'I adopted a dog from a man I met on the street whose landlord didn't allow pets' 

Dogs Trust Ireland has reported a 112% rise in 5 years in the number of people giving up pets because they're not permitted in their new home

Dogs Trust Ireland received over 400 calls from distraught owners who could not find accommodation to suit in 2024. File picture

Several years ago, I spontaneously adopted a beautiful dog from a man I met on the street.

We were on the waterfront in Cobh, and the young man was pleading (via a sign) for someone to take his beloved lurcher as the landlord of his new flat forbade dogs.