TO the rest of Limerick, five-month-old miniature poodle Cici is just one of many good dogs to fuss over during a walk in the city, but for mother and daughter duo Anastasija Bagina and Elina O’Callaghan, the prized pooch has been a beacon of hope through the family’s darkest days.
Just one week after entering their beloved furry friend into Pet Sitters Ireland’s 2025 Nose of Tralee competition in May, Anastasija’s partner and Elina’s father, Michael, was in a tragic road traffic accident which left him with “catastrophic” injuries.
Michael suffered a brain injury as a result of the accident and his recovery continues today at St Camillus’ Hospital.
The mother and daughter said that entering the canine competition was “something nice for us to do”and “took our mind off what was going on”.
However, despite her winning ways, the man of the house was initially hesitant to hold onto Cici, who was one of three puppies born to Twinkle – one of three dogs already in the family home at the time.
“He didn’t want another dog at first, but Cici has become his dog now,” Anastasija said, with a firm nod of agreement from Elina.
In preparation for Michael’s return home from hospital, he spent a weekend at the house. And while his family were expecting Cici and co to be jumping all over their master, as Anastasija says, their keen canine senses kicked in.
“She was just so gentle and good. We were surprised she was so well behaved. It’s the only time she’s quiet, I think, when she’s around him. When she is out and playing, she’s a different dog,” Anastasija says.
Throughout her interaction with the press and paw-perazzi, Cici made her way on to this reporter’s lap, full of hugs and kisses, proof if needed of her boundless energy and a personality “as big as the hills of Ireland” Anastasija says.
Cici is always on the hunt for new scents, new friends, and new treasures – whether sniffing out her favourite toy hiding under the couch or stopping to smell the roses, the nose is always on the job.
Anastasija runs Lough Gur Doggy Care in County Limerick, where Cici is often be spotted socialising with humans and animals alike, winning them over with her signature paw wave.
And it’s hoped that this cute trick will see the charismatic canine rise to the top of this year’s Nose of Tralee competition, now in its 12th year, and battle it out against pets from 31 counties.
But it’s not just her fellow canine companions Cici has to worry about, with cats, rabbits, hamsters, and horses also in the mix to nab the crown.
Following a rigorous judging process, Cici was selected as this year’s Limerick Nose after being chosen by a team of independent judges.
Voting for the 2025 Nose of Tralee Competition opens this Thursday (July 24) on NoseOfTralee.com and runs until the August 18, before the big winner is announced on August 19.
The lucky winner will receive a plethora of prizes including a pet-friendly hotel stay for two at the Castletroy Park Hotel, a photoshoot with photographer David McAuley, and a professional portrait by Carole Premkumar of Illustrations by Carole.
Anastasija and Elina told the Limerick Post that Cici has a talent for making the ordinary extraordinary, and after this reporter’s short but sweet encounter with the five-month old pooch, I am simply paw-sitive they’re right.
