Kicking off our new My Country Living series where we profile some of rural Ireland’s ordinary people with extraordinary stories, Fidelma Tonry, a veterinary surgeon in Carndonagh, Co Donegal, talks about how loyal pets are to their owners and reminds us why a puppy is not just for Christmas.
“This is Sheba. She has been part of our family the last three years. She is a collie crossed with a boxer. I love all dogs. When I came to Donegal first, I had Liath. She was a grey-blue great Dane. She used to come around on calls with me. She sat up on the passenger seat of the van, so everybody knew her. She was part of the vet team and I really was distraught when she died.
“I have always loved animals and was much happier out and about on the farm than indoors. I was brought up on a suckler farm at home in Roscommon. Then I went to do veterinary at UCD. I came to Carndonagh when I qualified. So, I have been up this direction the past 26 years. We have a farm here in Moville, where we keep pedigree Aubracs. My husband is a master mariner in Merchant Navy, so he is away at sea six weeks at a time and then home for six weeks.
“He was away for most of the calving last year, so I had to manage calving on my own in the middle of a bad storm. I had plenty of fun trying to keep them in order. I saw the other side of these situations though. Because as a vet I usually just land in to a farm, calve the cow, say ‘get beastings in to her now’ and off with me. It is only when something like that happens that you appreciate what farmers have to go through on a daily basis.
Inishowen Vet Fidelma Tonry. \ Clive Wasson
“The practice that I own was traditionally a large animal clinic, but the small animal side is growing all the time. I am running the practice now along with 10 other female staff members. That is just a coincidence, we would certainly welcome men. It is just the way veterinary has gone. It is about 80% females qualifying at the minute.
“It works well. There have been no problems from the farmers’ point of view, they are well used to women. We have no bother injecting and calving cows or doing caesareans. We do a lot of sections up here, because there is a big interest in embryo transfers. It is technique and determination. We are fit for anything that the men can do!
“On the small animal side of things, there is a huge problem out there with stray animals and re-homing pets. I encourage thinking of getting a pet to go to the pound or a rescue centre as opposed to buying a puppy.
“The number of ‘designer’ puppies are increasing as the economy improves again. It’s like everything else, kids want the designer shoes the same way they want the designer dog. I would strongly discourage it though. They are living creatures who should be part of your family.
Inishowen Vet Fidelma Tonry. \ Clive Wasson
“Pugs were a big hit the last few years. The ‘cute factor’ is to do with their flat faces, which makes them look more like a human baby. It is rounder than the traditional long nose. This causes two major problems; they are not able to breathe properly and may have brain problems because it is being squashed.
“Huskies were also popular a few years ago. The bigger breeds come with major responsibility though. Out in the countryside you are surrounded by sheep and lambs, so you cannot allow big dogs to roam free. There is a responsibility there to keep them on your own property and when they are off your property they need to be on a lead.
“Pups lose the cute factor after a few months. They become big boisterous teenagers and that could go on for years. The bigger the breed, the more exercise they need.
“When you are away all day and you leave your dog alone, they are going to get bored. They will chew up whatever they find. “The problem is not with the dog, it is the way you manage them. It goes back to that big responsibility you take on when deciding to get a dog.
“The advantages of having a pet are huge. You just have to be willing to take care of them their whole lives. Their loyalty and companionship are proven to have huge health benefits. Especially someone living on their own, there is security in having a dog. Older dogs probably wouldn’t need as much exercise, so are suited to older people who could do with their company.
Inishowen Vet Fidelma Tonry. \ Clive Wasson
“If a child really wants a dog, I think they should foster one for a while first. Normally the novelty wears off and it is left to the parents to do the minding and the dog is forgotten about. Then, if they still really want a pet, put it off for a few months until the madness of Christmas passes.
“Don’t support the Christmas trade of disposable puppies. It is not the right time to introduce a new animal in to your home.”
