Advertisement
Get your first 12 issues for just £12
SUBSCRIBE
News

Big Issue vendor Nick Cuthbert pays tribute to beloved dog Bryony: 'It's the end of my world'

The chocolate labrador-mix has been with popular Truro vendor Cuthbert since she was seven weeks old and became a favourite with the locals at Lemon Quay

Big Issue vendor Nick Cuthbert and his pet dog Bryony

Big Issue vendor Nick Cuthbert and his pet dog Bryony

A much-loved Big Issue vendor who is mourning the loss of his long-time pet dog has described the popular pooch as the “love of his life.”

Nick Cuthbert lost canine companion Bryony on 21 February after the chocolate labrador-mix was put to sleep at the age of 14.

Big Issue vendor Nick Cuthbert's tribute to Bryony
Nick Cuthbert has put a tribute to Bryony on his Truro pitch. Image: Supplied

“It’s the end of my world,” said Truro seller Cuthbert. “It’s been coming for a while but I had to take her to the vet to have her put down.

“It’s been put on Facebook and there were hundreds of comments. Loads of kids have grown up with her and she was great with them. She was the love of my life.”

Cuthbert first met Bryony when the puppy was just seven weeks old and the pair have been inseparable ever since.

Animal lover Cuthbert previously told the Big Issue how two of his customers paid two/thirds of the cost of getting Bryony with him covering the remaining third. Customers even chipped in when Bryony needed expensive x-rays and an operation to fix elbow dysplasia as a puppy.

Advertisement
Advertisement

To get involved with Big Issue’s National Vendor Week, click here.

“She keeps me going every day now,” he said in 2019. “I know that I have to keep it together, that I need to work and keep a roof over our heads.”

Nick Cuthbert Dermot O'Leary
Nick and Dermot spent 10 minutes chatting in the sun

The pair have become a popular sight outside M&S at Lemon Quay in Truro, Cornwall, and Cuthbert even bonded with TV star Dermot O’Leary back in 2018 over a shared love of dogs.

“He knelt down with the dog and stayed with me for about 10 minutes, mostly talking about dogs and the dogs we’ve lost over the years and how much that hurt,” said Cuthbert.

“I told him how much dogs mean to Big Issue vendors like me – dogs are our life.”

The Big Issue vendor, who has been selling the magazine for more than 20 years, has now installed a sign on his pitch in tribute to Bryony and customers have joined him in paying their respects. 

The news comes as the Big Issue is marking National Vendor Week, celebrating and highlighting the hard work of sellers across the UK.

Do you have a story to tell or opinions to share about this? We want to hear from you. Get in touch and tell us more.

Advertisement

Become a Big Issue member

3.8 million people in the UK live in extreme poverty. Turn your anger into action - become a Big Issue member and give us the power to take poverty to zero.

Recommended for you

View all
Cash-strapped council warns it's at breaking point as neighbour places homeless people in its town
homeless peoples' tents in street
Homelessness

Cash-strapped council warns it's at breaking point as neighbour places homeless people in its town

Disabled people losing jobs and 'falling out of work' due to months-long waits for DWP support
disabled person working
Disability rights

Disabled people losing jobs and 'falling out of work' due to months-long waits for DWP support

Homeless families occupy council housing offices on Halloween in plea to fix 'houses of horror'
Homeless families at a protest about council housing
Homelessness

Homeless families occupy council housing offices on Halloween in plea to fix 'houses of horror'

'Back to cost of living crisis': Households will be £770 worse off by next UK election, experts say
woman in supermarket
Cost of living crisis

'Back to cost of living crisis': Households will be £770 worse off by next UK election, experts say

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over

Strike dates 2023: From train drivers to NHS doctors, here are the dates to know
4.

Strike dates 2023: From train drivers to NHS doctors, here are the dates to know