The Little Dog Laughed

25/07/2024

The salon will be closed for the next few days, following the gentle passing yesterday of my beloved Dad. He was my friend, my advisor, my mentor, my protector & first among the loves of my life. I hope he doesn't mind being rushed by a large pack of dogs, all whom he loved & finally welcoming him home.

The death has occurred of Phil Jones of Model Farm Road, Cork Ireland, on 24/07/2024. You can view the full death notice and add your condolences here.

10/04/2024

I've always wanted to cause a rumour.

Maybe not this one. But it should be an easy one to stop. From the horse's mouth (mine)....

THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED IS NOT CLOSING.

The groomer who worked from my salon is no longer working here. She's self employed & rented the space here (a bit like hair stylists renting chairs).

I suspect that her departure caused some confusion. So, to clarify...

The Little Dog Laughed is my business. I have been at the premises in Casement St for 11 years. I have no plans to close. I am taking appointments & will be delighted to continue to welcome old & new clients for the foreseeable future. Business as usual.

I'd love if you'd spread the correct word. Maybe share this? And book your dogs.

Carole ###

09/04/2024

LET'S TALK ABOUT....
FLEAS

I know, it's yeuch. But, fleas happen. These feckers live to infest. They will jump any height to get to a new host & start a new life cycle. If your dog has fleas, they're present in all forms of the life cycle, even the ones we can't see. They hang around, dormant & wait for a chance to reinfest your innocent dog.

If a dog with fleas comes into the grooming salon every other dog is at a high risk of getting them.
If I wash & dry a dog with fleas, I blow the whole lot all over the salon.
I have to deep clean, spray, remove all towels & bedding & boil wash everything. Including myself.
I have to set off toxic flea bombs.
I have to send dogs home ungroomed & cancel grooms until the salon is treated.
I'm twiddling my thumbs & not working.

It costs a fortune.

I expect that all dogs booked for grooming have up to date flea treatments.
I expect that you will be aware if your dog is carrying fleas.
I expect you to double check in advance of your appointment.

If I find fleas before I groom your dog, I'll cancel the groom. And....I HAVE TO CHARGE THE FULL COST OF YOUR MISSED GROOM.

If I find fleas while I'm grooming your dog, I WILL SEND IT HOME IMMEDIATELY. probably wet, as I usually find them in the bath. I WILL CHARGE THE FULL COST OF THE BOOKED GROOM PLUS THE COST OF FOGGERS.

I hate to do this, but it's getting harder & harder to make a living. Help me out with your understanding, please. Treat your dogs. Check when you make your appointments, or in good time to take action. Please.

15/01/2024

Before & After of the beautiful Champ🐾

02/01/2024

Missy wants to let you know that we're taking appointments for 2024!

We'll be catching up on the diaries & sending repeat appointments over the next few days.

If you want to get ahead of the posse, we have appointments available on Thurs Jan 4th, Fri 5th & Sat 6th & on Mon 8th.

Call to book on 087 7495456
Or text. We love texts.

01/01/2024

Happy New Year!

We were blessed to have two magical creatures in the salon in December. Asher the Elf & Moonraker the Reindeer.

They reminded us that magic is everywhere.

Thank you, each & every dog who has come through our doors, & each & every human who has trusted us to take care of them.

Thank you for the love & support you wrapped around us after we lost our precious Marcel. We needed you, & you were there for us.

Jodie & I love, value & appreciate all of you more than you may realise.

21/12/2023

Snowie😍🎅

20/12/2023

Molly🥰🎅

20/12/2023

Lola came in for her Christmas Tidy up🎅😍

09/10/2023

Marcel 3rd March 2023 ,- 1st October 2023

Full of Joy. Merry. Brave. Confident. Intelligent. Handsome. Gentle. Fearless.

Marcel had it all.

From the moment he was born to his last breath, he was cherished, cared for & so very, very loved.

He loved everybody he met, animal & human. He stole everybody's hearts. He brought hope & light into my life, & Jodie's.

On Sun Oct 1st, on a walk in Dromillihy Wood Marcel leapt into the Roury River. Taking life at full speed, as always. The river was full & he was swept away in an instant. His last big adventure. He would have had no time to realise what was happening. Water is implacable, but it is gentle.

We haven't found his little body yet.

The river level has gone down. It may be that we will find him soon. Please, keep looking. But be safe.

So many people have helped.

