Triggs takes her final bow wow

Football’s most famous dog has taken her final bow wow.

Roy Keane revealed yesterday that Triggs, his faithful canine companion of many years, has died.

The golden labrador will be forever associated with the Saipan saga of 10 years ago, when Keane fell out with manager Mick McCarthy and departed the Irish football camp on the eve of the World Cup finals in Japan and Korea.

An indelible image of the sports story that rocked a nation was of Keane, back home in Manchester, out walking Triggs in the full glare of the media.

Speaking at the launch of a fundraising campaign for Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind in Dublin yesterday, Keane said Triggs died a couple of weeks ago. “Triggs was ill and had a tumour for the last few years,” he said.

Asked if it was hard to accept her death, he replied: “You can say that again. She was about 13 and unless you’ve had a dog you will never understand. She was a great dog and went through a lot with me, ups and downs. You will have me crying in a minute so be careful. But she had a good life. She had a good innings, as they say.”

However, Keane still holds true to his position in Saipan. He said yesterday he would not have left the World Cup had McCarthy not accused him of faking an injury.

Keane still has a German shepherd and said he is contemplating getting another dog.

This is his 10th year as the face of the annual ‘Shades’ fundraising event for the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind. “I was asked to do this 10 years ago and I was always a dog lover and aware of the Irish Guide Dogs. The 10 years have gone by pretty quick and I’m delighted to still be involved.

“It’s hard for people out there at the moment but you have to raise a few bob and keep trying to create that awareness.”

The ‘Shades’ campaign runs from May 7 to 13.

* For further information see www.guidedogs.ie.