Bella

Nelson

Bones (before)

Bones (now)

Kitty

Lola

Sometimes an animal gets a home in a matter of days or weeks, sometimes it takes forever for the home to appear. As you all know we are a no-kill sanctuary and if any of our animals don't get a home, well they just live with us for the duration of their lives. We thought you might like to read some of the exciting events that have happened for some of our long-termers in the last few weeks and some of our sad cases as well.

Bella was rescued about 10 years ago as a cruelty case with severe mange that left her bloody, bald, scabby and in pain. She recovered and settled into being a house doggie with us. She soon told us what her role was and immediately took over puppies without a mum, she became a foster mum for hundreds of puppies over the years whom she loved as any mum would. She and Walter took over the house dogs and ruled and taught any dog that needed teaching. Earlier this year Walter who has been there for probably as long as Bella got a home and around two months ago Bella found her long awaited home where she has happily settled in.

Nelson came to us as a young cat who lost an eye. He started in Galway city cattery but was then transferred to the sanctuary at Heathlawn. He has spent nearly 12 years with us and now at last he too has got his forever home. He settled in immediately and walked around as if he had always lived there. He goes walking the veggie patch every day with his 'Daddy' and keeps an eye on everything and everyone for his 'Daddy' when he is away. He is now like a young cat chasing, smelling and loving lawns once he got used of the feel of grass. He loves to cuddle with his family now and has discovered the telly which he loves to watch.

Bones is a story of dedication and love as really he should not have survived. We got a call about a little pony in North Galway that the person thought was dieing. When our inspector got there he looked dead, but was in fact barely alive. Indeed he was only minutes from death. The inspector got him a stable and the regime to save him started. He was so ill and emaciated that the vet could not give him medicine as it would have killed him. So for weeks he had to be fed little and often, 24/7. He could not stand and had to be lifted up for about 5 weeks before he could put a leg under him. But because of the dedicated love and experience of his fosterer he pulled through and today lives with his ladies, some Connemara beauties and his life is just joy to be alive.

Kitty was a very sad story, she was handed over as her owner died. She was devastated at the loss and just went deeper into depression. Never think for a moment that an animal has not the ability to love and grieve, if you saw poor kitty it was heart breaking. Thankfully she has a lovely home and has settled in and is starting to enjoy life again.

Lola came to us in a terrible condition, her eyes were a mess and she just was so depressed and in pain. She had ingrowing eye lashes and her life was miserable until she was operated on. She could not handle being in a cage or in a cattery, so again lady luck came her way and she got a home where she rules the roost.

We hope you enjoyed reading about some of the lads and lassies that have come our way and seeing how they survived and how, even for someone like Nelson or Kitty, there is always a home for them.

Millie O'Sullivan