Petmania’s Operation Transpawmation Leads the way for Healthier Pets

Petmania Operation TransPAWmation 4 scaled 1

Ireland’s Pet Experts Petmania have launched their eighth annual health and wellbeing campaign which aims to help pet owners across the country provide the best care for their four-legged friends. Pet-owners and customers who sign up to ‘Operation TransPAWmation’, can avail of personalised advice on their pet’s health and wellbeing as well as numerous talks and events taking place during February and March in stores nationwide.  

 

Irish pet-owners are keen to do their very best for their pets, with the majority of dog-owners understanding how important exercise and fresh air is for their canine pals. Recent research by Petmania showed that 26% of dog-owners take their dog for a walk at least once a day, while 53% take them more frequently than that. However, with the research also revealing that 71% of pet parents give their dogs treats at least once a day and 46% admit to never brushing their dog’s teeth, it’s important to continue to educate in best practice when it comes to ensuring our pets’ lives are the healthiest and happiest that they can be.  

 

This year’s Operation TransPAWmation campaign is set to see its biggest year yet and coincides with the Irish owned pet retailer’s mission to provide a one-stop health and wellness destination for pets nationwide. In recent months Petmania has opened two new state-of-the-art store experiences to Ireland to both Athlone and Galway, with plans to expand to even more areas and bring new and improved service offerings to pet owners across the nation.  

 

Originally focused on preventing obesity, #PetmaniaOT has now evolved and in 2024 will put an increased focus on overall health and wellbeing, leading the way to happier, healthier pets. While the prevention of excessive weight gain is still vital, Petmania will this year help pet owners identify small changes that can have big changes to their pet’s overall health, with emphasis on grooming, everyday healthcare, diet & nutrition and training, exercise & play.  

 

Pet owners and their dogs and cats are invited to visit any Petmania store during the months of February and March and avail of a free one-to-one with their pet care experts. They will also offer weight and Body Condition Score (BCS) checks for dogs and cats, and host walk-in microchipping events at all stores. 

 

The Petmania OT Roadshow will take place at two confirmed locations in March – Saturday, 2nd March in Athlone and Saturday, 9th March in Waterford. These events will be full day events for dog and cat owners and will include advice, giveaways and demonstrations from some of Petmania’s top pet care experts, including Vet Bobby Ortiz. The Roadshows will feature: 

 

1. Grooming demos with top groomer Michelle Walsh

2.Canine First Aid with trained experts Michelle Walsh and Tara Murphy

3. Dog Training talk with Dawn Greer

4. Using CBD for your pets with Hemp Heros

5. A focus on how supplements can support your pet’s every day health 

6. Pet nutrition for good health with Vet Bobby Ortiz

7. Dental care for good pet health with Vet Bobby Ortiz  

 
Pet owners can subscribe to the Petmania OT programme and get personalised advice on their pet’s health and wellbeing via www.petmania.ie/ot as well as visiting their local Petmania store where qualified pet care advisors are waiting to take customers through a personalised plan.  

 

The OT programme is an extension of Petmania’s mission to make healthcare accessible to pet-owners across Ireland. Not only has the retailer launched an extensive healthcare department in their new stores in Athlone and Galway, to assist in supporting local pets’ everyday health and wellness, they have also launched a new partnership with An Post Pet Insurance. 

 

Both Athlone and Waterford now offer a range of dog training classes, led by champion dog trainer Dawn Greer, while the store continues to offer monthly puppy care classes and regular microchipping services. For more information, customers can visit www.petmania.ie or visit their nearest Petmania store. 

 

Petmania now has 16 stores across Ireland with over 260 employees and the largest dog grooming business in the country.  

Unlock
Momentum

© 2026 Harris Public Relations Ireland. All rights reserved.

Denny Redmond

JUNIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER

Denny brings a rich and varied background across PR, HR, and theatre production, with PR agency experience and an in-house role with The Gate Theatre, as well as several roles in the HR sector. After taking time to travel and pursue further studies, he returned to the world of PR in 2025, joining the Harris PR team where he supports clients in the food, motoring, retail, festivals & events, and NFP sectors.

 

Denny’s creative waters run deep, and his communication skills, signature energy and collaborative approach make him an invaluable addition to the team.

Viktoriia Hurska

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Vika joined Harris PR following her selection as the recipient of the 2025/26 Harris PR Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Bursary, developed in partnership with the Public Relations Institute of Ireland (PRII) and the Open Doors Initiative. Originally from Ukraine and displaced by war, Vika came to Ireland in 2022 and brings over eight years of experience in communications including a wealth of strategic insight, creativity, and international perspective.

 

As part of the Bursary, Viktoriia is completing the PRII Diploma in Public Relations, combining academic study with hands-on agency experience at Harris PR, where she supports clients in the retail, health & wellness, festivals and NFP sectors.

Eve McSweeney

Account Manager

Eve is a skilled communications specialist who joined Harris PR in 2026 bringing extensive experience in strategic PR across the business, technology, and consumer sectors.

 

Eve previously spent over four years at tech-focused communications agency Beachhut PR, where she delivered strategic positioning, executive profiling, and global media relations for high-growth companies and multinational brands, often translating jargon heavy language into clear messaging. Her experience spans fintech, automotive, e-commerce, Web3, med-tech, supply chain, and enviro-tech industries.

 

She plays a key role in shaping and delivering integrated communications strategies, working closely with clients to build strong narratives, deliver insight-led storytelling, and drive meaningful media engagement.

Emma Geraghty

ACCOUNT MANAGER

Emma started her career in Internal Communications before undertaking a Masters in Public Relations and Strategic Communications. She moved on to become a Public Relations Manager in a fast-paced retail environment for over two years before joining Harris PR in 2025.

 

Experienced in delivering and executing PR campaigns across corporate, consumer and sustainability communications, whilst nurturing brand reputation, Emma manages clients in the health & wellness, retail, festivals and NFP sectors. A true media relations pro, her passion lies in storytelling and identifying news angles that will generate positive coverage while landing key messages.

Niamh McCarrick

DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR

With over 20 years’ experience, both agency and in-house, Niamh is a versatile and passionate PR expert who joined the Harris PR team in 2020.

 

During the course of her career she has worked with a broad range of corporate entities and consumer brands from industries spanning retail, telecoms, and FMCG, and has been the recipient of a number of PRCA awards in recognition of her work. She later served on the judging panel for the annual industry awards for several years.

Niamh specialises in strategy, planning, media relations and influencer management at Harris PR, and is the account lead for a number of brands in the retail, food & beverage, health & wellness and travel & tourism sectors.

Sonia Harris Pope

FOUNDER & MANAGING DIRECTOR

Sonia established Harris PR in 2009, following a decade in agency PR and three years as a journalist with the Sunday Independent.  Her vision is to provide a truly people centric service, delivering standout creative work that moves the dial, while acting as an extension of client teams

 

While taking an active role in client work, alongside running the business, Sonia is responsible for strategic counsel, creative oversight and KPI delivery.  She has advised multinationals, start-ups, NFPs, and more over the course of her career and is deeply committed to advancing the PR industry by investing in talent and building an agency culture rooted in fairness and inclusivity.

 

Sonia is committed to advancing DEI in the PR Industry, and recently commissioned research and prepared the first benchmark report and toolkit for employers on the state of DEI in PR Ireland.  An active member of the PRII, and co-founder of the DEI PR Bursary now in its third year, Sonia has recently joined the board of the PRCA, and is committed to driving more inclusive hiring and workplace practices throughout the industry.