This article is from page 16 of the 2011-07-19 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 16 JPG
AN EAST Clare woman has spent the last month going door to door around thousands of houses in the east Clare area, looking for her dearest friend her 13-year-old dog, Punch.
Carmel Gooney has spent hundreds of hours over the past four weeks travelling along roads and across country looking for the missing Pomeranian, who has had prayers said for him and even a candle lit in his name in Knock.
Punch, who has a heart condition and is partially blind, is of great sentimental value to Carmel’s family, having been nursed back to health by Carmel’s late mother when he was just a puppy.
“His eyesight isn’t the best and he is on heart medication. He is of fierce sentimental value. My own mother died about four years and, when Punch was a puppy, he was in a traffic accident and lost all of the power in his legs. Myself and my mother taught him how to walk again. So there is a great connection there to my mother. Now that he is gone and she is gone, it is very lonesome, to be honest,” said Carmel.
“He went missing around June 17. He went missing from my house in Scariff on June 16 and was found by a local woman. Unfortunately, she didn’t realise that he was lost so she let him go. So the last sighting was on June 17.
“He wouldn’t normally roam anywhere but if a neighbouring dog was out for a walk he might follow them. But his eyesight isn’t great so he could find himself somewhere and not be able to find his way home.”
One bright side of Carmel’s monthlong search for Punch is the support that she has received from the local people.
“I’ve been covering as much ground as I can. I’ve covered Scariff, Mountshannon, one side of Woodford, around Feakle, Killanena and Caher. We also have people looking out for us through the animal welfare groups,” continued.
“I’ve met people who have been looking for him, people who I have never met before in my life. I have found one thing out, though, the good will of people is amazing. People have been ringing up and saying prayers. One woman even lit a candle for him in Knock. The good will of the people has been something else.”
Punch is orange with a small white spot on his chest – similar looking to a small fox. Anyone who comes across Punch is asked to contact Carmel on 086 2699317.