Brave Ringo our star in ‘Nose of Tralee’ contest
RESCUE setter, Ringo Smith, who survived a horrific shooting to the face, has been selected to represent Wexford in the ‘Nose of Tralee’ Facebook contest.
Ringo was shot in the face in Co Laois in January 2013, but managed to run away from his attacker. When he was found, he was brought to the Laois SPCA and vet, who judged his wounds to be about a week old.
Despite his facial injuries, Ringo had managed to eat and drink enough to keep himself alive. Several operations removed gunshot from his face, ears and neck and he was finally ready for rehoming in March.
‘We had followed his story on Facebook and had fallen in love with him,’ said Gorey-based Tracy Smith, a volunteer with the NWSPCA. ‘We were thrilled when his foster mum Eileen, an LSPCA volunteer, brought him up to meet us. Two hours later we were signing the adoption forms.’
Ringo joined Florrie, a 14-year-old setter, and Rosie, a one-year-old, and fitted in straight away. Florrie passed the following year, and Ringo and Rosie were joined by Ronnie, a setter from CSPCA. Last year Reggie, a setter cross from NWSPCA joined the family.
‘Ringo is the bravest, most beautiful boy in the world,’ said Tracy. ‘Everyone who meets him, falls in love with his gentle manner. He’s so trusting of people even having gone through what he has.’
‘We’d love him to win Nose of Tralee 2017 because he’s such a special boy,’ she added. ‘And it shows that rescue dogs are just as fabulous as bought ones.’
Ringo has all he could want, so if he wins, he will donate the food and treats in the prize to the NWSPCA. Follow Ringo on Facebook at Ringo for Nose Of Tralee 2017. Voting opens on Tuesday, August 8. You can vote every 24 hours and the winner will be announced on August 22.