DOGS OF BIG ISSUE

Marlene was born on the streets of Macedonia and for the first nine months of her life was a stray, struggling to survive.

“She was picked up and neutered, then put back on the streets,” says Marlene’s owner Ian 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.”

Marlene was lucky to be picked up by an organisation called Dia’s Legacy, which rehomes street dogs in other parts of Europe.

“I got her in November last year,” Ian smiles.

And this week she’s starring on the cover of Big Issue. Now that’s an incredible journey.

Ian Duff is a beloved Big Issue seller and coordinator in Bath. For many vendors, and people experiencing homelessness or other tough times, pets are a lifeline, offering companionship and connection. For years, Ian’s previous dog Boycie was a local legend in Bath. 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. Over