ANIMALS OF NEW PLYMOUTH
While celebrating 75 years of New Plymouth Vet Group, we’ve reminisced over many patients, clients, farm members, and moments with our own pets – and we came to a realisation. Our 75th celebration isn’t really about us at all. It’s about the Animals of New Plymouth. Whether it’s a monkey at the zoo, a native bird with a broken wing, Jason the Seagull who, 10 years since we treated him, still comes to get fed at the clinic’s back door, Fluffy the kitten, or Luna the poodle, it’s the animals that are the reason we exist in the first place.
The more we talked, the more we wanted to tell each pet’s story. And so, the concept was born: let’s make a book. Not about us, but about the animals. Telling their stories, finding that special memory and sharing it. Noticing the unique personality of your pet, and sharing it. Laughing at the antics your dog gets up to, and sharing it.
Here is your invitation to “Publish your Pet”
We dedicate this to the Animals of New Plymouth.
Read on below to see examples of recent submissions, then tell us about your pet! It doesn’t have to be a story about visiting the vets, it might be something as mundane as the specific meow your cat makes when it’s 6pm on the dot and they’re ready for their dinner. Each pet is unique, and each story is worth being told.
Click the link below to submit your story and photo.
Alternatively, if you prefer a chat, give us a call and tell us your story over the phone and our team can write it up for you.
Please include
Pet’s name and species/breed:
Your name (optional):
Tell us one of their stories in 100-400 words. This could be anything, some ideas to get you started: think about a special memory, a funny habit, a unique quirk, or why they are important to your life.
Please attach their photo – the highest quality you have.
Email to npvetgroupnz@gmail.com if the link is not working for you.
Please note: before we publish your stories and photos, each submission will go through a grammar check, and the photos may be edited to enhance the quality when needed.
Shishi & Leo
Before Shishi and Leo were Shishi and Leo, they were our two foster kittens. We made them a bed in the bathroom cupboard so they could have a room to themselves in our one-bedroom flat while they got used to us and the house. Although, they decided the bathroom cupboard was too big and would crawl up into the cabinet drawer to sleep curled together in a ball of fluff. After two months of very timid exploring, Shishi came and sat on my lap one evening and went to sleep, I cried. After that, they were no longer foster kittens but ours. We adopted them the next week. That’s known as a ‘foster fail’ among rescue organisations!
A few years later, my partner and I went to stay with his family in Germany for four months. We gave Shishi and Leo to my auntie to cat-sit for the time we were gone. They ran away the evening our plane took off – we got the message on our stopover. We were distraught, heartbroken, and so scared for our fur babies. My auntie spent months searching for them, but it seemed they were gone without a trace.
When we did come back, clueless about how to find them or where to start looking, on a bit of a whim – we contacted a psychic. After an immediate and positive response from her, we felt hopeful for the first time in months. The psychic told us to “look for a stream and a line of trees”, and we would find them both. So, that night, we parked our house truck near the closest stream and went to calling out their names.
We found Shishi within 15 minutes of searching that area, in between the stream and a line trees. Overwhelmed with disbelief and joy, we managed to wrap her up, and bring her back to the truck, she was so so happy to see us, rubbing her face against our cheeks and meowing away like she had so many stories to share. Then, just as magically, one hour later Leo turned up outside the truck’s door, he walked on in, like nothing ever happened. Since then, they have both been cuddlier than ever, like they’re so grateful that we found them again. Which we are, so incredibly grateful.
Dudley
This is Dudley the Muscovy. I got Dudley as a duckling for a support buddy when I was younger and going through some difficult times. Dudley was by me the entire time with her Mallard sisters.
We would lay and have cuddles, splash in their pool or she would follow me on walks (I think Dudley favourite activity would be eating as much as she can haha). They say Ducks don’t make great pets but Dudley proves that all wrong – Apart from all the poop!
