A home for at-risk huskies, one of only a few in Ireland, has shut down within days of taking in dogs in danger of being put down.
Objections to barking by the unsettled animals, including two huskies, led to the owner of the shelter to shelve plans for the new premises, which included the early sound-proofing of the building in Co Fermanagh.
Huskie Salvation, run by Johanne Judge and daughter Jenny, was without a permanent home for 18 months after the pair had to vacate the previous premises in Irvinestown as the property was being sold.
“We managed to get a unit on the Kesh Road,” said Ms Judge, adding that there were few homes in the area. “It was a perfect place.”
The plan was to rally support and funds to sound-proof the premises before opening the doors to the at-risk dogs, including huskies, a breed that has increased significantly in popularity in recent years, partly due to them featuring in television shows, not least Game of Thrones.
But the breed is a difficult one to care for, look after and maintain, and some owners quickly find they are unable to do so, said Ms Judge, who has managed a shelter for much of the last seven years.
In addition, there are few shelters equipped to properly care for the breed; only three on the island that specialise, including another in Dungannon.
Ms Judge and her daughter began paying rent on the new premises in early September, then began planning for the opening, including putting the word out for help on the sound-proofing. People started donating.
But then, approximately two weeks ago, she was contacted by two dog pounds informing her two huskies, a Labrador, a German Shepherd and a Jack Russel would be put down if they could not find a home.
“They had nowhere to go so I took them in,” Ms Judge said, adding that she told those living in the vicinity the dogs were being taken in as an emergency and to ring her if there are any problems.
Two complaints were received. Ms Judge slept at the premises but the barking resumed when she left for a few minutes to go home. There was another complaint immediately, she said.
Ms Judge said the situation escalated and it was decided keeping the premises was not an option. She handed in the keys and is now looking once again for premises, having been open only for days.
Three of the dogs Ms Judge saved from being put down are in foster care, while the huskies are at her home, along with multiple other dogs.
While the dogs featured in Game of Thrones – a cross breed called Northern Inuits – are extremely rare, there has been a huge rise in ownership of similar looking animals, including Siberian Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes.