Katie’s puppies raise cash for cancer society

“CANCER is a bastard for cutting your time short,” – Katie Kerins (24), Castleisland, speaking in her final summer in 2014.

Katie lost her battle with cancer on Monday, February 2, 2015. Even on her final few days she was looking forward to the birth of a litter of pups she had bred in late 2014.

She wanted to have a pup around her when she came home from hospital as she was fighting to get well at that time.

Poignantly, the litter of six was born on the day she passed away in Cork University Hospital.

Though Katie’s dad, Liam and her sisters were enveloped in grief at the time, shortly afterwards, they thought they would honour her memory by auctioning the pups and the money raised would go to the Irish Cancer Society.

They did just that and the puppies brought in €600.

“We’ve decided that we’d auction or sell them off and let the money go to help in fighting the disease that took Katie from us. She crossed a Springer Spaniel (mom) and a Border Collie and they’ve turned out beautifully – strong legs and lovely, long ears,” said the late Katie’s dad, Liam at the time.

Now the ‘Katie’s Puppie’ legacy goes on as they have another litter with the same parentage and for the same charitable purpose.

“They make great pets as both breeds have a lovely calm temperament,” said Liam.

Though only 24 years-of-age at the time of her sad passing, Katie had seen much more pain and suffering in this life than her years should have allowed.

She fought a long and spirited fight against the disease which eventually took her.

In only her mid teens, in July 2006, she had to cope with the death of her mom, Ingrid and the anguish and pain a traumatic event of that nature inflicts on a young family.

Even in the midst of the darkness of her battle with her own mortality in the summer of 2014 she wrote – with typically forthright Katie passion – of the passing of a friend she had made during her time in hospital:

“Sadly one of the nicest people I met while in hospital passed away! Heaven gains one of the kindest, most genuine persons I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting and Cancer is a bastard for cutting your time short. R.I.P Ray Allen.”

“We’ll be looking for good homes for Katie’s puppies and if anyone out there would like to bid for one of them they can ring us here at home any day after 4pm on: 066 71 43 775,” Liam said.

Photo by John Reidy The late Katie’s dad, Liam Kerins and her sister, Patricia with the litter of six Springer Spaniel / Border Collie crossed puppies which were born on the day she lost her battle with cancer. The pups were auctioned for charity. The new litter are of...