In Pictures: Pets available for rehoming following Limerick Animal Welfare's busiest ever year

LAST year was the busiest Limerick Animal Welfare has experienced since the sanctuary opened in December 2007, said Marion Fitzgibbon.

They have many animals available for rehoming - email limerickanimalwelfareadoptions@gmail.com

For more photos, click 'Next'.

The woman synonymous with LAW said there was a huge increase in the number of unwanted dogs as people returned to work post-Covid.

"Many of these dogs had been bought as puppies for exorbitant prices during lockdown," said Marion.

You would think Christmas Day would be the one day in the year that LAW doesn’t get a call about a defenceless animal left to die but you would be wrong. Manager of the LAW sanctuary in Kilfinane, Marie O’Connor said a female German Shepherd was left to die in a pool of water on a remote road.

"LAW was contacted and she was brought to an emergency veterinary clinic by the kind couple that found her. Sadly, she could not be saved and passed away that evening. We have seen many cases of cruelty and neglect in 2022," said Marie.

She gives countless examples – Teddy, a Bernese Mountain dog, needed eye surgery for a condition where his eyelids rolled inward causing the eyelashes and surrounding hair to rub against the dog’s sensitive cornea. Teddy had his operation by eye specialist Natasha at CVC Vets and was happily rehomed.

Finn was found rolled up into a ball on a grass verge unable to move. He was rescued by a kind lady and after contacting LAW, Finn went to CVC Vets. X-rays showed he had a badly broken leg and needed surgery. He was also suffering from pneumonia. Finn had surgery, is now recovering at the vets before continuing his recuperation at the sanctuary in Kilfinane.

"The cat unit has had an exceptionally busy year with kittens arriving into November. The staff have been bottle feeding kittens around the clock. The latest cruelty case is the little kitten staff have named Nollaig. Nollaig was deliberately driven over and lost part of her leg," said Marie. The list of cruelty cases goes on and on.

Marion said: "It is our aim never to leave an animal lying on the road injured and dying. The most rewarding part of our work is when we can save an animal and stop its suffering."

Marie and Marion thank their dedicated staff and volunteers; vets; Bruff gardai and all who have donated as "their financial position continued to cause concern during 2022".