Floyd the Dog and Finn McCool

Have you heard of Floyd, the writing dog, and Finn McCool, the magic leprechaun cat?  The two of them are talented storytellers narrating the adventures of our furry friends.  Let me tell you more about them.

Floyd the Dog writes stories, but also publishes stories on the internet.  You can subscribe to his stories by filling a simple form and will receive at least one story every month.  You can also submit stories, and if your story is chosen Floyd will give a donation to the animal welfare charity of your choice.  Floyd is indeed a generous dog.  Have I mentioned that the amount of the donation increases with the number of subscribers?  So, what are you waiting for?  Run to his website and have a look.  You can even explore a few of the stories there and if you subscribe you will be able to read more archived stories.

We were delighted to hear that Floyd the Dog made a donation to the Cork Animal Care Society on behalf of Leo whose story was selected for the month of August.  “Doggy Bank” is told by Leo, who is a St Bernard working for a hospital in Cork at the end of the 19th century.  It is a story based on real facts, which necessitated some careful research.  I’m sure you’d love reading it.

Not long ago, the ACS received another donation on behalf of Finn McCool for his story “Wearing the Green”.  Finn McCool is a leprechaun magic cat, who brings luck and happiness. It is also the nom the plume of author Karen A. Lynch, who writes about more than just Irish magic cats, so you might want to check her website.  As you might guess, Finn’s stories will take you into a magical Ireland and they can be accessed on the website (see here for an index of stories).  And if you like this little cat, there is also an online shop where you can find various good with his effigy.

Happy reading!

The Cork Animal Care Society would like to thank Floyd the Dog for his generosity, as well as the authors who picked us up as their chosen animal charity.  We are most grateful to you.

February 2012 Photo Competition

It’s photo competition time again!  This month, the prize is a two volume cat encyclopedia offered by Royal Canin.  To enter, it’s simple, just follow the explanations below.

What are you waiting for?  Grab your camera and send us a photo!  We look forward to seeing them…  And remember that for each photo you submit you are helping an animal in need.

Thanks to Royal Canin for sponsoring this month’s competition.

Every month we offer a different prize to the winner.  Moreover, the winning photo will be displayed on our website, blog and Facebook page, as well as become the cover for the following issue of our booklet of creative writing, Furry Tales and Meowsings (note that we will ask you to sign a very simple form authorising us to do that).

To enter the competition, it’s simple.  You first need to go to our website and buy a photo competition entry here.  You can buy more than one entry (and use them either to submit more than one photo or keep them for following months) as we will keep track of how many you buy and use.  Make sure that you write down the reference number that is given to you (it should also appear in the confirmation email).  The entry costs €3.50 and the money will exclusively be used for the welfare of animals.

Next, send your photo (it must be related to animals) along with your reference number and your details (name, address, email and phone number) to photos@animalcaresociety.ie.  You can send more than one photo, but make sure you have bought the necessary amount of entries as submissions without a valid reference number will be refused.

You can send your photos as soon as we announce the competition and until the 25th of the month.  Photos will then be displayed in an album on Facebook, where people can vote for them by clicking “like”.  On the last day of the month, the five photos with the most votes will go to a judging panel who will select the winning photo and announce it in the next few days.

FOUND, Ballincollig, 18/02/12

Found in the ballincollig area, male collie, please contact 0851564822.

Sandy by Mari Backman

There is an increasing number of reports of dogs roaming lately and we often warn people of the risks of having your dog left unsupervised.  Accidents can happen quickly. One of our supporters, Mari, has shared her painful experience with us and is hoping it will make people reflect.

My best friend Sandy and we are both 5

It was a sad sad day..  It still brings tears to my eyes when I think about it.  She was so careless, but we were even more careless with her.  We should have fenced our garden earlier, and Sandy could still be here.  She loved running on the farm when John was working, but she also got herself in real danger by following the tractor to the road.  John picked her up many times and she travelled in the tractor with him.  Then he used to lock her in the shed when he left the yard with the tractor and when he was gone, I went and let her out…

Before the accident she had calmed down and we thought she wouldn’t run after tractors anymore, but that day she went.  John was going to spread slurry but met our neighbours on the road and stopped to talk.  Neither he nor anyone realised that Sandy went lying just in front of the slurry tank behind the tractor.  When John started the tractor he just heard a screatch… terrible terrible cry, and realised immediately it must have been Sandy.  Sandy was in half sitting position, unable to move, and in fact in shock, so much so that she bit John.  Our other neighbour, who was still there, brought Sandy back to the house and I’ve just never forgotten when John came to the kitchen and said: “Something bad has happened… to Sandy…”  I went out and saw her at the corner of our house in that half sitting position, looking at me with sad eyes…  I squatted just in front of her and started crying and she put her head on my knee.  John rang our vet(Fachtna Collins), who told John to go to Bantry straight away; he would meet him there.  And when they lifted Sandy in the car, she just looked at me - I think she knew she wouldn’t come back.  She was put on strong painkillers for the night and they did what they could for her in Bantry, but they tought it was worth trying to take her to Cork and see if they could still safe her.  She died on the examination table in Cork Animal Care Hospital.  From the x-rays they found that she had severe nerve damage on both sides of her back legs, so she couldn’t have been saved.

