Fiadh Don’t Fail Me Now

Howard, Elizabeth & the mighty Fiadh FRI1MAR24

hen it came to crowning this year’s Me & My Pooch winners, it would be fair to say that the odds and the gods were against us.

By rights, this morning’s presentation should have happened three weeks ago, but, hey, we all wanted to wait for a freak snow storm.

Talula & Honey

The initial problem was getting all the votes counted up and then consulting with the pet groomers, dog rescue luminaries, pet portrait artists and beyond for the judges’ assessment.

And this year, there was a crazy amount of votes. Which meant, of course, we put off counting them for at least a week.

Once we had our Me & My Pooch winner, Elizabeth & Fiadh (which means ‘wild’, gaeilge fans), we had a little trouble getting in touch. Turns out, they were away, on holiday, and happy, dog-loving couple Howard and Elizabeth like to switch off all mobile devices and means of telecommunications when they’re taking a true break from the everyday.

Then there was the little matter of coordinating a time to get that prestigious presentation done, with competition sponsor Jonathan Leonard of Glenergy also having to juggle his diary. Meeting down at V.I.Pets on Theatre Lane – owner Fernanda having thrown in a cover star grooming as a prize – was a given.

Naturally, on the one early morning slot that suited everyone, the skies opened.

Jonathan, Howard, Elizabeth & Fiadh FRI1MAR24

And proceeded to dump a load of sleet and snow on Greystones.

Hence the huddled-in-a-doorway shots and the water speckles on every smooth surface.

Special mention goes to runners-up Talulah & Honey and Max & Kobe, who both scored a major chunk of the public vote.

Thanks to both Glenergy and to V.I.Pets, and congrats to Elizabeth & Fiadh.

You can explore the full 2024 line-up here, and go jump back through previous Me & My Pooch love-ins here.