Campaign invites families to make festive memories with their pets, and calls on local venues to join Ireland’s growing pet-friendly movement.
This Christmas, Petmania, Ireland’s leading pet retailer, is inviting pet lovers to make magical memories with their four-legged companions through its heartwarming festive campaign, “Paws Welcome – A Cosy Christmas.”
Part of Petmania’s newly launched Ruby Hearts Initiative, the campaign celebrates Ireland’s most welcoming pet-friendly spaces, the cafés, hotels, and heritage destinations that open their doors to pets and embrace them as part of the family. It’s a tribute to the small, sentimental moments that define an Irish winter: a muddy pawprint on a frosty walk, the soft crackle of a fireside nap, or a quiet Christmas morning stroll shared between owner and pet.
At the heart of this year’s celebration is Strokestown Park in Roscommon, winner of the 2025 Petmania Ruby Heart Award for Dog Friendly Venue of the Year. The venue captures the warmth and hospitality that Paws Welcome was created to champion and will host its enchanting “Paws & Claus” event on Sunday, 23rd November , a family-friendly celebration where pets can meet Santa, enjoy a little pampering from the Petmania team, and help spread festive cheer alongside volunteers from the Midlands Branch of the Irish Guide Dogs.
“Christmas is about togetherness, and for many of us, that includes our pets,” says Emily Miller, Sales & Marketing Manager at Petmania. “Through ‘Paws Welcome, A Cosy Christmas’, we want to recognise the venues that create those special moments and encourage pet owners to make lasting memories with their four-legged companions. The most meaningful Christmas memories often come with muddy paws and happy hearts.”
To encourage more businesses to join Ireland’s pet-friendly movement, Petmania is introducing limited-edition ‘Paws Welcome Christmas Packs’, designed to help cafés, hotels, and hospitality venues host their own dog-friendly festive events throughout December. Each pack includes ten christmas bandanas and selection of dog toys, along with printed posters, and digital graphics for social media.
Venues can register to receive a Christmas Pack via the Petmania website and are encouraged to use their events as an opportunity to support a local animal rescue or pet charity through voluntary fundraising.
“This is about celebrating inclusion in the simplest, most joyful ways,” adds Miller. “Whether it’s a café offering a cosy corner for dogs, a hotel leaving a biscuit under the tree, or a community hosting a Santa Paws walk, small gestures like these make a big difference and they strengthen Ireland’s reputation as one of Europe’s most pet-friendly destinations.”
Throughout December, Petmania will share highlights of participating venues across its store networks and local social media channels under the banner of the Ruby Hearts Initiative, reinforcing its commitment to building a more pet-inclusive Ireland. The campaign will culminate in early 2026 with the return of the Ruby Heart Awards, celebrating excellence in pet-friendly hospitality nationwide.
More than just a seasonal celebration, “Paws Welcome – A Cosy Christmas” reflects a growing cultural shift toward community and connection. It’s a reminder that the spirit of Christmas shines brightest when shared with every member of the family, paws and all.
To register for a Paws Welcome Christmas Pawty Pack, visit www.petmania.ie/paws-welcome
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