IRELAND’S largest specialist pet retailer has launched its search to find Ireland’s 2019 Puppy of the Year.
Limerick was the chosen location for the launch because for the past two years, puppies from Limerick have taken home the coveted Puppy of the Year title and featured in national campaigns for Petmania.
Meanwhile as the search for the next ‘pin-up’ puppy gets underway, Petmania decided to conduct a survey with hundreds of Irish pet parents. The country’s best-loved doggy breeds have been revealed.
Ireland’s best-loved breeds have been revealed as:
Bichon Frise
Yorkshire Terrier
Mixed Breed
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Shih Tzu
West Highland White Terrier
Jack Russell Terrier
Cocker Spaniel
Golden Retriever
Cavachon
Another message that Petmania is eager to get across during their pet competition is the importance of rehoming dogs. The company continues to encourage people who are considering bringing a new four-legged friend into their life to think of adoption or fostering.
Petmania has a number of adoption centre partners across the country and they also provide free Puppy Parent Classes to new puppy owners.
The competition is now in its fifth year and in 2018 record numbers of puppies from across the country were nominated by their pet parents. Petmania’s marketing manager Emma Miller says, “We are excited to launch
our fifth ever Puppy of the Year competition. We unofficially refer to Limerick as Ireland’s capital of cute, having seen two past winners from the county take home the Puppy of the Year title.”
To be eligible, puppies must be under the age of one from April 6. Once entries open, there will be three weeks to register puppies in any of Petmania’s 12 nationwide stores.
There will be two rounds of public votes, and a dozen regional puppies will be chosen to represent their local Petmania store. The overall winning puppy will then be chosen and crowned the winner at a special event in Limerick City in June 2019.
Over the next couple of months, through public voting and a grand final dog show which will take place in Limerick, Ireland’s largest independently owned pet retailer in association with sponsors BETA will identify the puppy who will become the face of the brand for 2019/20.
According to organisers of this year’s competition, the winning puppy will receive a top prize worth over €1500 and in-store entries are welcome now.
