We’re honoured to share that Best Bark has been featured in the County Down Spectator in a moving article that highlights both the tragic loss of a much-loved dog and the launch of a campaign that could save many more.
Earlier this month, Betsy – a beautiful beagle with a gentle nature – sadly passed away after ingesting toxins during a routine walk at Ballyholme beach. Her death was sudden, heartbreaking, and a stark reminder of the hidden dangers that can exist in outdoor spaces, even in places we know and love.
Betsy’s owner, Jill, made the courageous decision to share her story publicly in the hope that other dog owners could learn from what happened and potentially avoid facing the same pain. Her honesty and strength in the face of such a devastating experience have inspired something powerful.
Creating Something Positive from Tragedy
In response, our co-founder Amée Spence launched the Best Bark Dog Safety Campaign a country-wide initiative designed to raise awareness about potential risks in outdoor areas and to equip dog owners with expert knowledge and practical advice.
The County Down Spectator kindly covered the launch, speaking to Amée about the importance of using our platform to educate, inform and support our community. As Amée said in the piece:
“After we heard about Betsy’s story, we realised that there is so little awareness out there already. So I brainstormed ways we could address this and I thought, well, I’m not personally a vet, so it’s probably better to partner with a clinic so that everything is backed up by professional and expert advice.”
Partnership with Forestside Veterinary Clinic
To make sure the campaign offers reliable and accurate guidance, we’ve partnered with Forestside Veterinary Clinic, who are generously sharing their professional advice around the types of toxins commonly found on beaches, how to check water quality, and what symptoms to look out for in your dog after a walk.
The goal is simple: to help dog owners feel confident and informed when out and about with their pets especially in unfamiliar or high-risk environments.
Image: Betsy
Raising Awareness, Honouring Betsy
We believe that awareness is the first step towards prevention. By opening up this conversation and creating free educational resources, we hope to reduce the risk of more dogs becoming ill and to honour Betsy’s memory by making a meaningful difference.
We’d like to express our heartfelt thanks to:
- Jill, for bravely sharing her story so openly.
- Forestside Vets, for their ongoing partnership and expert input.
- Amy Pollock and the County Down Spectator team, for covering this important topic and helping us reach dog owners far and wide.
Get Involved
We’ve been overwhelmed by the support from the community since launching the campaign. If you’d like to help us raise awareness, you can:
- Share Betsy’s story on social media
- Tag fellow dog owners and encourage them to read up on beach safety
- Stay tuned for further resources and updates from Best Bark
You can read the full story via the County Down Spectator.
Let’s keep our dogs safe, informed and happy, together.
