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Contents Location 1 ............................................................................................................................................................. 1 Location 2 ........................................................................................................................................................... 48 Location 3 focus group 1 .................................................................................................................................127 Location 3 Focus group 2 ................................................................................................................................211 Location 4 .........................................................................................................................................................222 Location 5 .........................................................................................................................................................255 Location 6 .........................................................................................................................................................303 This file contains the raw transcription text from each of the Focus groups, the data has been anonymised. Location 1 Modulator Basically I am going to go anti clockwise. And so Participant1 can you tell me one or a few of the things that came up in your discussion about why you own a pet Participant1 We got the first one from a shelter, I think we just ...Why did we get him? Participant2 You wanted a cat and I said Yes . I think the conversation we had, I didn’t know why we had pets but we do Participant1 I think they are nice, they are company. Yeah because the cat is not there to catch mice or anything. Or protection either Participant2 They are not working animals Participant1 I would say for company Yeah Participant3 I am the same as Participant2 I didn’t know why I wanted a pet either I just decided to get a cat from the GSPCA. Participant4 used to mind the cat originally she’s a feral cat I decided to get one cat and now we have four Participant2 I had a cat as a kid I did too I think that is it, if you have a pet as a kid you have memories of that Yeah I think that, we were just saying that as well. I had cats, I think the animal you have as a child is often the one you get as a grown up, it’s the animal you like maybe Modulator Participant4 why do you have so many pets Participant4 The reason it started back In 1974 and I was living in England and I wanted to get something form a very large dept store there was a bomb scare. Rather than stay outside i wandered along to the pet shop. They asked if they could help, and I said no no I am just looking. Looking for kittens thinking they’d be in cages somewhere, they weren’t . They brought three male kittens out , they said male or female> I said male and it took three quarters of an hour to get one off me so I went home with him. Never did remember what i wanted from the shop in the first place Had him for 17 years on his own when he died . So we decided that was it, and so no more, we were heart broken. A few days later we decided we were being selfish and that we could give a cat a good home so we got a brother and a sister. And then after that there was a sign over the door which said if you were ill and homeless and needed someone to look after you to come here Modulator Fair enough Participant4 We brought the 9 cats we had in UK with us , we had always decided to get a dog when we came over here but that’s actually grown too. Now we have 13 cats and 3 dogs only got two of ................................................... we brought 12 of these over with us as well Modulator Why did u get a dog as well Participant4 We couldn’t have a dog in UK what with both of us working in the city, even this dog we didn’t go to choose here we got her at about 6 months old and we were here third home a relative said would you like her We were going to get a dog anyway ,and one dogs the same as another so we got her and she is probably the most intelligent creature I have ever met and the other dog came along because he had been chucked in a barn to die when he was three months old. Someone got him out. We ended up with him, and the last dog came because he was actually walking around Location 1with a bad eye, in a bad state and all the rest of it. Someone had phoned the GSPCA. The field officer was off sick that day, she’d gone off and I thought I’d have a look, I took her home for the night, about 2 years ago Modulator Mother Teresa it is them Participant4 I had a beautiful whippet that was left behind by gypsies, I had her for a couple of months. She lives very happily now over near Spiddal border. Mind you it broke my heart giving her up Modulator Participant5 what............................................ My story in’t as interesting it’s like the advert. I like my dog and my dog likes me, I took early retirement about 8 years ago and I decided I would get a poodle and that Iis what i did . Lucky is the dogs name a female, a great little character again very intelligent Modulator Was there a particular reason, ws it just company or? Participant5 Company I suppose to get me out , I am originally from Location 1and I worked away for 30 years then I came back and I thought what if arna had changed and I didn’t really know anyone here now. I’d say i’m the only Location 1person here I know no one else but when i come back I will bring the dog for a walk and every one says hello to lucky and nobody says hello to me That was one of the reasons, to get me out Ah She is great company and before I came out tonight my young nephew who is staying with me asked are you going to tell the truth and tell them where the dog sleeps . Whatever they ask me I will tell the truth. SO the dog sleeps in the bed, when the news stars at nine o’clock the gets up to the kitchen door, it’s silly. You open the door. She hops up the stairs and waits til I come up. I suppose that is bad training is it? Modulator Whatever helps Participant5 A very non stressful life Modulator Good Good Participant6 you are keeping quiet down there Participant6 I only have 2 dogs and a cat not a lot I have always loved animals from as far back as I could remember A cow, wild geese chickens a pig It was always lovely to feel, lovely to touch them Have u ever stroked a pig? It’s amazing yeah so my mother was devastated when I became a vegetarian. I couldn’t bear the thought of eating them, you know to love animals it is weird to eat them .But anyway, today two dogs and ....... cats ...................... my cat he is a huge he is the boss in the house ,I don’t think he hunts anything all he sees is the fridge. I think that i what i love about cats, they are so selfish > They love themselves and in contrast to the dogs. They are so selfless and caring, loveable, do anything for you. Dogs are just the total opposite to cats They are both seven. They love each other’s company Purdy is quite a big dog, i got her from the Gspca. I said I’d take a little dog, there was three of us sharing a house and we all took measurements of the coffee table to see how big she would get, she is adorable She is a rescue dog and she is wild She is lovely and they love each other lovely to live with, peaceful, happy They can be demanding walks , n to walk the dog no matter how tired, you have I just couldn’t imagine living without an animal or several animals The way life is Modulator What about you Participant6 PARTICIPANT6 I have always had pets ever since I was a kid between rats and hamsters, we always had at least two dogs when i was at home. I moved into to en and I minded dogs I didn’t have time Some dogs you’d mind for a month and then it was like giving it away and I said no more minding dogs, so i got a little terrier and rescued a rotty about 3 years ago and so The terrier had pups a few weeks ago so I am hand feeding the pup now, probably keep her too ENTER PARTICIPANT7 Modulator So would you like to continue on Participant6 Participant6 That is about I it I am now stuck with 3 dogs Modulator And why do you think you got the dog in the first place? Is it because you have always had a pet Participant6 Yeah Well I was minding a pug, I got really attached to and giving him back was hard so i said no more minding dogs and I got the terrier. The I over heard about 2 years ago/ later that someone was going to put down a rotty only 4 months, he was up in Dublin and I knew someone in Conemara and I said if I couldn’t mind him with the terrier, she’s a brat. I said oh no she’ll start and he’ll eat her, but the rotty is so nice, so gentle a really nice dog, a beautiful animal. Modulator Participant3 do you have anything to add, you kind of got her for companionship No it just the 4 cats is where i’ll stop I keep the inside they don’t go out Participant3 Now it’s just the four cats is where i’ll stop, I keep them inside all the time I don’t let them out at all.