The County Clare lion which was actually a 'Mouse'

A photo of Mouse, a large brown Newfoundland dog. His coat is shaved and thicker from the neck to head and at the bottom of his tail. He is being petted by a police officer outside. An Garda Síochána Clare

Mouse is said to be delighted with his new found fame

Rebekah Wilson
BBC News NI

The case of a large "lion like" animal being spotted in a wooded area in the Republic of Ireland has been solved by Gardaí (Irish police).

A video of what was thought to be a lion in a wooded area of County Clare was posted on social media with a report being made to Gardaí on 29 October.

However, in a social media post on Tuesday it was confirmed the animal was not a Lion but it was Mouse, a Newfoundland dog.

Gardaí from Killaloe joked: "If you go down to the woods today.....it's not a lion you will find but the very friendly Newfoundland dog named mouse."

A photo of Mouse, a large brown Newfoundland dog. His coat is shaved and thicker from the neck to head and at the bottom of his tail. He is being petted by a police officer outside. An Garda Síochána Clare

Mouse has had his coat shaved, which is most likely why sightings suggested the dog was a lion

At the time, the report of "a large animal in a wooded area in County Clare" was followed by enquiries from the police.

The police said the Newfoundland dog was "delighted with his recent video clip".

Mouse has had its coat shaved and it is not recommended to shave a Newfoundland as they have a double coat.

A photo of Mouse, a large brown Newfoundland dog. His coat is shaved and thicker from the neck to head and at the bottom of his tail. He is being petted by a police officer outside. An Garda Síochána Clare

It is not recommended to shave a double-coat breed

Siobhan McHaffie, Director of Operations at The Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (USPCA) said whilst the society is "unsure of the full context regarding Mouse's grooming, it's important to note that unless it's for medical reasons, shaving a Newfoundland's coat is generally not recommended".

"Their thick double coat plays a vital role in regulating temperature and protecting their skin. Removing it can lead to sunburn, overheating, and other health complications," she said.

Ms McHaffie said shaving a Newfoundland for any other reason is "not advisable" as it "compromises their natural protection and wellbeing. Animals should always be cared for in a way that prioritises their physical and emotional needs".

She added that the society is "glad to see that Mouse is safe and is, in fact, not a roaming lion!"

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