Dog Expo Fundraising Event for MADRA

The most exciting event on the canine calendar, MADRA Dog Expo, is coming to Galway. Connemara based dog rescue - MADRA Mutts Anonymous Dog Rescue and Adoption - are organising Ireland’s first dedicated dog expo. The event, which will take place at the Black Box Theatre on Sunday May 29th, is sponsored by Irish pet retailers Petmania.

There is an action packed day planned with the organisers promising something for dog-owners, potential dog-owners, dog-enthusiasts or just families looking for a fun day out. There will be dog shows, training demonstrations, the MADRA adoption centre, healthy hound advice, a dog fashion show, face-painting, the puppy play corner and other fun events.

Celebrity vet, Pete Wedderburn, and Dog Trainer to the stars, Mary Owens, will be there on the day to give dog healthcare and training advice. Friend of MADRA, Sharon Shannon, will also be dropping by to judge some of the dog show categories, where the intensity of the tail wag or the funniest character will also taken into consideration! For the “Very Important Dog” competition advance entry is essential, with the winning dog getting V.I.D. status and receiving the royal treatment on the day. The winner will be chosen based on the most heart-warming story received by the organisers before the deadline.

Speaking about the event, Marina Fiddler of MADRA reinforced the purpose behind this dog day out. She said, “This event is going to be so much fun, but it is also important to remember that the money raised on the day will go towards helping us to continue to rescue neglected, abandoned and unwanted dogs.

“We are very grateful to our event sponsors Petmania and our event partners Burns Pet Nutrition, Whites Premium Dog Food, DQ Communications and the Advertiser Newspaper Group for their support, without whom this event would not be possible”.

The charity also wishes to use the dog expo as a platform to promote responsible dog-ownership and to encourage people to think about a rescue dog if they are looking for a four-legged addition to the family.

Exhibitors from all over the country will be demonstrating at the event which will provide the ultimate shopping extravaganza for dogs. A reduced price on-the-spot micro-chipping and dog tag engraving service will also be available on the day as part of MADRA’s attempt to encourage responsible dog-ownership and to help improve the number of dogs that are returned to their owners when they become separated. Local rescue groups EGAR, GSPCA and Galway Cat Rescue will also be there promoting their work with animals.

MADRA Dog Expo will run from 10am until 5pm on Sunday May 29th. For more information on MADRA Dog Expo log on to www.dogexpo.ie or for more information on MADRA dog rescue and adoption go to www.madra.ie

Notes to the Editor

MADRA –Mutts Anonymous Dog Rescue and Adoption - is a volunteer run charity under the management of registered dog trainers Marina Fiddler and Tara Nic Dhiarmada.

MADRA, based in Connemara, is dedicated to finding new homes for unwanted, neglected, abused and abandoned dogs. They actively support, encourage and promote neutering of pet dogs as an ethical solution to the over-population of dogs in Ireland, and wish to improve the welfare of dogs through general education of the public and through education programmes for children.

MADRA’s ultimate and overall aim is that all dogs have permanent, loving homes.
The rescued dogs come from a variety of sources; from the general public, from local authority pounds, veterinary clinics and dogs that have been rescued from cruel and abusive situations. All of the dogs are assessed on arrival and treated by a vet. They are then vaccinated, wormed, de-flead, neutered and micro-chipped followed by temperament testing. MADRA dogs are homed with a free consultation and training session from a qualified trainer.

Chairperson of MADRA, Marina Fiddler, was awarded a Rehab Galway People of the Year award for her work with MADRA earlier this year.

For more information on MADRA go to www.madra.ie or call 086 8149026