Tory West Cork Animal Welfare Group Ltd. Fearless Keyboard Warrior.
Everybody who posted loving, supportive comments, sent messages, flowers & love.
Everybody who helped with the search or came to be with us.
Tom from Toms Tours Ireland who spent a day on the river with his drone.
Michaela who contacted Adrian, who followed the river with a heat seeking drone.
Julia Bertram who searched with us, liaised with landowners & contacted Owen Wynn, kayaker, who also searched tirelessly.
All the landowners who gave us permission to access the river from their land.
Sara Devoy & her beautiful friends who gathered me up on Sunday when I looked like a lost lunatic.
My friends, Melissa & Damien Bennett, who searched, comforted & fed me.
My friend Ruth, who always knows what I need, even when I don't know myself.

Everybody, basically. I want to tag & acknowledge you all, but I'm clueless on FB & illiterate on everything else.

Thank you. Please, light candles. Pray. Send light & love to little Marcel, who is bouncing on the rainbow Bridge (thank you Ellen Grainne Mc Carthy ). Ask the Roury River to bring his mortal body home & to care for him as he rushes on to his next big adventure.

Oh, the wild joys of living!
The leaping from rock up to rock,
The strong rending of boughs from the fir tree,
The cool silver shock
Of the plunge in a pool's living water. (Robert Browning(

11/08/2023

Loki’s before & after🥰
Irish water spaniel x Poodle🐾

04/08/2023

Handsome boy Sam🥰

04/08/2023

Before & After⭐️
Milo the Bernadoodle🐾

12/07/2023

If anyone is in this area please keep an eye out for Oz!🙏 If found please contact 0868119330 or 0872486359

Update: Friday, poor little Ozzie was found today, he had drowned and his body washed up in Courtmacsherry. Thanks everyone for all the help it is wonderful to be part of such a kind, generous community. I know all of our hearts go out to Pat Oz’s owner ❤️. RIP Ozzie.

25/03/2023

Hello everyone,

I will be speaking at a free online event at the end of March and I wanted to personally invite you.
The event is the

Rescue Dogs Online Summit

Join the summit March 28th - 31st (every evening from 6pm)!

The event is completely free, all you need to do is register via the link below in order to access the different sessions (and don't worry if you can not attend live, each session will be available on replay after ;-))
I will be talking about Great Hounds in Need, what we do, who we work with and some of the common problems that we face on a daily basis on Tuesday March 28th 2023. The event starts at 19:30 (7:30pm)

There are so many other amazing guest speakers lined up, I strongly recommend you to attend the summit!
Register today to:
- understand your dog's subtle body language and be able to read the signs of stress (a must for for EVERY dog owner)

- help your new dog, foster or rescue dog settle in your home

- hear about the state of rescue dogs in Ireland and how you can help

- discover the first things to teach your rescue dog

- learn about different holistic therapies and how they can help not only rescue dogs, but dogs in general (another must for EVERY dog owner)
and many more!

There are so many fascinating sessions planned, trust me, you are not going to want to miss this!

Go to this link and register for free today:
https://www.finnpaddycodogtraining.com/f/rescue-dogs-summit

Looking forward to see you there,

Paul
PS: please do not hesitate to spread the word as well and invite fellow dog owners you know - the sessions are going to be so helpful for many dog owners!

02/01/2023

Whew! December went past in a hairy blur! I hope you all have had a wonderful Christmas & New Year?

TBH I was burned out, so I did a very realistic bear impersonation & went into hibernation from Steven's day. Time to take a good long break & to rest & recharge.

The salon will be open again from Jan 10th. I'll be doing admin & cleaning this week, but I've opened up my lovely new diary today & will be sending out appointments this week, so keep your eyes peeled.

If you need to book an appointment before I contact you call, message or text me on 0877494546. I love texts, FB & WhatsApp messages. I don't always get to the phone, so if you do call, please, please leave a message.

Athbhliain faoi shéan is faoi mhaise daoibh go léir.

31/12/2022

OK, so I'm a Party Animal
Thank you, for being such amazing people with such extraordinary dogs.
You've kept me going through a tough year.
Happy 2023. Maybe.

21/12/2022

EDIT Jim has been found.
Jim has gone missing in the Darrara area, near the College. He is microchipped, but not wearing a collar. If you spot him, please contact his owner on 0871390856.

10/12/2022

Jean's Memorial Walk tomorrow, Sun Dec 11th, looks set to be a lovely event. It will be a bright, cold day, but we're a hardy bunch, & Dunmore House Hotel will warm us up with complementary tea & coffee. We will be joined by the Mayor of Clonakilty, West Cork Animal Welfare Group Ltd. will be there to take your donations, & maybe tempt you with some goodies, Shannon of Blue Raven Photography will take her iconic shots of you & your dogs. It will be a beautiful day to remember Jean & celebrate her birthday, & our wonderful memories of her.

We'll gather at Inchydoney in the small car park at the end of the one way system, ready to set off at 2 pm. Look out for the signs sponsored by Riverview Veterinary Group.

Please join us to celebrate Jean, her family, one another & the dogs that unite us as a tribe.

25/11/2022

07/11/2022

It's been a while since I last posted. This has not been an easy year for most (all) of us & I didn't want to add to the misery. But I do want to update you & then move on to happier news.

When I adopted & fostered my dogs, I didn't think about the fact that they would all become old together. My vibrant Indie became grey & wise. 13 seemed young to me. Buttonz (Tubby) the yorkie went blind but refused to stop until he was 17. Sally (touch my face, feel my fury) at 16 became Tubby's constant companion & guide. Tod, one of the Terrible Westie Twins, never apart from Tony since conception, had to leave his brother, who has since made me his surrogate.

There were 7 in Jan 22, reduced to 3 in October. I have cried rivers. This has been the toughest, saddest year of my life, the year I learned what it was to truly grieve. I'm still beyond sad, still putting on my 'outside face', still more fragile than I ever thought I could be. But I'm still upright.

A few weeks ago, I saw a little lurcher on the Great Hounds in Need FB page. He called to my heart. Despite a lot of interest in him, Amanda entrusted him to me. It's early days, we're getting to know one another. He's becoming goofier by the day, I'm finally able to walk on the Warren again without having hysterics.

The many dogs I have adopted & fostered over the years have brought immense riches & joy to my life. And great sorrow. But I'll keep finding & loving dogs who need a 2nd chance. Younger ones, for now.

I urge you all - adopt, don't shop. The pounds & rescues are full of waifs & strays. Those dogs need you. You'll deprive the puppy farmers of the income stream that keeps them in their foul, exploitative business.

No more long winded, sad posts (until the next one!). Lots of info coming up, on fleas (treat your dogs), cancellations (don't), credit (would you ask your hair stylist?) & my terrible photograpy of your pups in Christmas bling (book, if you're a regular client, time has almost run out).

Love to you all, thank you for your continued support of The Little Dog Laughed .

31/08/2022

Xavi the Standard Poodle. From Summer farm dog to Autumn city dog. A work in progress.

24/08/2022

Poppy. Such a happy little lady 💜

20/08/2022

Chip’s first groom😍✂️

Groomed by: Jodie

02/08/2022

This beautiful soul was laid to rest today. Jean arrived to St Mary's graveyard to a guard of honour of the dogs she loved & their humans. We were there to pay tribute to the work Jean did with our dogs, & with all animals. She was tireless in her efforts, combining her dog walking work with behind the scenes rescue work for any animal, bird, mammal that needed her. Her loss is unimaginable.

I am beyond sad. I've thought carefully about the best way to express what follows in as respectful & loving way as possible. Please accept it as it is intended.

15 years ago, I signed myself into a psychiatric hospital, so depressed that I could barely speak. I stayed for 2 months. Then I began over a month of treatment for drug & alcohol addiction. I had a lot to learn. I had no vocabulary to put words on how I was feeling. I had no understanding of depression, mental illness, mood disorder or addiction. All I knew then was that I was in so much mental & emotional pain that I was literally out of my mind.

The most incredible thing was that no one knew. Right up to the day I fell apart, I hid my illness & distress.

These are not easy times. We all carry burdens, worries, fears, illness, sadness, trauma. We may look 'normal'. We may be functioning 'normally'. And we may be dying inside. No one knows. Unless we tell somebody.

Recovery is possible. I recovered. I'll be in recovery every day for the rest of my life. It's a beautiful place to be & I am profoundly grateful.

If you feel anything like I'm trying to describe, please, please find somebody to talk to. Ask for help. Those words 'I need help' may be difficult to say, but they are life changing, life saving.

For those of us blessed enough to be well enough to cope, please be kind & careful of everybody you meet. We have no idea what is happening in another person's life.

If I can ever provide a listening ear, without judgement & in complete confidence, please, come to me.

Let's start telling people how we really are, again. We did it more during the Pandemic, but we should not forget that even without Covid, we are still all in the same boat.

I hope that wherever Jean is this evening, she is surrounded by dogs & every kind of creature. I hope that Indie has found her & they are loving one another. Be free, Jean & know how much you were loved.

22/07/2022

“Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring--it was peace.”
Milan Kundera

Fabio Hurtado - Women Reading.

11/07/2022

Benji✂️❤️

25/06/2022

Doug😍

06/06/2022

Rocco✂️

23/05/2022

Minnie’s first groom😍✂️