Westmeath's Apollo battles it out for 'Nose of Tralee' title

Ireland’s largest pet competition, the Nose of Tralee, is open for voting tomorrow (July 24), and Westmeath’s entry is none other than Apollo.

The competition is open to all pet owners on the island of Ireland, with no limitation on the type of pets included.

Our nose, Apollo, is heading into the finals, and he and his owner will be out canvassing around Westmeath for votes over the coming days.

Apollo is an 18-month-old Border Collie/German Shepard cross, which means he has the genes of two of the most intelligent dog breeds in the world.

Apollo’s owner, Amanda Murniece, describes the importance of having someone like Apollo in their life, saying: “He is my rock. Apollo has helped me through so much over the last year and a half, and I'm forever thankful to have my boy by my side.

“When I first saw Apollo, I fell in love with him. He knows how to make anyone laugh and smile and is always happy to see everyone.”

Due to his intelligence, Apollo has a very kind nature and tends to pick up humans' emotions very easily, knowing how to cheer up anyone who needs it.

As he is so kind, Amanda is planning on getting Apollo therapy trained, so that he can put his kindness to work at schools, hospitals or wherever he is needed.

Amanda concluded: “Mental health matters and there are so many people out there struggling, but my Apollo and I want to show that you can get through this and it will be better.

“Everyone needs an Apollo in their life; he can brighten anyone's day, and he naturally knows when you need him the most.

“I believe that Apollo deserves to win the Nose of Tralee because even when you feel down, he shows you that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.”