Golden Star! Belfast Therapy Dog in Running for Nose of Tralee Crown

Delightful three-year-old golden retriever, Binx from County Armagh, has been selected from over 1,550 entries from all 32 counties, the competition is run by Pet Sitters Ireland.

Dog owners are invited to submit pictures and stories of their dogs, with the end goal of being crowned as the ‘Nose of Tralee’.

Voting for the final opens on 24^th July and closes on 18^th August at 5pm, with the winner being announced on 19^th August.

“We are ecstatic to be representing Co Armagh. We entered it for a bit of fun and never thought we would get so far. Armagh has never won it. It would be great to bring it home,” says Binx’s owner, Ruth.

“He has an infectious personality, he is always smiling and wanting cuddles. He never fails to get attention when we are out for our walks, so he has plenty of dog and human friends.”

As well as being an adorable dog, Binx is currently undertaking pet gun dog classes and has recently passed the test to become a therapy dog, through the charity Therapy Dogs Nationwide (TDN).

“This is something that has been on my heart for a while, as seeing the love Binx has for people, and them for him, I thought it would be a great opportunity to give something back to the people of Co. Armagh and help people who may be feeling lonely and struggling with their mental health. It would be great to make someone’s day with our visit,” added Ruth.

TDN also offers the ‘Bark and Read’ programme, which the Kennel Club funds. This involves bringing therapy dogs into schools and helping children to read.

Reading to dogs has proven to help children develop and further their literacy skills, as well as build confidence, thanks to the presence of a dog. This is because the dog listens to the children without being critical or judgmental.

This comforting and calming environment will also encourage an enthusiasm for reading and provide them with confidence.

“As someone who loves reading, this is a big passion of mine to help develop a love of reading amongst the younger generations and to spend time at their local library. We hope to volunteer in local nursing homes, schools, and hospitals.”

“He is a special boy, and hopefully, together we can make a difference in our community, no matter how small,” says Ruth.

If you would like to follow along on Binx and Ruth’s journey, you can find them on @binx_thegolden.