News
Susan’s Crufts hope for Lady
A PEMBROKESHIRE dog lover admits making the final in the Kennel Club’s Eukanuba Friends for Life competition at Crufts 2016 would be the icing on the cake after nominating her special pooch for a spot in the prestigious contest.
Susan Cooper has put forward her Carpathian/Husky cross Lady who she rescued from one of the notorious Romanian dog shelters in April 2015.
The Kennel Club’s Eukanuba Friends for Life competition celebrates heart-warming stories of friendship in adversity, where dogs have truly earned the title of man’s best friend, through bravery, support or companionship.
The bond has proved to be a two-way relationship too with Susan, of Old Granary, having trained Lady to be a fully fledged therapy dog.
Such has been the turnaround for Lady, she now is trained to assist bed-ridden residents and the 56-year-old admits it is the highlight of their week.
“I rescued her from what can only be described as a Romanian kill shelter; they kill dogs in the most dreadful way,” she said.
“She needed a chance and so this is why I decided to rescue her before she was attacked.
“She does everything and anything I ask from her.
“It is really quite a story how far she has come. She could have been dead in Romania but she has come on leaps and bounds.
“She is the most wonderful dog and a wonderful companion. She does agility training now and is doing really well.
“I’d love for her to make the final or even win. What this dog has done for the community is amazing. Crufts is just the top when it comes to the dog world. It would be a dream come true.”
Susan and Lady will be hoping for another trip out for the Kennel Club’s Eukanuba Friends for Life showpiece on Sunday March 13 at Birmingham’s NEC.
Crufts, run by the Kennel Club, is a unique celebration of happy, healthy dogs and will this year be celebrating its 125th anniversary.
Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club spokesperson, said: “Susan and Lady are thoroughly deserving of this nomination and the Kennel Club wishes them luck in the Eukanuba Friends for Life competition.
“We have been honoured to hear about the hundreds of dogs throughout the UK who are making a profound difference to people’s lives.
“Crufts is the world’s best known dog stage and encourage anybody who thinks that their dog’s loyalty, friendship or bravery has made a difference to their life, or the lives of others, to get in touch. Each and every one of the finalists has helped to change and save lives in their own unique and special way.”
Community
Stix Noodle Bar in Haverfordwest rewards visitors who park and shop local
A POPULAR restaurant is taking on one of the town centre’s biggest frustrations with a new initiative designed to ease parking stress and encourage more visitors into the heart of the community.
Stix Noodle Bar has announced a new scheme offering customers money off their bill when they show proof of paid parking in the town.
Under the initiative, diners who present an active parking ticket or parking app booking will receive the equivalent cost of one hour’s parking deducted from their meal bill.
The business says the idea was created in response to ongoing concerns about local parking pressures, while also supporting neighbouring independent traders and encouraging more people to spend time in the town centre.
In a statement released alongside the launch, the restaurant said: “Tired of Haverfordwest’s parking stress? So are we. That’s why we’re doing something about it.”
The team behind the noodle bar is encouraging visitors to “park up, come in, eat well, then go explore some of the brilliant businesses right on our doorstep,” adding that “Haverfordwest is worth stopping for.”
The scheme has already received support from local representatives, including Reform Councillor, Scott Thorley, who praised the move as a practical way to support the town centre economy.
“This is an excellent idea,” he said. “Tackling parking stress while boosting local businesses and footfall in Haverfordwest — this is exactly the practical support our town centre needs.”
Community
Pembrokeshire named UK’s most photographed coastal national park
County’s coastline places sixth in UK-wide photo study
PEMBROKESHIRE has been named the most photographed coastal national park in the UK, according to new data from photo curation app Popsa.
The study, which analysed metadata from millions of customer photos uploaded in 2025, ranked Pembrokeshire Coast National Park sixth overall out of the UK’s 15 national parks.
It was the highest-ranked coastal park in the list, ahead of destinations including the Cairngorms, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, the Yorkshire Dales and Dartmoor.
Popsa gave Pembrokeshire a Photo Index Score of 28, representing 5.76% of all UK national park photography included in the study.
The company said the county’s 186-mile coastline, with its limestone arches, sea stacks, beaches and hidden coves, offered “photographic variety that few parks can match”.
Barafundle Bay was highlighted as one of the most photographed locations, particularly at low tide, while Skomer Island was noted for its puffin colonies, which attract photographers between April and July.
Wales performed strongly overall, with all three national parks appearing in the UK top ten. Eryri, formerly Snowdonia, ranked fifth, Pembrokeshire sixth, and Bannau Brycheiniog, formerly the Brecon Beacons, tenth.
Together, the three Welsh parks accounted for 16.46% of all UK national park photography in the study.
The Lake District topped the list, followed by the South Downs, the Peak District and the New Forest.
Popsa CEO Liam Houghton said: “Wales has three genuinely world-class national parks and this data shows they are clearly on photographers’ radar.
“But there’s a real gap between the quality of the landscapes and the volume of photos being taken there compared to the English parks.”
The findings suggest Pembrokeshire remains one of the UK’s standout destinations for landscape, wildlife and coastal photography, while also underlining the continued importance of the national park to the county’s tourism economy.
Crime
Pembroke woman accused of scrap fraud to appear in court
Defendant accused of dishonestly selling vehicle for scrap in Haverfordwest
A PEMBROKE woman is due to appear before magistrates charged with fraud after allegedly selling a vehicle for scrap in Haverfordwest.
Natalie Morris, aged 42, of Corston Lodge, Axton Hill, is accused of fraud by false representation under the Fraud Act 2006.
The allegation relates to an incident said to have taken place in Haverfordwest on Tuesday (Aug 9), 2022, in which Morris allegedly dishonestly made a false representation by selling a silver Toyota Corolla, registration CU52 XBR, for scrap.
The court heard the alleged offence was carried out with the intention of making a financial gain of £313.
The case was listed before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Monday (May 18), where a previously issued warrant was withdrawn.
No plea was entered and the matter was adjourned.
Morris is now due to appear before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court at 10:00am on Tuesday (May 26) for a plea hearing, where she will be asked to enter a guilty or not guilty plea.
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