Marion Fitzgibbon’s work in animal welfare began when she moved to the city of Limerick, Ireland 35 years ago and saw the pitiful condition of the street dogs there. She took food to them at night, paid for veterinary care and even brought some home to recuperate.

Then one night, she encountered two women who were also feeding the dogs. They joined forces and Limerick Animal Welfare was born.

Today, Limerick Animal Welfare rescues and rehomes hundreds of animals every year. The organization came to the attention of the Marin Humane Society through dog training instructor Emma Clifford of Novato, who grew up in Limerick. “Four years ago, I was visiting back home and saw an article about young kids throwing kittens into a fire to see if the mother cat would follow them in – it made me very sad to see this cruelty was being committed by children. Limerick Animal Welfare was the organization that tried to rescue the cats. I immediately felt the need to help and contacted them.”

While the majority of people in Ireland love their pets and treat them well, there remains a large population of homeless and neglected animals. For Marion, her work is all about an insatiable love for animals. “If you see one down and in pain, you just literally can’t pass it up. Even if it only has a couple of hours or days, that animal knows that is has been cared for at least once in his life. And they are grateful. You can see it in their eyes.”

Marion’s compassion does not stop with helping animals; she is also involved with the plight of families living on the road. Finding it difficult to speak to these families (known locally as ‘travelers’) about animal welfare when they are so destitute themselves, Marion was prompted to go to the High Court where she won a very important case that has improved living conditions for many homeless families. “This in turn has improved the living conditions of their horses and dogs,” admires Clifford.

Absent of a physical shelter to house animals, Limerick Animal Welfare for many years improvised by begging space for animals with friends, farmers and boarding kennels. After many years of dreaming it could happen, Phase One of their Sanctuary was finally completed in December 2007. The Sanctuary provides shelter for dozens of homeless animals. In addition, the organization manages and funds a greyhound sanctuary in County Cork.

Limerick Animal Welfare now faces the huge task of raising money (approximately one million euro) to fund Phase Two of the Sanctuary Building Project. The second building will incorporate an adoption area for dogs and cats, and will also include offices, a veterinary clinic and living accommodations for staff. Phase Three, the final building, will include an isolation kennel for cats and kittens.

More than a home for the homeless, Marion envisions the Sanctuary to be a place where kindness toward animals can be demonstrated and animals can find homes. “We hope that busloads of schoolchildren will come up and meet the animals and let them be the teachers.”

Marion has also served three terms as President of the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Director of the American European Greyhound Alliance, Director of Pro Animale Greyhound Sanctuary and President of the Animal Foundation of Ireland. In honor of her lifelong work, Marion was selected by the Marin Humane Society as Humanitarian of the Year.

“Marion is very deserving of this award,” says Clifford. “Throughout the years she has remained determined to be a voice for the animals. She is an inspiration to many and I am very proud to know her.”

To learn more about Limerick Animal Welfare, visit limerickanimalwelfare.com.

Carrie Harrington is the communications manager at the Marin Humane Society.

Tails of Marin appears every Saturday in the Home & Garden section of the Marin Independent Journal