For John it was hard as he was the one who drove the tractor.  And it was his second labrador as well that he lost on a farm accident.  It was really difficult for him to connect with Jessie – our lab girl for 2 years now – for a long time.  He didn’t want to stroke her or pay much attention to her.  He was kind of keeping his distance with her… until recently. It’s so nice to see him stroking her and playing with her now and putting the past behind him.

We all miss Sandy some days, but hopefully ‘third time lucky’, and Jessie can be with us for a very long time.

FOUND, Cork, 18/02/12

Date found: 18/02/2012

Location: Cork City, Crossroad Shandon Street / Gerald Griffin Street

Gender: Unknown

Age: Friend told me it looks like 1 year old or maybe 1 1/2.

Colour: Black & White

Behaviour: Very friendly. Likes to cuddle a lot and very playful. Eating behaviour is normal. Drinks little water.

Will be checked for microchip on Monday.

Contact 0864112702

Two important demonstrations

Monday 27th of February 2012, 12pm, Carrigaline: ARAN Demonstration against fur farming in Ireland.

***URGENT DEMONSTRATION NOTICE***: A decision on the future of Irish fur farms will be made very soon. ARAN has requested a meeting with the Agriculture Minister, Simon Coveney, at his Cork constituency office but this was declined. As all our supporters know, we’re running a smashing campaign to shut down Irish fur farms and we need to ensure we work up until the final hour when the decision is a…ctually made. TAKE ACTION: Don’t miss ARAN’s peaceful demonstration outside the Cork constituency office of, Minister Simon Coveney, on Monday, February 27, 2012 at 12noon sharp until 2.30pm. At this stage we’ve done our best, but we’re not giving up, we need you to be there, not for us, but for the many tens of thousands of lives caged on cruel fur farms waiting to be gassed, painfully skinned and electrocuted. If possible, please share this event notice and encourage family and friends to attend too, we’re going to ensure his office hears the animals’ plight loud and clear. Please be sure to RSVP at arancampaigns@eircom.net or PM via Facebook. Thank you for all that you’re doing to help animals, ARAN.

Visit the Ban Fur Farming in Ireland website or the Facebook page for more information.

Monday 5th of March 2012, 12pm, Dublin: 2nd Forgotten Feline Protest:

2nd Forgotten Felines Protest is being held outside Leinster House, Dublin on Monday, 5th March 2012 from 12.30-2.30pm to:

1) demand cats are no longer classed as vermin.

2) demand inclusion of cats and their welfare, safety and wellbeing in the forthcoming Animal Welfare Bill.

3) demand legislation to protect them from cruelty.

4) demand funds for a free comprehensive trap/neuter/return programme for feral cats in Ireland.

5) highlight the neglect and indifference towards cats in Ireland.

Visit the Feral Cats Ireland page for more information.

Don’t forget to sign the petition to support this protest.

FOUND, Douglas, 14/02/12

Found little puppy wandering in Douglas village on 14/02/12 - near Eco’s, no collar.

Really friendly female pup.

Contact number is Ainne 0872790291

LOST, seen in Midleton, 13/02/12

Strayed Family Pet

Bailey is an Irish Water Spaniel (medium size dog) and has a short chocolate brown curly coat with a white patch on his chest. He is neutered & has a brown collar with a gold bone id tag with our contact numbers on it.

 

His coat at this stage will be quite knotted and muddy so his appearance will be different to the photo above. Look at his face.

He is missing since Tuesday 13^th Dec from Belvelly Cobh. There have recently been a number of sightings of Bailey in the Midleton Area and Midleton Town Centre

If you have any information on his whereabouts or see/find him, Please contact Maura 086 8197533 or Stephen 086 3644674. Please put these No’s in to your phone and call us.

We are desperate to get him home safely to his family.

Please, print this poster: 12 02 13 Bailey 2 1

 

FOUND, Togher, 10/02/12

Found 10/02/12 running in and out of traffic on Vicars Road in Togher.

Female, Collie X longhaired puppy (maybe 5 months +??)

Black with white on chest and tips of toes

No Collar

No Microchip

She is here with us in the hospital at the moment.

Thanks
–

Gilabbey Veterinary Hospital

Ph – 021 – 4962799

FOUND, Mallow, 12/02/12

Found in Glatane, Mallow: female Irish Red Setter, no collar, very friendly.

And the winner is…

We are delighted to announce the winner of our January photo competition.
Elaine Walsh, with “A Bucket of Susie”, wins a sterling silver chain and horse pendant.  Congratulations Elaine!

"A Bucket of Susie" by Elaine Walsh

Thank you to all the participants who shared their wonderful photos with us, but most importantly helped the animals in our care by doing so.  We’d also like to thank the public on Facebook, as well as our jury, who had the difficult task to choose only one out of the five beautiful pictures shortlisted.  Finally, thank you to Jill Roberts for her support in offering this prize.

Well done to all!

The February Competition is now on, so grab your camera!

FOUND, Patrick’s Hill, 8/02/12