Dogs arrive in style to see Santa in Kerry

Animal shelter benefits from Mid Kerry Veterinary Centre fundraiser

Dogs got the chance to visit Santa at Mid Kerry Veterinary Centre. The best-dressed winner was black and white border collie Pearl. Picture: Facebook

Bringing the dog to see Santa is a growing trend — even in areas such as rural Kerry. At the Mid Kerry Veterinary Centre, a mixed animal clinic, ‘Santa Paws’ came to Milltown in some style this year.

The brainchild of veterinary nurse Samantha Finucane, to raise funds for charity, the event proved popular for dogs, and cats were allowed too.

Denise O'Donoghue, also a nurse at the busy veterinary centre, said breeds 'small and big’ put in an appearance.

Some dogs were accompanied by children and each got to meet Santa Paws.

By noon, over 50 dogs had paid a visit.

Funds were raised for an animal shelter, Animal Help Net, in Tralee.

Milltown is one of the country’s fastest-growing towns and has a large number of young families. 

The dogs and cats came from Dingle, Killarney, Killorglin, Glenbeigh, and Tralee.

Farm dogs appeared too and the best-dressed winner was Pearl, a black and white border collie dog. Pearl won a hamper for her appearance. 

While most dogs were dressed in Christmas styles, some arrived in costume, including a few dressed as the Grinch.

Each dog was given a goodie bag and while some dogs got their treat on the day, others will be saving theirs until Santa calls again to the house, said Denise.

Dogs got their Christmas presents at Mid Kerry Veterinary Centre. Picture: Facebook

One Kerry-based dog trainer believes the phenomenon is here to stay. Jake Shirtless of Muddy Paws said dog visits to Santa are good for humans as well as for their dogs.

It reflects a growing care for dogs in the rural county where dogs were traditionally perhaps farm or work animals. 

"In the last 10 to 15 years, people have started to take care of their dogs a lot better. Dogs are part of the family now and some treat their dogs as children," the Killarney-based trainer said.

"The owners get enjoyment as much as the dogs. There might be some dogs afraid around Santa and how he looks, but that’s a small percentage. The dogs that are taken to visit Santa are generally very social already."

Funds were raised for an animal shelter, Animal Help Net, in Tralee. Picture: Facebook

Emily Clarke, the owner of winner Pearl, arrived from Ballyseedy, just outside Tralee. 

Emily got Pearl as a puppy in 2019 just before the pandemic.

A routine visit to the Mid Kerry Veterinary Centre with Pearl alerted Emily to the opportunity to bring the dog along to support a charitable event.

Pearl wore her bandana for the occasion and it was nice for her to visit a vet for a non-medical reason, said Emily, who works as a dental nurse in Killarney.

"It was a lot of fun," said Emily, who is originally from Australia.

Unfortunately, the hamper Pearl won has not been kept intact for Christmas as Pearl did not want to wait and "got into it", Emily said.

Meanwhile, Sara Long, who also works at the centre, brought her collie cross Púca along and it is something dog and owner thoroughly enjoyed and will do again.