Rob has also seen Dudley in the past for prolapse reason, it was to the point we might have had to put her down (which would’ve been devastating) due to reproplases but Rob came up with an amazing fix and Dudley has had no prolapses since!!! My best feather friend
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Jinxy
Jinxy is a rescue cat on our farm – hubbie found her and brought her home – she was very small and fitted into the palm of his hand – we couple find the mother and she was soaking wet – as soon as our daughter saw her she immediately took over and nursed her back to health.
A few years later Jinxy came home from over the farm limping – we took her in to see her fav vet Rob Mills and found that she had two pellets in her and had damaged her leg so much it had to be removed.
Turns out that we had had someone on the farm hunting for possums and rabbits but he had an infra red scope on his gun, he shot what he thought was a possum but it turns out to be Jinxy.
The amputation hasn’t affected her at all and is still well and thriving.
Rossi
The joy of our life was born on 15 September 2020, so he is about to turn six — which, in dog years, means he’s about to hit the naughty 40s!
Rossi is a cheeky, sassy wee fella with cloth ears, especially when we’re distracted gardening out the front of our house. That’s usually his cue to head up through the neighbours’ garden for a visit with their dog, Bodey, who lives behind a fence in their yard. Apparently, fences are merely a suggestion!
Some dogs love balls, frisbees or swimming. Not our boy! Our little mutt loves digging in the sand, having the wind blowing through his beard out the car window and, most of all, sniffing all those delicious aromas he discovers on his walks. His daily sniff-fest usually takes place along the Te Henui walkway. Oh, the joy of leaving his mark for all the other dogs to enjoy!
The only thing he sits patiently for is the moment he can snitch food straight from our little granddaughter’s fingers. He is ever hopeful — and surprisingly persistent!
Rossi loves riding in the basket on the back of my bike and has become quite the well-travelled boy. We take him everywhere with us, and he especially loves our time away in the camper. He’s also been known to visit other people’s campers by simply jumping right in. Many friendships have been made this way — probably the best way to break the ice, especially if there’s a beer or two or a glass of wine involved!
A usual week for Rossi means either riding around with Jeff, my husband, in his work van, or heading off to work with me at St Aubyn Veterinary Clinic. There, he quietly keeps me company in my office alongside Chica, the little Chihuahua belonging to our clinic manager, Ella.
There is just one problem: Chica always steals Rossi’s bed! This leaves Rossi trying to squeeze himself into Chica’s tiny donut bed. Watching this very large dog attempting to fit into a very small bed is quite hilarious!
I can honestly say Rossi isn’t a yappy dog — he’s a very happy dog. He is such a delight and brings so much joy wherever he goes.
Mind you, he’s not particularly fond of having his nails cut. I once cut his quick, and apparently that was enough for him to decide that Mumma is NEVER allowed to touch his feet again! Fortunately for me, I know some great girls at the vets who are more than happy to do the job for me.
Old people love many dogs, their one fault is they never live long enough. In your heart there is always that one very special dog.
I love him, and he loves me.
You really can’t get better than that. ♥️ 🐾
Skyla
Skyla, living her best life with NO regrets.
Skyla loves ANYTHING not intended for her to have in life:
Raglans dinner
Our dinner
Raglans toys
Harvesting direct from my vege garden
Stealing Raglans treats
Licking empty beer bottles
Stealing gwandPAWrents chocolates
Eating
Rolling in anything maggoty
Worst things in life:
Most dogs
Anything healthy
Missing out
Exercise
The Hair brush
Late dinner
Favorite things:
‘SURPRISE’ kisses
Bedtime treats
Snuggles on her own terms
Naughty Nanny Teddy Cookies
Naughty Gwandads treats from his plate
Raglan
Raglan, living his best life, on Fitzroy Beach.
Raglan loves his life & everyone in it especially his Naughty GwandPAWrents and his Nana Wine.
Raglan firmly believes little sisters should be put down when they won’t play with him or steal his food and toys!
But he loves her to pieces.
