‘With two dogs and three cats, plus four children, my house is total chaos, but I wouldn't have it any other way' – Jennifer Whitmore on her rescue pets
Today at 21:30
With two dogs and three cats in residence – not to mention four children – my house is total chaos, but I wouldn't have it any other way. It's wonderful for children to have pets around; each of our kids has their own go-to pet and that's lovely. You can learn a great deal from being close to animals and our lot definitely bring so much to our lives.
Our oldest dog Bobby is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. We don't really know his backstory because he was a rescue dog, but we think he's 17 years old now. It's a great age, alright, but he has always been a very relaxed dog – when he first arrived with us when he was young, he was only in the house a few days before he was very well acquainted with the sofa. He totally took over! We also have Daisy now. She was three when we got her from Wicklow Animal Welfare.
She's a lovely Llewellin Setter – like an English Setter – and she is such a baby. She didn't have a good start in life because she was kept outside in a horsebox all the time and used purely for breeding purposes. I'll never forget how she looked when we first saw her – she was so sad. Poor Daisy; she'd never had a puppyhood. Well, she may be five years old at this stage, but she's having it now!
As if the two dogs aren't enough to deal with, we also have the cats. Teddy Blue was rehomed with us from the North, and then we also got George and Lizzie. They're all great cats but George in particular seems to get loads of attention – my husband adores George and even Daisy the dog is besotted with him. Daisy just sits there, staring at him; you'd love to know what she's thinking.
We have a house full of pets but I didn't have any at all when I was growing up in Wexford. When I lived in Australia for 10 years or so, my husband and I did have two indoor cats but, to be honest, owning and looking after pets has been a great new experience for me. There's sadness too, of course. We had a Golden Retriever called Holly and she died about three years ago; it is so heart-breaking when you lose a pet.
There are some very serious issues around animal welfare in this country. It's a big problem and we need to introduce proper reform. There are far too many dogs being bred here. Just look at the rescue centres – all of them are full of beautiful dogs that have just been dumped. As a society, we really need to get our act together.
When it comes to my own pets, I'm lucky; they bring so much to my life. I just love just sitting quietly at times and snuggling with them. It's actually quite meditative. Bobby is happy enough these days with a short walk along our road but Daisy loves going to the beach for a run.
Yes, my house is certainly chaos with the dogs and cats all mooching around, but I wouldn't be without a single one of them.
As told to Roslyn Dee
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Journal
a day ago
- The Journal
Watchdog overseeing estate agents moves to new department amid calls for beefed up oversight
THE WATCHDOG OVER auctioneers, estate agents and property management companies has been moved into the remit of the Department of Housing amid calls for beefed up oversight of the entire sector. The bodies that oversee property service providers, including auctioneers, letting agents, and property management agents were transferred from the Department of Justice to the Housing Department on 1 August. The Property Services Regulatory Authority (PSRA) has a number of key functions including, the administration of a system of investigation and adjudication of complaints against Property Services Providers. Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne has welcomed the move, stating that there are major issues in the housing market which are pushing up prices including well known practices such as gazumped, phantom bids and facilitated bidding wars. 'These practices are allowing prices be inflated to the maximum possible squeezing home buyers in an already overheated market,' he said. In a parliamentary question, he asked the Housing Minister James Browne if he is aware of reports in The Journal regarding the lack of transparency and culture of bidding wars that has emerged in the Irish housing market and if he is concerned by these trends. Advertisement The minister responded by stating that under the programme for government it was agreed that the PRSA, which is the watchdog over the operations of property providers and those in the industry, should move into his department. The Housing Department said in a statement that this transfer brings the PSRA into the broader housing infrastructure and will 'enable the achievement of the shared goal of a healthy, fair and functioning housing market for Ireland'. 'The transfer will help maintain national housing stock at the highest quality in line with the standards already set by the department,' the statement said, stating that 'bringing together the regulation of this important sector, with housing standards functions under one department will boost consumer protection and public awareness of property services'. Updating regulation law The Property Services (Regulation) Act 2011 created the PSRA and the PSAB [Property Services Appeals Board] to oversee property service providers, including auctioneers, letting agents, and property management agents and to handle complaints. The department said it is now a priority to resume work already underway to amend several provisions within the 2011 Act to bring them up to date. 'The focus is on ensuring everyone has a range of housing options, whether they want to buy a house, rent one, or need social housing. An adequate supply and mix of housing across housing types and tenures is critical to addressing the current imbalance between supply and demand in the housing market, including home ownership, social housing and private rental,' said the housing minister. Increased supply will help moderate price increases, address affordability in the market, and help those aspiring to own their own home to realise this goal, he added. Bidding wars and phantom bids Hearne said it is important that the PRSA has come under the responsibility of the Department of Housing, but criticised the government for making the 'wrong decision' not to investigate practices such as phantom bids and facilitated bidding wars. Related Reads Teachers and nurses who have links to an area to be prioritised for cost rental units Group of estate agents believe housing prices will soon level off, says SCSI survey Mortgages have hit levels not seen since right before the crash 'I am urging the Minister for Housing to undertake an investigation into practices in the property market that is inflating housing prices. 'There are clearly huge problems in the Irish house purchase market that is adding to rising house prices. The Government doesn't want to know about it and has ditched plans to look at what could change,' he said. Hearne said France and Scotland have sealed bids that remove bidding wars, stating that this should also be introduced in Ireland. Speaking about management companies and estate agents, who Hearne said have an important function in the rental market, he said there are concerns that they are acting in ways that exploit tenants. 'We would like an investigation of the role of these actors in the rental market in terms of tenant protections and inflating rents,' he concluded. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Journal
