One of our members, Shirley has helped many unwanted animals find new forever homes. With rescue organisations at bursting point, foster volunteers are needed now more than ever. If you are interested and would like to know more about volunteering, then please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it




Here she tells her story: Hi my name is Shirley and I am a volunteer for dogs in distress. Dogs in distress have no premises so they rely on other people to foster dogs and pups that are then are placed into homes. They are fed, loved and helped relax into beautiful happy dogs and then homed into forever homes. Dogs in distress have major vets bills because they often have that are sick or come in horrific conditions. They also vaccinate micro chip and neuter all dogs that are homed through dogs in distress. It is very important that people help them with donations which can be done by PayPal through the official dogs in distress site.


All my foster dogs have been beauties. My first foster was Jake a Yorkshire terrier found wandering by Ashton dog pound. He came to me over weight and no one reclaimed him so we helped him loose a few pounds. Kids and my partner all loved him and soon he was re-homed and has settled very well since. My second foster was Nellie/Abi, a paterdale terrier who was a cracker. So placid and pretty she was re-homed in Scotland and loving it. Then I had Brandy and Dora, 8 week old beagles crossed with jack Russell who were fantastic little babies and were re-homed very quickly to lovely families. Lastly are my cuties now whose mammy is a boxer and father a Labrador, mammy did not bond with the puppies so they were surrendered into the dog pound in Slane. Dogs in distress helped out and put them into homes I have 4. Three boys and one girl, all little angels. Two have homes now and the other two will have homes soon, but there have been many dogs that have not made it because someone cruelly treated them.

Last week alone a lovely Akita passed away she came in very bad condition. Her foster family loved her and she was doing great but then took a turn for the worse. A little puppy was in foster and she had problems digesting food. Dogs in distress raised money for her operation, at a cost of €2000 and another €2000 for after care but the poor little thing passed away while on operating table. All these dogs come through Ashton dog pound which is funded by dogs in distress and rely on donations. So this Christmas if you can buy a calendar ( great christmas pressie!), foster or adopt or help in any way you can that would be great. Also please support other great places like dogs aid and dogs trust. I wish everyone and all your wonderful family pets a happy Christmas and New Year. A special thanks to Barbara who is helping me with this from Petchums. Shirley xx