Wheelchair-bound doggie hopes to be the best loved in Ireland

East Clare dog, Mollie, is a finalist for Ireland’s Best-Loved Dog as part of a national competition organised for World Animal Week.
Mollie, who hails from Clonrush, Whitegate, is a very special dog and has been blessed by not only her owner, Samantha Morrisey, but by a fairy godmother as well, who gifted her with a new lease of life.
Mollie was hit by a car two years ago, which resulted in her spine being severed and her losing the use of her back legs. But against the odds and with some handy work, she has managed to lead a full and energetic life thanks to a specially made wheelchair.
After a year of wear and tear, an American tourist called Eileen became the dog’s fairy godmother. Having taken a shine to Mollie, she shipped over a state-of-the-art dog wheelchair, worth $600. 
Samantha told The Clare Champion how her dog has captivated the local community of East Clare and is now hoping to captivate the nation as a finalist in Pedigree and Whiskas search for Ireland’s Best Loved Dog and Cat.
“Mollie was let out one morning with her puppies but about 10 minutes later, she didn’t come when I called and I found her lying on her side, injured. We brought her to the orthopedic vet in Galway but she had injured her spinal chord and he recommended putting her down. I couldn’t do that, it was still my Mollie looking at me. So he said she can use painkillers for a few weeks and to keep her immobile until it fuses up again. He then said we could look at wheelchairs. I researched the wheelchair myself and a friend made her one from a child’s buggy. She got on great with it for a year but it was getting a bit worn. We were down at the bottom of the lakeshore and an American tourist called Eileen said, ‘what your dog needs is an off-road trolley’. Eileen became Mollie’s fairy godmother and shipped over a specially designed wheelchair worth $600 which was made by an engineer. She had bought it through www.eddieswheels.com and Mollie is now on their home page,” Samantha explained.
Samantha entered Mollie into the competition last year but unfortunately didn’t get anywhere. She is delighted that Mollie has now made it into the final of the competition and, of course, if Mollie wins the grand prize of pet-friendly prize worth €3,000 and a six-month supply of Pedigree, she will be very happy also.
“Everywhere she goes, people think she is amazing. She is extremely active and when I turn my back, she will run up to people looking to play. When she got the wheelchair first, it took her a little while to get used to it but she took to it without any trouble and worked out how to reverse and everything. Her puppy, Maddie, looks after her as well and will help groom her. Mollie is so patient when I get her in and out of her wheelchair. When she runs to me for cuddles with those shining happy eyes, I feel like the luckiest person alive to have such an amazing dog,” Samantha concluded.
People from Clare can play their part and help Mollie take the title by logging on to www.rte.ie/worldanimanimalweek to cast their vote. A video clip of Mollie is also available through the same website. The winning Dog and Cat will be announced live on air on the Colm Hayes Show on RTÉ 2fm on Friday, October 8.