4 days ago
- The Journal
Local workers who have links to an area to be prioritised for cost rental units
TEACHERS, NURSES AND other key workers will have housing reserved for them in cost-rental developments to alleviate staff shortages in schools and hospitals. The Department of Housing is currently exploring 'options for the targeting of certain cost rental units for key local workers', Education Minister Helen McEntee confirmed. In response to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne, who questioned the minister about how the government plans to address housing-related issues when it comes to retaining key workers, such as teachers, the minister said that since early July, regulations were put in place around 'allocation plans' for cost rental homes. 'Allocation plans' Under the changes, there is now a new option to prioritise local workers who have a link to an area though residence, place of employment, or children's education. 'This will support people to live and work in their local area,' said McEntee. Advertisement Hearne told The Journal that there is a 'clear need for affordable housing for key workers', stating that aside from rental options, houses that are affordable for key workers must also be made available. 'The Government must commit to ensure that there is both cost rental and affordable purchase housing available for key workers such as nurses,' he said. 'Currently the lack of affordable housing for key workers from health to education to transport is impacting on the ability of the state to deliver key public services,' said Hearne. The government must seriously engage with the idea of ensuring key workers have access to affordable homes, he said. The minister said in the autumn, there will be opportunities 'to build on amendments made in last year's Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act', which included new provisions related to the cost rental sector which are intended to improve access for certain cohorts, including those who may be categorised as key workers. The idea, was first floated by former Education Minister Norma Foley, in January of this year. Cost rental homes are aimed at people on middle incomes who may have difficulty paying the rent in private rented accommodation, but who don't meet the income criteria for social housing support. The eligibility for the units includes income thresholds. Related Reads Doubling Renters' Tax Credit will cost €160m - but it is a pre-election pledge by Micheál Martin Here's how much the government says tiny apartments will shave off the cost of construction €450m Exchequer boost to provide 3,000 cost rental, affordable and social homes The State-subsidised model gives long-term tenures at rents approximately 25% below local rates. However there have been criticisms that the rents under the model remain too expensive for many people. The education minister said the government is 'acutely aware' of the housing challenges faced by many sectors of society. She said the government recognises the need for additional cost rental homes, and the 'need to ensure key local workers can avail of these homes, including teachers, particularly in areas of high housing demand'. Other changes under consideration include provision for multiple-occupancy, which will mean friends and work colleagues can come together to access cost rental homes. The Department of Housing is understood to be currently developing the required legal and policy framework for these changes. The Government's new housing plan is due to be published in the new Dáil term. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Independent
5 days ago
- Irish Independent
The Irish Independent's View: Doubting consumers need reassuring on soaring cost of food
Grocery basket prices have been rising at three times the rate of general inflation, yet a Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) investigation concluded yesterday there is no evidence of price gouging. A report from the State's competition watchdog found big retailers in are not making any higher profits than those in other countries, yet those filling their trolleys believe they are paying more for less. They are further confused by the fact that Ireland is now the second-most expensive country in the eurozone when it comes to food prices. Anyone who isn't puzzled clearly hasn't been paying attention. University College Cork economist Oliver Browne has calculated that grocery prices are up more than a third in the last four years. The report found rising costs in agriculture have fuelled some of the increases. This may go some way towards accounting for how meat prices have soared by 22pc and butter by 30pc in a single year. But searching questions remain. For example, why, according to the report, is there a '19pc increase in agricultural products' here compared with '2.6pc across Europe'? The report recognises that 'significant price increases' since 2021 are having a real impact, but it still holds that there are no issues regarding competition among retailers. Shoppers are being gouged by supermarket chains who use their operations as a cash cow It further argues that figures from grocery retailers 'continue to be in line with the margin band estimated by the CCPC in 2023', which was between 1pc and 4pc. But shoppers remain in the dark when it comes to how much supermarkets are clearing in profits. Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore spoke for many when she told RTÉ that people would be 'scratching their heads' on reading the findings. 'Everyone who is going to the supermarket shelves, paying prices at the tills, they know exactly how expensive everything is and how much pressure it is putting on their household budgets,' she said. Recently, Enterprise Minister Niamh Smyth rejected a call for mandatory financial reporting for all major retailers. She was responding to Ms Whitmore, who had claimed Irish shoppers were 'being gouged by large supermarket chains who use their operations as a cash cow'. Shoppers are already on edge, wondering how Donald Trump's tariffs will hit their pockets. They expect the Government to insist retailers give a lucid picture on how they garner profits from prices so they can assess value. Right now there is no such clarity and, for food prices, it seems the only way is up.
