'I could never abandon them': IT technician sleeps in tent rather than leave his dogs
Domnic Hickey: 'I just feel we don’t pay enough attention to dog owners in my situation.'
An IT technician who is living in a tent on the banks of the river Shannon says he would rather sleep rough than abandon his three loyal dogs.
Dominic Hickey, 54, from Limerick City, has been homeless for more than a year after his previous landlord put his accommodation up for sale and he had nowhere to go.
He is currently living in a tent by the Shannon with Princess, 14, a sheepdog Scot terrier mix, Terry, a three-year-old male Jack russell fox terrier and Penny, a two-year-old springer spaniel.
“I could never abandon them” he said. “They are part of my life and part of my family and have been for 15 years including the previous one. I couldn’t walk away from them — Princess would not cope she would pine away.
“I’m living here more than a year, and I don’t mind it. It's not the worst — it would have been a lot worse if I didn’t find this place, to be honest.
“The Government are allowing people to move to Ireland with their dogs, but the council is stopping people from moving dogs into their homes.
“They are not reading from the same piece of paper — change should be made and special allowances”.
Mr Hickey, who is not married and has no children, was living in his last accommodation for about eight years before he became homeless. He is a qualified IT technician.
“I can’t go back to work because there is no one to mind the dogs.
“So, I am not working at the moment, I don’t have the tools anymore and I don’t have the transport. If I was to be self-employed, I don’t have the space”.
His brother, who lives outside Limerick, is unable to take him in.
Mr Hickey said his tent contains a small number of day-to-day items he needs and he receives income support.
“My main problem is trying to find someone who will accept dogs. The other problem is the rent allowance is less than €500 and the cheapest place is €800. If I could find a place for €600, I could pay the rest myself.
“I’m caught in a trap, and so that is why I am still here. I cook every day, I have a small stove and I walk to the shops every day for water and washing. And the dogs need water as well.
“I just feel we don’t pay enough attention to dog owners in my situation.”
Threshold did not comment while the Department of Housing said: “Generally, it is 'house rules' agreed between a landlord and a tenant at the start of a tenancy that might deal with keeping pets and landlords should make sure their tenants are familiar with these house rules by including them in the tenancy agreement,
A spokesperson for Limerick County Council said they cannot comment on individual cases.
