IE: Rescued Limerick greyhounds living 'la dolce vita' in It

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From www.limerickleader.ie

Rescued Limerick greyhounds living 'la dolce vita' in Italy

Description: Shaggy dog story: Danny, Gypsy, Limo, Teddy and Rocky with
their new Italian owners and below, Teddy has a big smile on his face and
why not as he walks the red carpet in Brianza

Shaggy dog story: Danny, Gypsy, Limo, Teddy and Rocky with their new Italian
owners and below, Teddy has a big smile on his face and why not as he walks
the red carpet in Brianza

By Donal O'Regan
Published on Sunday 12 August 2012 13:00

THREE greyhounds and two lurchers rescued by Limerick Animal Welfare have
got the red carpet treatment in Italy.

Some of them were malnourished and had urine scalds on their feet from their
poor kennelling conditions, now they have been rehomed with affluent Italian
owners.

Judging by some of the photographs sent to Limerick Animal Welfare their new
owners aren't suffering from the Italian recession.

The five
<http://www.limerickleader.ie/community/ ... s-living-l
a-dolce-vita-in-italy-1-4148311> dogs were given a ceremony, attended by a
former Minister, on their arrival in Brianza, near Milan. The story made
several Italian national newspapers and TV stations.

Marion Fitzgibbon, of Limerick Animal Welfare, said they were contacted by
Italian welfare group SOS Levrieri through UK Greyhound Compassion.

Description:
http://www.limerickleader.ie/webimage/1 ... .jpg_gen/d
erivatives/landscape_215/3518643724.jpg

"They heard about the work we do. Three of them flew in and we brought them
to the sanctuary. They picked out Danny, Gypsy, Limo, Teddy and Rocky.

"You don't normally send dogs out in July and August because it gets really
hot but they went out through a UK
<http://www.limerickleader.ie/community/ ... s-living-l
a-dolce-vita-in-italy-1-4148311> pet chauffeur transport firm. They had a
lovely air conditioned mini-bus and the driver slept overnight with them.
SOS paid for it all. They've gone to the most beautiful families," said
Marion.

Gypsy and Danny had been in Kilfinane for over a year while Rocky was taken
in after he was listed as "free to a good home". He certainly got a good
home as his plush surrounds above show.

Teddy and Limo were rescued, Marion said. "The had multiple bites, were very
malnourished and their feet had urine scalds. Obviously they were standing
in urine and living in very bad conditions."

Marion, added that they have been "astounded" by the coverage in Italy.

"They don't have greyhound racing there as far as I know. Greyhounds are
very popular in Italy, they don't have any image of them going around with
muzzles. They just look at them as beautiful
<http://www.limerickleader.ie/community/ ... s-living-l
a-dolce-vita-in-italy-1-4148311> dogs," said Marion.

They have had enquiries from around 100 Italians and they hope to send out
more greyhounds.

While they are delighted to see greyhounds have new lives in Italy, they
would rather rehome them in Ireland.

"They make wonderful pets. We don't want to be sending these dogs abroad,
they are Irish dogs and we want to keep these dogs at home. Why aren't we
rehoming them here?" asks Marion, who says their sanctuary is choc-a-bloc
with cats and dogs at the moment.

She says it is has always been difficult to get big dogs adopted but now it
is even becoming hard to rehome
<http://www.limerickleader.ie/community/ ... s-living-l
a-dolce-vita-in-italy-1-4148311> small dogs as well.

Meanwhile, Limerick Animal Welfare are holding their annual Doggy Day show
in Kilfinane on Sunday, August 26 from noon to 4pm with classes, stalls and
many attractions.