Looking after mistreated or abused dogs and cats is not an easy job, but for an animal sanctuary in Co Fermanagh , it has become accustomed to the cruelest of acts.
First set up more than thirty years ago, Bright Eyes Animal Sanctuary in Ballinamallard has become one of the main charities which rehomes animals in the Fermanagh and Omagh council area ever since.
Founder Pat Nolan was known for his passion for animal care, and since his death nearly ten years ago the trustees have carried on that tradition of caring for traumatised pets in the best way they can.
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One of the group’s trustees, Victoria Ellingsen, says Bright Eyes takes in 90% of the dogs that come into the local pound, and they arrive to them in some traumatic circumstances.
“We were established in 1989, our founder was Pat Nolan and he passed away in February 2013,” Victoria told MyFermanagh.
“He won lots of awards and his life was all about animal welfare and being a voice for voiceless animals that were treated badly and left abandoned.
“When he passed away the trustees carried on his legacy.
“Every year we take about 90% of the dogs that come from Fermanagh and Omagh District Council pound.
“We do all the vet care for them and rehome all our animals locally, making sure they are going to good homes.
“Last year we rehomed over 180 cats and 90 dogs locally, so realistically we are taking in one animal every single day.
“Dogs especially come in very traumatised after they have spent a week in the pound, or they have been found straying.”
Victoria added that just this week one Staffordshire Terrier had come into the sanctuary in particularly bad condition.
“Just in the last week we took in a little Staffy that was found straying in Omagh, and somebody had actually tried to crop its ears and docked half of its tail in a very inhumane way.
“The poor little dog was petrified of everybody and everything and was in an awful lot of pain.
“We managed to get him a foster family, but people can just be so cruel.”
On Saturday 9 April Bright Eyes will be hosting a charity dog walk in Irvinestown to raise much-needed funds for the organisation, which relies on donations from local people.
“We are having a wee walk at Necarne Castle in Irvinestown, it will be roughly about five kilometres around the grounds of the castle.
“There will be a bit of a treasure hunt as well where people will get a map of the route and clues to go along with it.
“Everything will be going to Bright Eyes and hopefully it will be a good day to bring the dogs and the kids out, and that people will come out and support us.”
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