My Pet: Meet Holly, the loving rescue dog who likes to herd hens and share an ice-cream

Rescue dog Holly is a black Labrador-collie mix. She lives in Craughwell, Co Galway, with her owner Anne Marie Kennedy, who describes this happy pooch as being wise beyond her years

My Pet: Rescue dog Holly who lives in Co. Galway with her owner, Anne Marie Kennedy

Rescue dog Holly who lives in Co Galway with her owner, Anne Marie Kennedy. "After a few weeks, she became friends with our three cats; never threatening, just cuddling."

My Pet: Rescue dog Holly who lives in Co. Galway with her owner, Anne Marie Kennedy

Rescue dog Holly who lives in Co Galway with her owner, Anne Marie Kennedy. "After a few weeks, she became friends with our three cats; never threatening, just cuddling."

My Pet: Rescue dog Holly who lives in Co. Galway with her owner, Anne Marie Kennedy

June 12 2022 02:30 AM

Holly is the happiest dog I’ve ever known. She was rescued seven years ago, and when we went to pick her up, I fell instantly in love when her head tilted and her brown eyes shone into my face.

I cradled her to my chest as my husband drove us home. I knew during that journey that fate had delivered her to us as a balm for the grief we were carrying from losing our previous dog.

Little Holly had never felt grass and yelped when I laid her down on the lawn, then ran a bit and yelped again, each time coming back to me, as if knowing already I was her protector. After a few weeks, she became friends with our three cats; never threatening, just cuddling. She eventually ingratiated herself with the hens, even though her collie instinct means she likes to ‘herd’ them — circling them, keeping the group neat and going in the one direction, like she’s competing in sheepdog trials.

My Pet: Rescue dog Holly who lives in Co. Galway with her owner, Anne Marie Kennedy

I work from home a lot and where I go, she follows. She doesn’t need a lead, responds to all commands and there are times when I think we’d make two cheesy, romantic characters in a movie; early walks by the river in winter, lying side by side in a clearing, gazing at clouds; sharing an ice-cream.

I’m not averse to spending leisure time with other people but I like my own company, and I like it even more with Holly; her silent companionship is therapeutic, medicinal, even. My heart is full of love and contentment when I’m with her. She’s wise beyond her years.

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