The Labrador cross was rescued from the Boyne when he was a puppy
A dog who was rescued from the Boyne River when he was just three months old, has been adopted by the Dominican nuns at the Monastery of St. Catherine of Siena at the Twenties in Drogheda.
Prince, who is about two years old, is a Labrador Bull cross and has become the first dog adopted by the county Louth nuns.
Sister Cathy, who gives him breakfast and his first walk at 6.00 am, said, “we had a community meeting last year on whether we should get a dog. We had cats before but this is the first time (for a dog).”
There was support for getting a dog and a commitment to the responsibility involved.
They saw Prince online; he was in the care of Drogheda Animal Rescue and looking for a new home. Emails were exchanged and three of the seventeen sisters went to meet him.
Prince pictured with Sisters Cathy and Teresa. Photo: Ciara Wilkinson.
Sister Cathy said, “I had a dog just like him for 14 years and as soon as I saw him, I just fell in love.”
“He was as excited as we were. He has brought some great joy. There was an older sister in her 80s sitting with him this morning, so he seems to calm down when he is with the older sisters.”
He is trained every day and gets plenty of exercise.
Prince came into the care of Drogheda Animal Rescue last year. A spokesperson said, ‘Prince was originally rescued by a man after he witnessed two lads attempting to tie a rock to his leg and throw him into the Boyne River. Prince was only about 3-months old at the time. The man was brave enough to fight off the lads, and gathered up Prince in his arms and took him home.’
“This is the very first time we have had a religious order adopt from us”, the spokesperson told Drogheda Life. “They are one of the most committed groups of people I have come across.”
“He is young and exuberant and he jumps up. They saw beyond his rough and tumble exterior to his gentle soul because there is no aggression in him at all.”
Who’s a lucky boy? Prince with Sisters Niamh, Natallia and Teresa.
Sister Natallia, who has not had a dog before, said, “he has brought joy and excitement. He wants to welcome everybody and he loves everybody. He does not choose, he just loves.”
Sister Teresa, who was described as the ‘project leader’ in finding a dog for the community said, “we wanted a good size dog and we wanted a Labrador because they are gentle.”
They also wanted to give a dog, perhaps one surrendered during the pandemic, a second chance at life.
She drove the sisters when they first went to meet him. “He was gorgeous, he really was” she said.
“He was very excited and he jumps (but) he jumps around you (not onto you). I thought he was young enough too that we could calm him down and train him not to jump up on the older sisters.”
“He is a great source of joy, he is a very happy dog and very good natured.”
