Help the three-legged rescue dog Bono be crowned the Nose of Tralee

A three-legged rescue dog from Dunkineely is a finalist in the Nose of Tralee and he needs your vote. Bono belongs to musician and singer Aoife Feeney who rescued him. 

A Staffordshire Bull Terrier, he had a rough start in life. He was taken from an abusive situation when he was 5 months old. Bono had been  beaten and starved - he was given to a new owner who offered him a better home. 

Unfortunately, he lost a leg after being hit by a car and a few months later, his new owner sadly passed away.

“Regardless of the awful things he's been through in his two(ish) years, he is the friendliest, most loving companion and I'd be lost without him. Seeing him come out of his shell and allow himself to be a dog is so heartwarming and knowing he's happy means everything,” Aoife said. 

She recalls that when she first got him in March - he was slow to trust and afraid: “From the fear he experienced the first time I took him to the beach to now, when he whines to get out and bomb into the waves - it is the best thing ever ... and I think having 4 legs would probably slow him down,” she said. 

Bono loves kids, he loves people and is loving his new life here in Donegal. 

On Monday last, the Mary from Dungloe finalists visited the Rusty Mackerel in Teileann and Bono was delighted to wear his sash and enjoy the fuss. The Mary’s made a fuss of him and Aoife said he really enjoyed the day. 

“Being crowned the Nose of Tralee 2023 would be the icing on the cake,” Aoife said.

Aoife says that there is a stigma attached to Staffordshire terriers but says that in Bono’s case it couldn’t be further from the truth: “Bono is so friendly and lovable as I am sure many other Staffs are.”

Bono faces stiff competition from both dogs and cats so he will need all the help he can get to become the Nose of Tralee. If you would like to vote for Bono, voting opens on Thursday, August 3, please go to petsittersireland.com. You can also vote directly from Bono’s instagram page @bono.the.staffie. 

You can vote every 24 hours and you can vote until August 21.