After receiving an email from a concerned reader i thought it only right to remind everyone as Christmas approaches, about the sinister side of buying a puppy for christmas.

We all know the old saying ‘a dog is for life not just for christmas’ and while most people take heed of this warning there are many people who still insist on getting a puppy for Christmas.

However what they many of these people may not realise is the harsh reality behind some unscrupulous breeders who are already ramping up their puppy farm businesses in order to meet the christmas demand. the sad fact is that for every reputable breeder that cares lovingly for their mothers and puppies, an unregulated puppy farm industry in ireland means that there is also cruel money grabbing breeders who subject their animals to horrific conditions in a bid to make a quick euro.

While legislation to correct this type of commercial breeding is currently under review and will hopefully be in place by next year, right now in ireland there are over bred mothers being forced to have too many litters of pups in terrible cramped conditions with then manhy of these being exported to the uk where regulations are much tighter.

In light of this plight, animal welfare organisations throughout ireland are urging the public to be aware of the situation.

Buying a puppy from someone over the phone without actually seeing the conditions where they were bred only makes the problem worse and is something that should be considered before taking a puppy into your home. the condition of the puppy is crucial, with many unscrupulous dealers selling weak, under nourished puppies. another ploy is for breeders to provide fake pedigree papers or certificates from the puppy owners fellowship with many saying they will send you on the paperwork at a later stage which of course they never do.

However it’s important to remember that while much of the blame can be attributed to these dealers, without the demand they wouldn’t have the business. so please don’t buy a new dog for Christmas but if you do go purchasing a new puppy at any other time of the year make sure it’s from a reputable dealer who can show you where the dogs are bred and produce certificates on demand and if in doubt don’t buy.

Plus don’t forget all the beautiful dogs and puppies who are just crying out for new families at animal organisations like Limerick Animal Welfare and the pound. you could provide these dogs with a new home and help to combat the problem of homeless animals at the same time, a truly special gesture anytime of the year.

Congratulations to award winning dog groomer Noelle O’Riordan from Lmerick business Fluffy Puppies in meelick who scooped two awards recently in the all Ireland Dog Grooming championships. the event, which was held in Dublin, saw dog stylists from all over ireland and international groomers compete in a variety of classes. Noelle who has been working as a dog groomer for over ten years won the “handstrip open class” (which is a technique used on wired haired terriers and some silky breeds where you hand strip out the coat which promotes healthy skin, better texture of the coat and maintains the colour. she also scopped the overall “best individual entry” much to her delight. Noelle began her career as a veterinary nurse but after training in the art of grooming as part of her job she realised that this was where her true passion and talent lay. so after a year of veterinary nursing Noelle began grooming and has never looked back since, starting her own business four years ago catering to every type of family dog from westies to shiztzus and everything in between! “I love my job particularly when i see dogs that come in that are really in need of a good grooming and then I send them out looking totally different and seeing the reaction on owner’s faces is also great”. as for tips for those with dogs who need constant upkeep, noelle advises owners to make sure they find a groomer they are happy with and ask them to show you how to groom your dog so as to lengthen the time between treatments which will mean more for your money while keeping your pooch happy!

Sat/Sun 28-29th November:

Limerick Animal Welfare are looking for volunteers for their annual church gate collections in both limerick city and county this November.

It  would involve simply standing at the church gate before and after each mass with a small table,

If you can help out the next collection takes place in hospital, co. limerick, sat/sun 28-29 november. just contact 063 91110 to volunteer.

NOVEMBER DRIVE FOR IRISH GUIDE DOGS

Keep an eye out for volunteers for the irish guide dogs for the blind who will be selling 2010 calendar and christmas cards in limerick’s parkway, crescent and jetland shopping centres during november to raise much needed funds for the organisation.

Jetland Shopping Centre:

November 19-20

Parkway Shopping Centre:

November, 24-28 and  December 4-5.

Congratulations to Karen O’Brien from Ballyclough dog grooming and kennels who won the oster career start award in dublin recently. the national award ceremony sees newly qualified groomers from throughout ireland competing for the prestigious career start title at the roadstone club in dublin each year and this year it was Karen and her model Butters who took the title home for Limerick!

Karen who was raised on a farm in ballyclough has always had a passion for caring for animals as does her father john, so the father and daughter team decided to set up a joint business venture two years ago combining both dog grooming and dog kennels. karen who trained with one of ireland’s premier dog groomers natasha hopeman takes care of the grooming side of the business while her father john runs the dog kennels which houses 13 kennels in all. “we’re delighted with the response we’ve had to the joint business, we purpose built our facilities in ballyneety with underfloor heating and state of the art kennels and we also cater to all types of dogs at our grooming centre”, karen explains. “the great thing is that dog owners can have their dog stay at our kennels and then have them beautifully groomed before taking them home, in fact for first time customers of the kennels we offer a complimentary brush and wash for the dog”, said karen. the personal touch is also important at the family business according to Karen who also offers doggy perfume and christmas bows to truly pamper your pet! “those using our grooming service also get the benefit of their dogs getting used to the kennel environment so they are used to the surroundings before they stay here”, karen concludes.

So for more information on dog grooming or kennels just contact Karen on 087 2608589.

According to animal welfare organisations in ireland, the number of rabbits being abandoned and neglected is sadly growing and the need for rehoming these beautiful animals is more urgent.

limerick animal welfare chairperson marion fitzgibbon says the local welfare group are inundated at the moment. “we have a large number of rabbits at the sanctuary in kilfinane at present, we are getting many requests every week from people who have rabbits and find that they are not able to care for them,” she said recently.

according to marion, rabbits need a lot of time and love and attention each day and while some lucky rabbits become house pets enjoying all the creature comforts commonly bestowed on cats and dogs, many unlucky rabbits are forced to live outdoors in cramped and uncomfortable conditions with no area provided for exercise.