Find out about your nearest animal welfare charity on www.ispca.ie
Kicking off our new My Country Living series where we profile some of rural Ireland’s ordinary people with extraordinary stories, Fidelma Tonry, a veterinary surgeon in Carndonagh, Co Donegal, talks about how loyal pets are to their owners and reminds us why a puppy is not just for Christmas.
“This is Sheba. She has been part of our family the last three years. She is a collie crossed with a boxer. I love all dogs. When I came to Donegal first, I had Liath. She was a grey-blue great Dane. She used to come around on calls with me. She sat up on the passenger seat of the van, so everybody knew her. She was part of the vet team and I really was distraught when she died.
“I have always loved animals and was much happier out and about on the farm than indoors. I was brought up on a suckler farm at home in Roscommon. Then I went to do veterinary at UCD. I came to Carndonagh when I qualified. So, I have been up this direction the past 26 years. We have a farm here in Moville, where we keep pedigree Aubracs. My husband is a master mariner in Merchant Navy, so he is away at sea six weeks at a time and then home for six weeks.
“He was away for most of the calving last year, so I had to manage calving on my own in the middle of a bad storm. I had plenty of fun trying to keep them in order. I saw the other side of these situations though. Because as a vet I usually just land in to a farm, calve the cow, say ‘get beastings in to her now’ and off with me. It is only when something like that happens that you appreciate what farmers have to go through on a daily basis.
Inishowen Vet Fidelma Tonry. \ Clive Wasson
“The practice that I own was traditionally a large animal clinic, but the small animal side is growing all the time. I am running the practice now along with 10 other female staff members. That is just a coincidence, we would certainly welcome men. It is just the way veterinary has gone. It is about 80% females qualifying at the minute.
“It works well. There have been no problems from the farmers’ point of view, they are well used to women. We have no bother injecting and calving cows or doing caesareans. We do a lot of sections up here, because there is a big interest in embryo transfers. It is technique and determination. We are fit for anything that the men can do!
“On the small animal side of things, there is a huge problem out there with stray animals and re-homing pets. I encourage thinking of getting a pet to go to the pound or a rescue centre as opposed to buying a puppy.
“The number of ‘designer’ puppies are increasing as the economy improves again. It’s like everything else, kids want the designer shoes the same way they want the designer dog. I would strongly discourage it though. They are living creatures who should be part of your family.
Inishowen Vet Fidelma Tonry. \ Clive Wasson
“Pugs were a big hit the last few years. The ‘cute factor’ is to do with their flat faces, which makes them look more like a human baby. It is rounder than the traditional long nose. This causes two major problems; they are not able to breathe properly and may have brain problems because it is being squashed.
“Huskies were also popular a few years ago. The bigger breeds come with major responsibility though. Out in the countryside you are surrounded by sheep and lambs, so you cannot allow big dogs to roam free. There is a responsibility there to keep them on your own property and when they are off your property they need to be on a lead.
“Pups lose the cute factor after a few months. They become big boisterous teenagers and that could go on for years. The bigger the breed, the more exercise they need.
“When you are away all day and you leave your dog alone, they are going to get bored. They will chew up whatever they find. “The problem is not with the dog, it is the way you manage them. It goes back to that big responsibility you take on when deciding to get a dog.
“The advantages of having a pet are huge. You just have to be willing to take care of them their whole lives. Their loyalty and companionship are proven to have huge health benefits. Especially someone living on their own, there is security in having a dog. Older dogs probably wouldn’t need as much exercise, so are suited to older people who could do with their company.
Inishowen Vet Fidelma Tonry. \ Clive Wasson
“If a child really wants a dog, I think they should foster one for a while first. Normally the novelty wears off and it is left to the parents to do the minding and the dog is forgotten about. Then, if they still really want a pet, put it off for a few months until the madness of Christmas passes.
“Don’t support the Christmas trade of disposable puppies. It is not the right time to introduce a new animal in to your home.”
Find out about your nearest animal welfare charity on www.ispca.ie
SHARING OPTIONS