RONAN Keating risked the wrath of animal protection agencies after adopting a Cane Corso dog and spending £15,000 to fly it to Australia.
The Life Is A Rollercoaster singer splashed out to hire a private jet from K9 Jets in order for his beloved dog and cats to travel to the other side of the world for the holidays.
Ronan shared images of their animals on board alongside Australian wife Storm, where they were pampered with a bed and couches for lots of rest on the long-haul trip.
The move was celebrated by Ambassador Protection Dogs, with the company sharing a video of the flight on Instagram and writing: “I get to meet some amazing people doing what I do and gotta say @rokeating and his lovely family are true dog lovers and it’s always a highlight to get to see them and work with the big lad Saint, undoubtedly one of the finest dogs we’ve ever supplied.”
An insider added to The Sun: "Ronan wants to keep his family safe and you can't put a price on that. He's known other celebs who've used the same company so they came highly recommended"
The company specialise in family protection dogs, emotional support dogs and highly trained pets, with the cane corso being a prominent breed for this need.
However, according to PETA, Cane Corsos should be avoided for adoption for this purpose, as the breed has a number of issues including medical issues.
They’re defined as a Breathing Impaired Breed, and are more susceptible to developing heatstroke, so struggle greatly in hot weather.
Cane Corsos are also likely to develop hip and elbow dysplasia and bloat, which could leave them in agony and in severe cases can be fatal to dogs.
Corsos, a breed of mastiff, is also typically bred as a guard dog, used to protect livestock on farms and were previously used for hunting game.
Therefore they can be considered dangerous, especially if not properly socialised, being labelled as part of the Dangerous Dog Act.
However, if they are looked after properly, they have protective instincts and should not be of harm to anyone.
Ronan Keating gushes over sweet family moment
Currently, the Keating family - completed by their son Cooper, 7, and Coco, 4 – are living in Australia, having just moved there following his exit from the Magic FM Breakfast Show.
He told RSVP at the time: “I’m going to concentrate on making an album, writing music and touring.
“We’re also going to spend some time in Australia with Storm’s family.
“That will be for a few months. We’re going travelling for a while overseas.”
Bringing the pets over for the holidays, Ronan later raised the pet-specific airline and wrote: “Got our other babies safe and sound. Massive thank you to Adam and all the team @k9jets_ WOW what an incredibly easy and enjoyable experience #classservice #canttopthat #insane.”
Rules to look after a Cane Corso
Cane Corsos are fierce protectors and a strong breed, but have been labelled "dangerous
- Keep Them Active – Corsos are natural workers, and therefore need to be kept active and busy in order to be kept comfortable. Around two hours a day, but more if possible, is recommended.
- Reward Them - Cane Corsos react well to rewards training, so giving them treats is always a must especially when lead training them.
- Train Them - Cane Corsos are usually better suited to experienced dog owners, so if you're not, it will be best if you sign them up with an accredited trainer.
- Socialise Them - The wider age range cane corsos can get used to, the more experienced and comfortable they will be, which is important when settling them into an environment.
- Careful With Kids – while fully-trained cane corsos are unlikely to pose a threat to children, it is advised that those with young children not adopt this breed, mainly because their big build runs the risk of the dog knocking and hurting them.