Residents of Mountshannon, a quiet village in County Clare, had been left uneasy final week after a video surfaced on-line exhibiting what seemed to be a lion roaming the woods. The clip unfold quickly throughout social media, prompting involved calls to police and widespread hypothesis a few wild animal on the free, The Impartial experiences.
Native Gardaí launched an investigation after receiving a number of experiences of a “massive animal” seen coming into the bushes. For a number of days, the creature’s id remained a thriller, with theories starting from an escaped unique pet to a prank gone unsuitable.
Photograph: X / gardainfo
Residents of Mountshannon feared a lion was on the free.
The Viral Discovery
The thriller was lastly solved when officers from Killaloe Garda Station tracked down the supposed predator. It wasn’t a lion. It wasn’t even shut. It was a Newfoundland canine named Mouse — and a really pleasant one at that, in response to Gardaí quoted by Eire Dwell.
“If you happen to go right down to the woods in the present day… it’s not a lion you will see that however the very pleasant Newfoundland canine named Mouse,” Gardaí wrote in a lighthearted Fb publish. The officers added that Mouse “was delighted along with his current viral video clip.”
Mouse’s proprietor confirmed that his hanging look was resulting from a current grooming session. The canine’s thick coat had been shaved down, leaving a dense ruff round his head and neck — a glance that gave him a lion-like silhouette. His tail, too, had a tuft of fur on the finish, finishing the phantasm, The Journal notes.
Photograph: X / gardainfo
Gardaí obtained a number of experiences of a attainable wild predator.
When Grooming Will get Wild
Whereas the mix-up introduced laughter throughout Eire, it additionally prompted dialogue about correct grooming practices for double-coated breeds like Newfoundlands.
Siobhan McHaffie, Director of Operations on the Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (USPCA), informed BBC Information that shaving such canine “is mostly not advisable” until medically needed.
“Their thick double coat regulates temperature and protects their pores and skin,” she mentioned. “Eradicating it may possibly result in sunburn, overheating, and different well being problems.”
McHaffie added that whereas Mouse appeared completely satisfied and effectively cared for, the incident highlights the necessity to groom canine responsibly and prioritize their wellbeing.
A Story with a Blissful Ending
The so-called “lion of Clare” turned out to be nothing greater than a well-loved pet with an unlucky haircut. Locals who had feared a wild predator now chortle on the mix-up, and Mouse himself is having fun with his fame. Gardaí shared photographs of the outsized canine alongside smiling officers, placing the neighborhood relaxed.
For all the joy, the episode left one clear message: in Eire’s forests, the most important shock might come not from wildlife — however from a canine with type.
