Big Issue seller Ian Duff’s mutt Marlene and Truro vendor Nick Cuthbert’s labrador Bracken are amongst the stars of this week’s Big Issue dogs special, out today (Monday 2 December).

Many Big Issue vendors have dogs as a much-needed companion on their pitches, as well as in their lives. In a time-honoured Big Issue Christmas tradition, this week’s magazine celebrates the transformative impact that canine companions have on vendors up and down the UK.

Ian Duff is a beloved Big Issue seller and coordinator in Bath. For years, his previous dog Boycie was a local legend. The pair were inseparable and a familiar sight on the city’s Union Street.

On Christmas Day 2021, Boycie died at the age of 16, prompting hundreds of people to came up to Ian to offer their condolences. He was eventually joined by a new canine companion, Marlene, a mongrel who arrived in the UK from Macedonia almost exactly a year ago.

Marlene spent the first nine months of her life as a stray on the streets, struggling to survive – an experience that vendors like Ian are sadly all too familiar with.

“She was picked up and neutered, then put back on the streets,” Ian says, “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 – an incredible journey from the streets of Macedonia just 18 months prior.

Marlene and Ian’s other dog Trigger (all Ian’s four-pawed friends have been named after characters from Only Fools and Horses) are beloved 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 Nick Cuthbert, a Big Issue vendor who sells outside M&S in Truro. Nick 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 reflects. “On Cornwall Live there were 1,600 little love hearts and 500 comments on the post about her death.”

After a few months, Nick got a black labrador puppy on his birthday in July. As a tribute to Bryony’s memory, he was determined to raise money for Last Chance Hotel animal rescue sanctuary in nearby Chacewater, where Nick found his new companion.

He held a contest to give customers the chance to suggest names. The idea ended up raising £1,108 and the winning name was Bracken.

“She’s been doing amazingly,” Nick tells the Big Issue. “She is so good with people, particularly children. She’s so social, it’s unbelievable – 100 people a day stroke her and she’s brilliant with everyone. I’ve got picnic benches next to me and twice recently she’s sat with teenage girls for half an hour, just sat in their laps. Total strangers like. People just bond with dogs, don’t they?

“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!’.”

You can read more inspirational tales of vendors and their dogs in this week’s Big Issue, on sale now. You can find your local vendor to buy a copy, or if you can’t get to a vendor, buy a Vendor Support Kit at bigissue.com/Christmas.