Happy Pet, Happy Home, NI

25/05/2025

What a beautiful week ☀️ we made the most of garden time in before the return to normal Norn Iron weather ☔

We had visits from Cisco the 13 year old cocker spaniel who became a firm fave in our house, she is such a wee dote. Beautiful Hermione had her holidays with us and has also cemented her place in the clan, she is so well-mannered and gentle and an absolute credit to her adoptive mum, after a bad start to life on a puppy farm, this little lady is absolutely thriving.

They went home and we welcomed wee Arnold back for his holidays, absolutely love him. Everywhere I go he follows and watches, my wee shadow. Gorgeous Misty is here for a short stay and Bobby is loving the playtime, they have a lovely play style together that just clicks and it's great to watch, she's also like our wee therapy dog and we are all getting lots of cuddles.

And we had the absolute honour of taking beautiful little Cuisle to her mum and dad's wedding yesterday, she got to see them going into the chapel and joined them for photos after, she was the bestest girl. It's not something we do often but we are happy to do this for dogs that are boarding with us, Cuisle is a little dream guest.

We also had our wee regular Rafa here for daycare, and Ralphy boy back for a sleepover. These fellas just come in, look for Bobby, run about the garden, make themselves at home and we love how comfortable and content they are. Beautiful little Bella joined us for a morning adventure to the waterfall.

Visits to Rocky the handsome mini schnauzer pup, Millie the titchy tiny lab-collie-cocker pup and her big sister Riley the cockapoo, Zia the stunning Vizsla, big gorgeous Murphy the lab-cross who we adore, Charlie the Crosskennan Lane Sanctuary resident, Arthur the warrior cat, and Lola and Ziggy the adorable posing pair who melt our hearts.

It's a nice kind of busy, a great mix of dogs in our world who are brilliant company for each other and for us.

And big congrats to Tilly and Lola who won the giveaway basket full of toys 🎉

23/05/2025

17/05/2025

CURRENT CLIENTS: send us your dates for next year!

We've been getting lots of enquiries for next year, happy to say that we are now able to take some bookings for home boarding with us - only for current clients at this time (sorry about this, I get so many new enquiries every day that I have to say no to - we just don't have the capacity for new clients right now. We are so very lucky to have a great group of dogs who come to us regularly and repeatedly, which is the ideal scenario as we can help them out last minute or in emergencies and know that they just slot right into our family life here).

Our availability will remain limited next year, as we're at a stage where we have a good balance and are able to focus on family life and the kids. We're both retired now and having this wee business is really a part-time hobby job, a way for me to have extra company when I am at home most of the time, but it's still a responsibility that we all take very seriously. Looking after someone's dog is a 24/7 job - it's not hard work, it's the best job ever, (especially as the dogs who come to us now are truly part of the family when they are here, so settled and content), it's a lovely way of life, but it is full-on as we never really switch off - making sure that the dogs are safe, secure, happy, fulfilled and comfortable.

So to continue to make sure we have a good balance of days and weeks off, we will have dates blocked out for family time. We aren't intending to have any dogs boarding over school holidays, so that we can make the most of the time off with the kids. However, as you guys know, we do try to be as accommodating as possible for our regulars, so please do send us through any enquiries and we will always do our best 💙🐾

16/05/2025

Update from the last few weeks. We've been quiet and just enjoying the sunshine ☀️

Visitors to us: wee Alfie (11 years old mini Yorkie) for his holiday, Cuisle for some wedding photo practice posing, big Todd for daycare, wee Rafa for daycare, Ralphy the mini schnauzer for his holiday, big Murphy for a mini-break, wee Alfie-bestie-dachshund for a sleepover, miss Marley the beautiful cockapoo for her holiday, and now little Hermione (Westie) and Cisco (13 year old cocker) have arrived for a stay with us.

We had visits to: Rocky, Zia and Abbie, Millie and Riley, and wee Charlie up at Crosskennan Lane. We couldn't get to him this past week with the timings and the heat but we'll see him again next week.

We wouldn't ever want to risk the dog's safety in the heat, so it's been early morning or late evening strolls, which has been lovely as we get the sunsets 😍. We've mostly just been chilling at home and splashing about in the garden, bliss 🫶🏼

12/05/2025

Thank you to whoever nominated us for this again this year, it's lovely to hear the nice comments that people make in the nomination form 🥰

Highlighting the dedication and commitment of those working within the local pet sector.  In 2025 we will honouring local pet businesses in Northern Ireland, Ireland, and Scotland - shining a light on the best in each area.

07/05/2025

HELP WANTED 🙏

This is Charlie 💙🐾

Charlie is currently living up at Crosskennan Lane Animal Sanctuary, a charity we support monthly, who care for so many animals and do so much good in the world. Crosskennan recently appealed for help with getting Charlie out for walks, we had a meet & greet with him last week and agreed this was something we would love to help with.

Charlie's background story is heartbreaking. He is 10 years old, and he was surrendered just before Christmas - his family had apparently decided they didn't want him anymore and took him to be euthanised 😱. Thankfully, a very kind lady stopped this from happening, and Charlie ended up at Crosskennan. An appeal was put out for a long-term foster, the dream being that Charlie can find a home to live out his golden years in peace and comfort.

Crosskennan recently decided that Charlie will stay at the sanctuary, as they simply couldn't find the right home for him. He is an elderly gent, he has been traumatised by being abandoned by his family, his fur had been badly neglected and he needed vet treatment - Crosskennan have provided for all of these needs and think he would benefit from the company of some human friends - experienced and confident dog walkers, who can take him out of the sanctuary for a walk occasionally, for a change of scenery and to help continue with his training.

We're very happy to help with this a couple of times per week, and as you can see from the video on our Instagram, Charlie walks beautifully. He prances, he sniffs, he is a happy little chap so long as he isn't being unnecessarily fussed over - he reminds me a lot of our Lola! But we can't get there every day - if any of my dog walking friends would be able to volunteer in a similar way, the sanctuary would love to hear from you 🙏

Maybe wee Charlie can still live in hope that a long-term foster will come forward to offer him his forever home. The Sanctuary is a safe place for him where he is clearly adored, but a 10 year old dog who has grown up in a family home would ideally live out his days with a family, and this what the Sanctuary would love to happen for Charlie 🥹

If you'd like to donate items of use to Crosskennan, we will be visiting Charlie a couple of times a week and are happy to act as a drop-off point and deliver the goods. Their list of items to be accepted are:

Animal food - Pedigree Markies, Pedigree Dental Sticks, Dreamies, Royal Canin Pet Food, fresh fruit and veg (apples, carrots, etc)

Hay, shavings

Bedding - Sheets, duvet covers, blankets

Towels

Items for selling, eg unwanted gifts

Your time! Volunteers are welcome and appreciated

Your money! The charity relies on donations from the public, it's not government funded, and as you can imagine, it's not cheap to look after 150 animals per day. You can set up a monthly donation like we do, it's so easy to do, or make a one-off donation.

Email them at [email protected] to offer your help, or go on to the website to set up a donation 💙🐾

Crosskennan Lane Animal Sanctuary