VIDEO: Adorable litter born at Dogs Trust Ballymena (Northern Ireland)

Remember that post where I said we do get puppies? This is one of those times. Dogs Trust Ballymena recently accepted a dog who was already pregnant and this adorable litter is the result. (Mum will be neutered as soon as appropriate before being rehomed).

The pups are still too young for homes, but if you want to make any enquiries about them, please contact Dogs Trust Ballymena directly on 028 2565 2977.

Marley & Me NI Premiere: See the film first with Dogs Trust & Storm Cinemas Belfast!

Smash hit book Marley & Me has fast become an even more successful film, and you can be one of the first in the UK to see it! The Northern Ireland premiere is opening its doors to Dogs Trust supporters to benefit Dogs Trust Ballymena.

The heart-warming tale of a Labrador puppy whose antics turn his new family upside down stars Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson. Northern Irish viewers will get the chance to get reduced rate tickets for the Saturday 7th March 10am screening, with all proceeds going to help dogs being cared for in the area by Dogs Trust.

Better yet, children can get in free if they bring along a large tin of dog food to the cinema or dress up in doggy attire!

Canine residents from the Ballymena Centre will be there to greet cinema-goers at the door, but sadly it won’t possible for other dogs to attend.

Where, when and how much?

Venue: Storm Cinemas Belfast, Odyssey Pavilion, Belfast
Time: Film starts at 10am sharp, please allow time to purchase your tickets
Tickets: £11 for a family ticket (two adults and two children). Adult tickets are £3.50 each. Children under the age of 12 get in free if they bring along a large tin of dog food or dress up in doggy attire.
Contact: Tickets will be available at the Dogs Trust stand outside of the cinema. Call 028 2565 2977 for further information

Ronnie Milsop, Dogs Trust Ballymena Campaigns Manager, says:

“This is a fantastic opportunity for families to come and see this heart-warming movie whilst at the same time also supporting a very good cause. We’d like to say a huge thank you to Storm Cinemas for allowing us to host the Northern Ireland premiere of Marley & Me and we hope lots of people will join us and our canine chums on the day.”

“Storm Cinemas Belfast is a very family-orientated destination and like ourselves is dedicated to doing all they can to help the local community. We are looking forward to the event and can’t wait to help our furry friends.”

The official UK release date is March 11th.

Long term resident Evie finds a home through the Internet

Dogs Trust Ballymena had become the home of a beautiful Collie called Evie for almost a year. Having been abandoned at the Northern Ireland centre last Christmas Eve, Evie was not best suited to the kennel environment, and struggled to show off her best qualities. She became withdrawn, and since Dogs Trust never put a healthy dog down, we were committed to trying everything to find her a home.

Then the Internet came to the rescue! Elizabeth Forsyth was scanning the Dogs Trust website, and came across Evie's picture. Looking at it now, it's not hard to see why she fell in love. However, Elizabeth lives across the Irish Sea from Ballymena in Jedburgh, in the Scottish Borders. Being an experienced Collie owner, Elizabeth was sure she and Evie were a perfect match. All she had to do was convince Dogs Trust that she was right.

That she did, in consultation with staff at both Ballymena and her nearest centre, West Calder; it is rare that we move a dog from centre to centre but if there is a good chance of them finding the right home by doing so (and they have been at the existing centre for some time without luck) then it could be considered. West Calder carried out the necessary home check, and only then was Evie taken over to Scotland to meet Elizabeth. The rest, as they say, is history!

Elizabeth explained:

"As soon as I saw Evie on the screen, I knew that she was the one. I had been looking for a Collie her age since I lost my last dog in July. Evie has settled in so well, loves the garden and sleeps all night in her cosy bed. It is a joy to see her running happy and free in the woods. I could not have picked a better gentle and kind companion."

Staff at Ballymena found parting with the lovely Evie sad, but are overjoyed that she has found the right home for life. We will never give up on a dog no matter how long it takes for the right home to be found, and as a web person I'm also glad to see that the website is doing its job and helping to match homes to dogs. As an organisation we can only do what we do because of committed owners like Elizabeth, so thank you for giving Evie a well-deserved second chance.

First dog rehoming through Twitter sees Suzie from Ballymena finding a home!

It started with a woolly-haired dog picture, and a mild resemblance to Kevin Keegan's hair heyday. I found it cute enough to put on Twitter, and that's where supporter @emmao414 saw it. It turned out that she lives near Dogs Trust Ballymena, and was quite won over by Gia's good looks. Knowing her mum was in the market for a new pal, she swiftly called the centre to make sure Gia was still available, and headed over the same afternoon for a visit, having very sensibly done some research into Irish Water Spaniels.

Although Gia turned out to be a bit big and exuberant for her family, Emma and her mum found their heads turned by a gorgeous six-year-old Pomeranian cross called Suzie, who's all set to move into her new home at 2:30pm today! This is the first time we have been able to make a match through one of our social network pages, and we're so pleased that this strategy is beginning to work for supporters and dogs alike. To our knowledge, it's the first time any animal charity has used Twitter in this way, and we plan to work hard to make this the first of many.

You can click to enlarge the picture above to see the actual online exhange that took place, but all that really remains is to fervently thank Emma and her family for choosing to adopt a rescue dog. We hope Suzie settles in quickly and has a wonderful life with you!

By the way, Gia is still seeking a home, so if you're interested in the curly haired beauty, please do give Ballymena a call on 028 2565 2977!

Dog of the Week: Honey @ Dogs Trust Ballymena

Introducing... Honey!

Breed: Labrador Retriever Crossbreed

Age: 4

Likes: I am a bright girl, so I enjoy training. I've already learned basic commands and am hungry to learn more. I like children of all ages and enjoy being with a family.

Dislikes: I get stressed if I'm left alone.

Needs: I'm easy going and friendly; all I need is a house where I have company most of the day.

Contact: Call Dogs Trust Ballymena on 028 2565 2977 or visit the centre's online gallery.

Dog of the Week: Tia @ Dogs Trust Ballymena

Introducing... Tia!

Breed: German Pointer

Age: 3

Likes: I love to hang out with large dogs and play with my toys. I enjoy training and know some basic commands, so it would be great if you'd continue my training!

Dislikes: Being lazy! I'm an active dog.

Needs: A family with older children who will give me all the exercise I need.

Contact: Call Dogs Trust Ballymena on 028 2565 2977 or visit www.dogstrust.org.uk.