Dog Walk: Deputy Mayor to lead the way!

THE Deputy Mayor of Kilkenny is set to lead the way in a dog walk to raise funds for Kilkenny family carers.

 

Deputy Mayor Marie Fitzpatrick, herself a family carer, today launched Kilkenny’s Charity Dog Walk to raise funds for Kilkenny’s 3,434 family carers who provide almost 80,000 hours of care each week in the home.

 

Starting from Petmania, Kilkenny at 2pm on Easter Monday, April 5, dog lovers and families are welcome to join in this fun-filled day. Carers received a 3.9 per cent cut in social welfare payments in Budget 2010 and cutbacks in support services across the country, despite saving the state over €2.5 billion per annum.

“The O’Keeffe family from Kilkenny, owners of Petmania, have always been hugely supportive of The Carers Association and we are very excited they are sponsoring this event”, says Pat Grogan, Centre Manager of The Carers Association in Kilkenny.

“The walk will begin from Petmania’s Kilkenny store and we hope dog lovers and families across the county will join in.” Founded by the O’Keeffe family, originally from John Street in Kilkenny, Petmania is an Irish owned chain of pet stores with 12 stores nationwide. As well as supporting the National Dog Walk since early 2009. Petmania has re-homed over 600 dogs in conjunction with local animal adoption agencies and hosts regular adoption days in-store.

“Petmania sees pets as a central part of family life. Dogs are excellent companions and offer loyal support to their owners. Petmania’s support of the National Dog Walk is a natural fit, which will not only promote the work of The Carers Association and family carers, but highlight the importance of dogs as caring companions in family life”, says Larry Doyle of Petmania Kilkenny.

Many family carers in high-dependency and long-term caring roles can suffer isolation, poor physical and emotional health and even poverty. The Carers Association works towards recognition, empowerment and a better quality of life for family carers.

The Carers Association/Petmania National Dog Walk is on Easter Monday, April 5. To register information packs are available in store or see www.carersireland.com