Loyal Laois dog stayed with dead owner for 10 days

A DEVOTED Laois dog who stayed with the body of his dead owner for 10 days has been nominated for a national bravery award.

Senior dog Buster came into the care of Laois SPCA, after his owner passed away. Sadly, he was alone in the house for 10 long days after his owner’s death before anyone discovered them.

The SPCA said: ‘He stayed with his human, loyal to the end. He was very attached to his original owner but moved into care without any drama and adjusted to the foster life easily.’

Buster is among two dogs and three cats in Laois nominated for a 2025 Petmania Ruby Heart Award, in a variety of categories that include Bravest Pet and Golden Oldie. The awards, with a €5,000 prize fund, celebrate the remarkable impacts pets have on their owners and communities.

Meanwhile, Laois SPCA has also been nominated in the Rescue Activity category, following volunteers’ tireless efforts to rescue a stray dog who roamed the county for months and was dubbed the ‘Laois Lap Hound’.

Now aptly named Chase and living in the lap of luxury, the dog’s remarkable tale brought a deserved nomination for the county’s SPCA, which is run entirely by volunteers. A win would scoop a much-needed prize that includes a three-month supply of pet food for the charity.

While full details cannot be disclosed, Buster was rescued following his owner’s death in late 2023 and spent a long time in care. A bulldog type, his arrival in Laois SPCA unfortunately coincided with the then-impending XL bully ban and widespread negative publicity.

As a result, he was difficult to place although he is not an XL bully. After multiple foster placements, Buster was eventually adopted by a volunteer who said: ‘I couldn't bear to see him go through any more disruption, so we adopted him and he is now part of our family. 

'He is the sweetest, best behaved, most easy going dog you could ever come across, even though he had such turmoil in his senior years. Buster is a hero!” 

Also in the Bravest Pet category is Phoebe, who was found in a shed in Laois last December when she was about 16 weeks old. She had terrible cat flu and a ruptured eyeball, which needed urgent attention.

Her eye had to be removed and a long medical journey followed, as she developed ulcers in the other eye. Her new owner said: ‘She has very little vision and often bumps into furniture but she makes the most of her life. She is happy and playful, even after all she is going through.’ 

Another cat called Mia, nominated in the Rescue Pet section, came into foster care pregnant last year. Her kittens sadly did not survive, after she was found on the streets with missing teeth and severe dental disease.

Her new owner said: ‘Mia would have starved to death, as she wasn’t able to eat food due to her dental issues. She spent lots of nights crying in pain. After lots of costly veterinary treatment, surgery, a strict nutrition plan and loving care, she has progressed into a healthy cat with the most amazing, silky black hair and her dental disease is under control. I am so proud of how far she has come.’ 

Another cat nominated for a Rescue Pet award is Finn, who was found at a house in Laois where previous tenants had been evicted. His life has been transformed by his new owner, who describes him as ‘full of personality and mischief’.

In the Golden Oldie category, Junior is still in the care of Laois SPCA, after his owner passed away in Poland earlier this year. He was being fed by a neighbour and there was no one to take him.

While he has a few medical issues, volunteers say he is ‘a super little dog’ who loves his walks, cuddles, belly rubs and playing fetch with his toys.

Meanwhile, the remarkable story of the ‘Laois Lap Hound’ has put the charity in the running for a rescue award, for what dog coordinator Finn described as a ‘crazy chase’ involving dozens of volunteers.

The elusive Chase was finally captured last February, having done circuits of the county for at least three months. Although regularly spotted on local roads, he was very nervous and repeatedly ran away when people tried to catch him.

In a last-gasp rescue attempt, Laois SPCA set up a public WhatsApp group chat where people could post sightings, while a volunteer with a humane trap remained on standby.

The stray was spotted regularly in Mountrath, Castletown, Aghaboe, Shanahoe and Durrow, while there were also reports from Attanagh, Cullohill, Ballinakill, Ballyroan, Ballyfin, Stradbally and Fairgreen in Portlaoise.

The charity said: ‘This poor dog had literally been doing laps around Laois since early November and he was covering 20km and upwards each day.’ Fortunately, the tale had a happy ending within days and Chase is thriving in his new home with Laois SPCA team member Elaine.

If Laois SPCA wins the Rescue Activity award, Chase will become a Petmania Brand Ambassador for 12 months as well as winning other valuable prizes for the busy charity, which had 172 cats and kittens in care at one point last year.

Online voting in all categories began on 15 May and will close at 11.59pm on Thursday 29 May. Votes can be cast at petmania.ie.

See photos of all nominated Laois pets in the next edition of the Laois Nationalist, in shops and online on Tuesday 27 May