Ziggy

Kenagh woman is reunited with lost dog
Date: 05 April 2006

It was smiles all round last week when Monica Orrin from Kenagh was reunited with her missing dog, Ziggy.

In a recent issue, the Leader featured the plight of Monica, who was extremely upset over the disappearance of Ziggy. Monica has raised Ziggy since he was a puppy when a home couldn't be found for him. Five years on, Ziggy is still part of her life so needless to say, Monica was distraught over his sudden disappearance.

Last week, the Leader office received a call from an ecstatic Monica, who told us that Ziggy had been found. Ziggy had been missing since March 13 but thanks to the article in the Leader, the dog was found safe and well.

Teresa Dooner, proprietor of The Chestnut Tree in Killashee, played the good samaritan when she saw Ziggy in the Leader and recognised him from being around the village. Teresa reported it to the number given in the article - Kenagh Garda Station.

"I saw the photograph in the Leader and recognised the dog from a farm we have a few fields away. Before I rang the guards, I went up to the farm and rang a few neighbours to see if they had seen the dog. Then I rang the guards and told them the dog was in the area," explained Teresa.

"I went up to the bog, got the dog and brought him back to Monica. She was so happy to see him and I was just glad I could help. It was great to see her so excited," added Teresa.

Speaking to the Leader last week, Monica said, "it was a miracle" that Ziggy was returned safely to her. "Thank you so much to (the Leader] for highlighting it for me," she added.

Monica explained that Ziggy went missing when "two stray cats came to the house, he went to chase them and got lost".

She excitedly told the Leader that, "Teresa was absolutely fantastic. I don't drive but she went out of her way and brought the dog back to me".

"Jean Armstrong, who runs the LSPCA shop in Longford was also very helpful. She was going to help me look for the dog (Thursday] morning."

Another caring heart in the story is Kenagh Garda, Brian McManus. Gda McManus received numerous calls from people in Kenagh and surrounding areas and he passed the vital information on to Monica.

"I was delighted to be of help in this situation. Monica is a great animal lover. Thanks also to all the people who rang in. I relayed the message to Monica, she listened to their story but this time she was certain the dog Teresa described was hers".

"Numerous people rang in relation to the flyers. It shows the support of the community. Thanks also to the paper, the dog may not have been found only for it," he added.

Monica had great praise for Gda McManus. "He was an awfully nice man, very helpful", she added.
Although this story has a happy ending, Garda Brian McManus advises people "to keep their dogs tied up at all times, especially at this time of year."