New home found for lurcher

AN owner has been found for a dog that was ditched in a supermarket car park.

The Scottish SPCA had appealed to locals to help find a “forever home” for a young lurcher dog called Ella.

The one-year-old had been at t he charity’s Petterden centre since May.

Ella was rehomed twice, but the arrangements fell through.

Lori Downie, 24, who works at the Petterden Centre, previously told the Tele of Ella’s plight.

She said: “She came in to us after she was found abandoned with another dog at Morrison’s in St Andrews.

“They were both very skinny when they were picked up.

“She i s such a kindhearted dog, really laid back, and we want to find her a forever home because she has been here for quite a long time.”

After the centre’s appeal for someone to give the “kind-natured” pooch a home, a suiter has been found and they were meeting their new pet today.

Officers have confirmed t hat three boys — all teenagers — have been reported over the incident on Monday night at Lochee Old Parish Church.

Flames could be seen from miles away after they took hold of the listed building, which was disused, at around 9pm.

The blaze saw a significant turnout of emergency services, with more than 30 firefighters battling the flames at its height, while police cordoned off part of Lochee High Street.

Residents in nearby flats were also evacuated while the fire was dealt with — some of them remaining outwith their homes into the next day.

The arrests came after officers confirmed yesterday that the fire was being treated as suspicious.

A spokesman for the force said: “Police Scotland can confirm that three teenage boys have been charged in connection with a fire that happened at the Old Lochee Parish Church.

“The incident in Bright Street, Lochee happened on Monday.

“The boys — aged 13, 14 and 15 — will be reported to the Youth Justice Assessor.”

The youth justice system is different to that which deals with adults.

It involves the Children’s Reporter, who will decide — while working alongside a range of agencies — what should be done with young people who commit offences.

A number of options are open to the Children’s Reporter, including referral to the children’s hearing system.

In the wake of Monday’s fire, it was revealed that local residents and

THREE children have been charged by police with setting a huge fire which left a Lochee church in ruins.