Best things in life:
Road tripping
Eating bunny poop
Rolling in yummy stuff
Sniffing butts
Cuddles
Scariest things in life:
The DOGTOR
Maya – The Siberian Husky
Maya was a princess from the day she was born and like all princesses she decided she needed a throne which happened to be on a Trampoline. She then decided that anyone wishing to share her throne was fine… but leaving the said throne was not going to happen. The Trampolining Husky became a bit of a thing. As Huskie’s that chip on her shoulder was permanent, wherever she went… that bed, that water dish, that toy… they are mine didn’t you realise… and everytime she did it the other dog bizarrely just accepted it. We do think she was definitely Russian royalty.
Shannah – The Newfoundland.
Shannah had no concept of her size and had an absolute belief that everyone was very glad to see her. One of our favourite moments was when we came across a family set up for a picnic on a walk… in a very wilderness setting. Shannah decided that looked really interesting. She took off ready to greet everyone. I think the people thought she was a bear on the loose and took off… leaving the picnic… which in keeping with all bears she thought decided it would be a good idea and certainly not rude to devour their picnic. She definitely had a good feast by the time we caught up.
Teddy
Here’s my boy Teddy, who you have cared for multiple times! The most memorable for me was when (we think) he fell off a slippery two story roof, he’s a climber and it was a rainy night. He made his way home, despite being badly injured. From X-rays, to feeding tubes, to ultrasounds, the care he received was incredible and I’m nothing short of grateful. It really shows how great veterinary medicine is! I always feel good knowing my pets are in safe hands time and time again.
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Chitty Chase
This is Chitty Chase, he’s is very food oriented, he loves a good booty smack. He is very talkative and cuddly, likes to cuddle up in bed with you like a baby.
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The Bruce
Our 6 year old St Bernard Bruce – named after the Bruce Almighty, or maybe The Hulk, either way, this boy is over 85kgs of pure love…and fluff…and dribble.
You know how we all went “I want a puppy” during lockdown, well we went one better and got the equivalent of a house cow. I waited my whole life to get my Bruce, and as my life-long friend said yep, she too had waited her whole life for me to get this dog. Bruce was born at the New Plymouth Vet Group via C-Section and joined our family of 4 humans and “big Brother” Russell a Labraspoodle 8 weeks later and around 12kgs. He put on 2kg every week for months. HE ATE A LOT!
6 years on and our house is annihilated; there is fluff from here to Timbuktu and be careful where you stand as the dribble is something to be reckoned with. That stuff sticks to everything…everywhere – ceiling included. He creates small earthquakes when he flops down in a huff and snores like a trooper…and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
St Bernard’s are truly majestic, there is nothing like it having one of these creatures in your life.
We don’t get far on our walks before somebody stops for a chat. And a pat. I love seeing the smiles in the passing cars, the pure joy on people’s faces when they see him. Bruce is made to share, he loves attention and pats. A true leaner you need to have a strong stance or else you will topple. He loves getting in the car and back out again, ready for any adventure, any human and any animal – he just loves everything and everybody. Even the Vet’s injections do not dampen Bruce happiness and unconditional love.
He is though a tad of a wimp. He needs to be right next to me. His love and loyalty is nothing that words can explain and is so gentle and funny. He pretends to be dumb, but this boy has brains. They told us Saints can become quite stubborn, well stubborn is an understatement, 85kgs of I am not moving means – he is not moving!
We are so lucky to have Bruce, we are grateful for his big silly droopy eyes and huge head, and ridiculously sized frame.
Once he is long gone and we have moved houses, I am happy in the knowledge that Bruce will live on as that house, no matter how many cleans and how many different people move in there – it will never be fluff free again!
Emmy-Emba
This is Emmy-Emba, she is almost two years old. She loves a game of tag and bringing her favorite toy to you for bedtime. She loves her fancy feast treats and will scratch at the fridge for them. She knows what you mean when you ask her if she wants to go outside or do the washing, she is a inside cat so she goes outside on her lead. She is much loved and adored by her mummy and daddy
So, now it’s your turn!
Get in touch to ‘Publish Your Pet’, or reach out with any questions, we would love to hear from you!
Email to npvetgroupnz@gmail.com if the link is not working for you.
Please note: before we publish your stories and photos, each submission will go through a grammar check, and the photos may be edited to enhance the quality when needed.