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Belfast Telegraph

‘He never fails to turn heads': Co Armagh golden retriever makes final of Nose of Tralee

A therapy dog with an 'infectious personality' is sniffing out glory as he represents Co Armagh in this year's Nose of Tralee. Three-year-old golden retriever Binx has been selected from over 1,550 entries as one of 32 finalists in the competition, run by Pet Sitters Ireland. Now in its 12th year, the annual contest is a play on the Rose of Tralee international festival. People are invited to submit pictures and stories of their dogs, with the end goal of being crowned the Nose of Tralee. Binx's owner, Ruth Parkes, said the duo are 'ecstatic' to be representing their home county. 'We entered it for a bit of fun and never thought we would get so far,' she said. "Armagh has never won it. It would be great to bring it home.' In 2022, Sadie the Labrador, rescued from Serbia by a Co Tyrone charity, won the competition. Ruth said Binx, who recently qualified as a therapy dog with the charity Therapy Dogs Nationwide (TDN), 'never fails to turn heads' when out and about. He is also training in gundog classes. She added: 'He has an infectious personality and 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. Now trained to offer emotional support and companionship, Binx and Ruth are looking forward to giving back to their community. 'This is something that has been on my heart for a while,' she added. "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.' The Open at Royal Portrush: What happened in 2019 Ruth said they are hoping to get involved in TDN's 'Bark and Read' programme – an initiative funded by the Kennel Club that brings therapy dogs into schools to help children build confidence in reading. Reading to dogs has been proven to help children improve literacy and build confidence, as dogs listen without judgment or criticism. 'As someone who loves reading, this is a big passion of mine to help develop a love of reading among the younger generations and to spend time at their local library. We hope to volunteer in local nursing homes, schools, and hospitals,' said Ruth. 'He is a special boy and hopefully we can make a difference in our community, no matter how small.' The 2025 Nose of Tralee winner will be crowned on August 19, following an island-wide vote to determine who will take home the title. Voting for the final opens on July 24 and closes on August 18 at 5pm. The winner will receive a hotel stay, a photoshoot, pet sitting vouchers and a range of gifts from small Irish pet brands.