South Longford animal day care business shortlisted for National Pet Award

A Lanesboro business that quickly won the hearts of pet owners has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award just months after opening its doors.

Áine Stoneham, owner of Stoneham Animal Stay-Care in Rathcline, Lanesboro, is in the running for the award of Pet Daycare of the Year at the National Pet Awards Ireland after being nominated by her clients.

With voting now open to the public, locals of Longford and beyond are being encouraged to get behind the business.

What began as Áine lending a helping hand to neighbours and friends by minding their pets soon inspired an idea for a welcoming, home-from-home environment for pets in the locality.

With an idea to turn her passion into a rural enterprise, Áine first completed Longford County Council's Start Your Own Business course, alongside a number of professional development courses in animal CPR, pet care and canine psychology and training.

The businesswoman’s career had previously taken a very different direction, having worked as a secondary school English teacher and Head of Year in Kent, England, before returning to Ireland in 2022.

Áine said she had been blown away by the support she had received from the local community since setting up Stoneham Animal Stay-Care earlier this year and that she had quickly developed a great affection for both the dogs in her care and their owners.

Now up for the well-deserved national award, Áine says simply being nominated by her clients was already a huge honour.

Members of the public can vote for Stoneham Animal Stay Care in the Pet Daycare South & West category on the National Pet Awards website which you can find here.

Winners will be announced at the big event on November 28.