AS REPORTED in our news section last week you may have seen that a minature Jack Russell was stolen recently from a busker who was singing outside Debenhams on O’Connell Street opposite McDonalds on Cruises Street.

After speaking with friends of the man who is described as “utterly inconsolable” after his constant and loyal companion Mini Mouse was cruelly snatched from him I urge everyone to be vigilant and keep an eye out for the dog in question so that we can have a happy ending to what is truly a terrible story.

The owner who is a regular busker outside the department store was singing with Mini Mouse sitting happily on his lap as usual on Saturday April 18 between around 4.30pm and 5.15pm when a  man described as “in his mid to late thirties with tight red hair and approx. 5’ 10” in height, pale, gaunt and unkempt, with an ink mark on his right cheek” snatched Mini Mouse from her his arms and according to one of the witnesses who contacted me since proceeded to run up Cruises Street.

What makes the story even more cruel and callous is that the owner is disabled and because he was in a wheelchair was unable to give chase, making the crime all the more despicable.

Although I was unable to get a photo of Mini Mouse, I’m told she is a very distinct dog as she is a miniature Jack Russell with Reddy Brown and White spots and a scar on her belly. 

She is neutered and also has a reddy/brown spot on the tip of her tail. 

Although she is very small in size but around two years of age. 

She is microchipped and her owner who takes her everyone and was  planning on taking her on his next trip to Lourdes is distraught without her.

Were you on Cruises Street or in the area on Saturday April 18 between 4.30pm and 5.15pm did you see anything? Or have you been offered this type of dog to buy or noticed someone who recently got a new dog matching this description. 

If you have seen Mini Mouse you can re-unite her with her owner by contacting Carina on 085 8105155 or if you have any information you would like to report in confidence you can contact Henry Street Garda Station on 212400 and ask for Garda Ciara O’Riordan.

This week we explore the difficult subject of coping with the death of a pet.  It’s hard enough to deal with the sadness ourselves when a pet dies but this can be made all the harder when you have to try to the explain the death of a pet to a child.

 Unfortunately, because people are either too upset themselves or because they feel they don’t want to upset their children more they tend to try and ignore the death or play it down. However addressing the death properly can actually be very therapeutic. As pet lovers we embrace our pets, taking photos of them, including them in all aspects of our lives and treating them as one of the family. 

So as your child bonds with this loyal companion and becomes one of their best friends it’s important that their passing is properly addressed especially if it’s their first experience of death. 

 Some people are tempted to protect their child by saying the pet simply ran away or went to stay somewhere else but this method does more harm than good. Instead of learning how to deal with grief and accept the loss which is a valuable life lesson, instead your child will end up longing for their friend and waiting for them to return feeling sad or frustrated when they don’t.

So with this in mind here are some simple steps that may help with this difficult experience.

1. Acknowledge and empathise with your child’s sadness even if you yourself may not have been extremely close to your child’s pet like a goldfish or gerbil they will still be upset and acknowledging this is important.

2. If the pet is sick and needs to be put down ask your Vet to chat with the child to explain that everything that could be done to save the pet was done. If the death is a sudden one like a road accident make sure to take the time to explain that the pet is no longer in pain and that they shouldn’t worry about them. 

3.Talk to your child about their pet, remembering the pet and the good memories you shared will help them reflect positively on the times he or she remembers spending with them. Why not hold a remembrance ceremony or mark the passing of a pet with a poem or card, ask your child for their input on dealing with the pets funeral. Holding a pet funeral can help give your child closure and prepare them for dealing with death of any kind in the future. 

4. Why not donate the pet’s accessories to a local animal welfare organisation so another pet can benefit from them and take your child with you so they can share in the experience.

5. Make sure to give your child plenty of time to grieve, don’t rush them as some children are more sensitive than others.  Try giving your child a few days to grieve and then perhaps plan a day trip or activity to help them take their mind off the pet’s death.

6. Finally make sure not to rush your child into replacing their pet. Allow them plenty of time to grieve first and then let them be the ones to suggest adding a new member to the family and also let them be a part of the selection process as this his will give them something to look forward to.

Greetings Pet Lovers! and welcome to the new online edition of ‘For Pets Sake’! With this new blog we hope to keep our readers updated on all things animal orientated! Since it began over two years ago, the Limerick Post pet page ‘For Pet’s Sake’ has proved a popular page creating a pet community with contributions from animal welfare organisations, veterinary clinics and proud pet owners sending us in photographs of their furry friends or pet problems or suggestions for new pet products.

However one of the most helpful sections is the ‘Missing’ and Found’ section where readers can report their missing pets or report those that have been found. But because its a weekly page we found that many cases were going unreported due to deadline restraints.

With this in mind we’ve decided to launch this online pet blog where we can post daily updates on missing and found pets which will mean whenever your pet goes missing we can get the word out there instantly.

This site will also feature more ‘Pets of the Week’ photos, advice and tips on pet issues, new products, animal welfare news, humorous stories and links to important websites plus a wealth of helpful resources for new, or soon to be pet owners. 

So check out the new site and spread the word and if you’d like to get in touch simply email us at pets@limerickpost.ie we look forward to hearing from you!