Every dog has its day in quest to meet match

Lifestyle – Judy Murphy attended a novel Galway speed-dating event where dogs were paired with their new forever friends

There’s a distinct smell of dog as you enter the sports centre at GMIT in Galway City where 30 canines on leads and under the control of their handlers are barking and sniffing as they check each other out.

More importantly, they’re here to check out potential human soulmates who are also getting an opportunity to bond with them.

“Speed dating for dogs,” is how Marina Fiddler of the dog rescue charity, MADRA, describes this event and this no-nonsense, good-humoured woman is spot on.

To that end, MADRA volunteers have transported the 30 dogs from the charity’s headquarters in Camus, Connemara, to GMIT Sports Hall where people who are seeking a canine mate can meet potential matches. Prospective owners have come from as far away as Kilkenny and Dublin and the place is buzzing.

“What do you think?” asks one woman who’s strolling in the car park outside the centre, a small mixed breed on a lead behind her.

The dog is no oil painting, but it’s affectionate and sweet spirited. The woman’s question is rhetorical, as she’s already besotted. She works from home and travels a few days a week – this dog would be an ideal companion as they could hit the road together, she says.

But MADRA is a tightly run outfit with high standards, so it’s not just as simple as picking your pet and taking off into the sunset.

This event is billed as “an Adoption Day for rescue dogs”, and the procedure is not unlike taking on a child.

Each potential dog-owner must fill out a questionnaire after which there’s an interview, to ensure the person or family concerned is taking on a dog that’s appropriate to their lifestyle.

That’s crucial, says Marina, who cofounded MADRA in 2005. These are animals that have previously been abandoned, so they need stability.

People who attend the Adoption Day at GMIT get to meet all 30 dogs, and if there’s one in particular that tickles their fancy, they register an interest. That’s done at an information desk at the entrance to the sports hall, which is staffed by MADRA volunteers.

After that comes the home check and consultation with Marina.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.