“poor housing is one of the main reasons for ill health in rabbits,” marion explains. “whether kept indoors or out, rabbits share the same basic needs.  if a pet rabbit is being kept outside it is essential to provide it with a large waterproof hutch. ideally the hutch should be divided into two sections to include a secure and secluded sleeping compartment.

suitable bedding must also be provided and the hutch must be cleaned out every day. as rabbits need regular exercise an adequate run is also necessary and this must be escape and predator proof and provide proper shelter.

fresh hay and a small amount of fresh greens should be available and rabbit pellets should be given in small quantities. water bottles must be cleaned and filled with fresh water daily.

marion also urges rabbit owners to keep up their veterinary care by making sure you take your rabbit to your vet for regular vaccinations and health check ups. rabbits are clean animals and groom themselves regularly, but they do enjoy having their coats brushed as this creates a bond with the owner and relaxes the rabbit.

so the moral of the story, please think carefully before you actually purchase a rabbit and please never, ever abandon your rabbit if you find you cannot care for it. these rabbits are bred in captivity and cannot fend for themselves in the open.

for those thinking of getting a rabbit, marion invites you to visit the sanctuary so you can see their rabbits living outdoors in ideal conditions and perhaps you’ll find your ideal pet while your there.  the sanctuary is open each day from 11 a.m. until 3.pm. monday to saturday.  telephone no. 063 91110.

Hi Catriona

Thanks to all the volunteers who helped at our information stand at supervalue in corbally with pedigree petfoods for world animal week.

We had quite a busy day and raised some much needed funds for limerick animal welfare.

Thanks also to pedigree for their donation of dog food. here is bridget manning the limerick animal welfare stand!

Kind regards Chris Samways., Limerick Animal Welfare

Ireland’s only dedicated consumer pet exhibition, pet expo returns to the rds this weekend and is sure to keep pet fans entertained. now in it’s third year pet expo 2009 returns to the rds as a three day consumer show open to the animal loving public.

the event which has proved very popular with pet lovers all over ireland also now boasts a wider variety of pets, pet related products, entertainers, service providers plus clubs and organisations that cater to pets.

this weekend’s expo will feature all types of family pets from dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, birds and fish to equestrian, reptiles, and other small caged exotics to even a wallaby. all of these animals can be seen on-site during the show for visitors to interact with.

the organisers of the event are promising a fun experience for all the family over the three days at the rds main hall complex from friday october 9 to sunday october 11.

as well as all the usual favourites from last year, this year’s expo will also feature new attractions promising to be bigger and better than ever and with dog ownership alone in ireland now standing at 1 in 4 of irish families, it’s not surprising to see the popularity of such an event.

according to the organisers of the event, this year’s expo not only aims to entertain but also strives to teach children the importance of responsible ownership of a family pet.

last year’s expo was a huge success attracting over 22,000 visitors so this year organisers expect even more to visit the expo over the three days.

other highlights of the event will include a dog breeders village, fashion show, pets corner, pet adoption area, celebrity guests and a series of seminars and interactive workshops designed to entertain, enlighten and educate the whole family.

this year’s main event will be the crufts champions of dance where kath hardman and karen sykes will be performing daily in the allianz agility ring with their talented dogs fly and spice. this year, the duo will also introduce their recently adopted irish star erin who was a rescue dog and will now be making his first public appearance at the pet expo!

Dear Catriona

Ash was our baby rabbit who lived a very short but happy life. he was best friends with our new kitten and looked forward to hopping around our kitchen through out the day. he used to love to dart out the kitchen door and play “escaped rabbit” as we all playfully chased him back to the kitchen. his best friend was ej our kitten, and if you teased ej in anyway ash would come over and give you a little nip on the finger or leg to tell you to leave his friend alone. ash loved to lick our faces and always wanted to be pet, hugged, kissed and loved. unfortunately our little ash passed away on the 25th of sept at the age of 6 months. he got myxomatosis. we hope that our beloved ash makes pet of the week not only in memory of our little lovely bunny but to hopefully make owners aware that there is a vaccine available for rabbits to prevent this horrible illness.

Happy World Animal Week ‘for pet’s sake’ readers! yes it’s that time of year once again when the world celebrates the value of animals and the happiness they bring to our lives. running from october 4-11 this year’s festival begins quite aptly on the feast day of st. francis of assisi, the patron saint of animals.

the week long celebration helps to raise awareness for the difference we can all make to improve animal welfare throughout the world as we endeavour to make the world a safer place for all animals that play such a huge part in our lives!

across the world people will be celebrating in their own unique way from fundraising events in america, animal parades in new zealand and pet blessings from asia to africa.

so perhaps we too can do our bit here in ireland by donating not just money but perhaps even our time or resources to local animal welfare associations like limerick animal welfare and the limerick society of prevention to cruelty to animals who do sterling work voluntarily day in day out to help animals.

both organisations are battling the recession at the moment and are in dire need of fundraising and volunteers. from organising a quiz night or fashion event to donating your time working with the animals there is something we can all contribute no matter how big or small. why not make a donation of money or pet food or pet accessories like cat carriers or leads or bedding to your local rescue centre these are precious commodies right now to animal organisations.

perhaps world animal week would also be a great time to familiarise your children with the joy of pets letting them know

A LIMERICK veterinary surgery are putting something back into the community on November 7 next as they host a special open day at their premises opposite Sarsfield Barracks.

According to staff at City Vet on Lord Edward St, who recently gained hospital veterinary status, the clinic will be holding a special open day for the public on Saturday November 7 between 10am and 3pm.  Click to continue »