13.
Danann - Kildare Danann is a small but mighty bundle of joy! She came in to her owners life as a tiny puppy full of joy after a life altering health issue and made the worst parts of a difficult recovery so much easier and more bearable. Danann has been an amazing therapy dog, even though she never intended to be and has brought her owner through the hardest of days. They are best friends and now that her owner is back on her feet, they are inseparable, enjoying walks, playing and always up to no good together. Danann is one amazing sausage and deserves to be acknowledged for how much of a fantastic pet, therapy, tonic and best friend she is to her owner!
14.
Jerry Joe - Kilkenny JJ is *THE* most loving member of our family! He is great company for my mum. JJ is a COVID dog - he was not socialized as he should have been. We rehomed him and he has just blossomed! No dog could be more loving.
15.
Sockie - Laois This is Sockie (named Sockie since when we rescued her she could only fit into a sock to stay warm!), Sockie is a 6-month-old chihuahua mix who we rescued from a very unethical backyard breeding situation where she was being sold as a teacup Pomeranian. When we took her home we noticed that she was covered in blood lice, scabs and bald spots from head to tail and at only 600 grams in weight our vet couldn't prescribe her with any medication or parasite treatment. This meant that we had to take the long way around with daily baths, lathering her with creams and oils and painstakingly removing the blood lice one by one. After a few very long weeks we had successfully cleared Sockie from all scabs and parasites, her coat was starting to grow back and we had gotten her weight up to a healthy 1kg! Since Sockie made a full recovery she's been absolutely flying and hasn't looked back once! She might be tiny in size but she most certainly makes up for it with her ginormous personality, from doing her all time favourite trick (which she's pictured doing above), to thinking she's a scary guard dog when she's out and about, and even trying to keep up with our lurcher in the garden while doing zoomies, Sockie really is a character to say the least! In conclusion Sockie is a very happy go lucky and a very special little girl who was luckily removed from a terrible situation and so we definitely think she deserves The Nose Of Tralee title but with all of these adorable pets entered in, well be happy for any winner
16.
Pixie - Leitrim She's a don’t judge a book by it’s cover type of girl. Pixie represents over coming your past, learning, persistent, resilience while still being smart, funny, caring, ooohhh so loving and just daft. She represents everything that is love, the joy, the heartache, trust and overall goodness. Although a bit of a houdini and loves a good sock or anything she’s not suppose to have. She gives the best snuggles. We fostered, fell in love and adopted. Her back story is hard one but doesn’t define her. Her fears, anxieties she faces everyday but because people who dont know her label her as reactive. She is more than this and everyday shows up and because of that I will show up for every time she needs. Best of luck to everyone.