SATURDAY, JUNE 27, 2020 A DOG’S DOG LOVER: Being passionate about animals is a prerequisite LIFE for Charlie Biddlecombe, who is surrounded he market for doggy by her canine companions at daycare has grown Doggi Day Care in throughout the country Ormond. Picture by and with 11,500 dogs Liam Clayton registered in Gisborne, two businesses are now well established here meeting a need for special canine care. Gisborne Herald reporter and dog-lover Kim Parkinson learns more about what is on ofer for our furry friends . or Nips, Clyde, Twinkle, Panda, legged Mika, on the other hand, is keen to Toyota Echo, she now has up to 15 dogs a takes in all in her stride. Bertie, Poppy, Shelby and the rest of sabotage his game of fetch, ending in some day and a decent-sized Toyota Hiace van She ofers a door-to-door pick-up and drop- the precious pooches, it’s a home- feisty exchanges. to get the dogs out to her two hectare rural of service so the owners really can leave it all Faway-from-home, but for owner Each day is diferent, with some dogs loving property. up to her. Charlie Biddlecombe, Doggi Day Care in balls and water, while others prefer a good old Some dogs come three times a week and During the Covid-19 lockdown she said Ormond is a full-time job. game of tag. some only once a week. Charlie has had a lot her own dogs missed the paying guests and It’s a job that keeps her busy between 8am “We understand that socialisation is an of them since they were young. played up a bit. and 6pm weekdays catering to the needs of integral part of a dog’s wellbeing — they are “You form a good relationship with the “hey missed the company and stimulation. up to 15 dogs at a time. Add her own seven pack animals and Doggi Day Care provides owners. I enjoy crocheting blankets for A few essential workers who were doing shift dogs and the two 18-day-old puppies she them with the choice of many playmates.” the new human babies that are going to be work used the service again when we went is hand-rearing at the moment, and one Charlie has always been a dog-lover and welcomed into the dogs’ lives.” to level 3, but I’m still not back up to peak can’t help but admire her commitment and was looking for part-time work six years ago, here is a large shed so they can get out of capacity yet.” stamina. but she found it diicult leaving her own the weather and they also feel very safe in the As well as a large shed illed with old sofas, “hey are all so diferent and you get to dogs at home on their own. With thousands van and will go there if they hear thunder. there’s a bath and a sand pit and lots of space know their personalities and quirks,” Charlie of owners with registered dogs in Gisborne, “We are always putting money back into for them to run free. Everything is gated and says. she thought there could be a place here for a the business, improving the property for the secure including a double-gated entrance Like the way Nips is obsessed with fetching daycare facility for dogs. dogs.” where people can park their cars without a tennis ball and is constantly returning it to From humble beginnings of caring for three For many, driving with a van full of dogs worrying about the dogs escaping when they anyone who might take an interest. hree- or four dogs which she transported in a little would be a stressful proposition, but Charlie come and go. Continued on page 2 Paradise only 40 minutes Are you looking for: from Gisborne... • the perfect place to celebrate with family and friends • a wedding venue • staf training or conference venue • social club get together www.tidalwaters.co.nz e: [email protected] p: Brent 027 895 8509 Jaye 027 487 7464 432 Waihau Beach Road, Loisels Beach 32680-01 JUST PAWSOME: Business owner Bernice David- Goodwin (middle) with Tamy Davidson and Carlos David-Goodwin and the Dogs Day Out Gizzy bus. PicturesbyLiamClayton Dogs’ daily excursions include visits to beach or river From page 1 “I love seeing dogs just being dogs — we a fully-lined shed and People can’t help but smile when they just love it when we’re out and about. a big area for them to come across the Dogs Day Out Gizzy bus, “We’re coming into seal season soon so we run around in. here illustrated with its distinctive cartoon need to be mindful of that, and we have to are comfy old couches pooches, and the dogs feel the same way. keep track of bird nesting seasons as well.” for them to rest on, “hey get so excited when they hear the Bernice spent eight years as an animal and there is a separate bus coming to pick them up — you see control welfare inspector with the Gisborne doggy kitchen area. them stop in their tracks and their tails start SPCA, so she is well-qualiied to run a “It’s ive-star all wagging madly,” says owner Bernice David- successful animal-care business. the way. We want to Goodwin. Dog owners place great trust and provide the dogs with It seems dogs are creatures of habit, much conidence in her and her team to look after all the comforts of like people. their beloved pets. home.” “he regulars get in and go to their seats, “For a very reasonable charge, the Dogs Bernice said she then we clip them in. Day Out will pick up your dog in the witnessed some sad “One of our regulars, Harley, jumps like a morning and return him or her in the late cases of neglect during springbok and his tail goes hard-out when afternoon, after a decent work-out.” her time with the SPCA we turn up at his house to take him out.” It’s a busy schedule picking up all the dogs and likes knowing that What makes the Dogs Day Out unique is and it runs like clockwork. all the dogs in her care that it takes the dogs on daily excursions, “One of us will go in and get the dog, are well-looked after. they are like little people. My team, Tammy with Bernice and her team handling up to one drives and the other keeps the rest “hey have to be fully vaccinated, de-sexed and Carlos would agree — we love it. 20 dogs at a time. hey visit their favourite of the passengers under control. We do and registered to come to us. I will usually “In the past, people were happy to leave spots like Gisborne’s inest beaches and they our country pick-ups irst, then our town do a meet-and-greet with a new client and their dogs home alone while they were at love their river runs where the dogs run free pick-ups, and usually by 10am we head out their dog before we sign them up.” work, but now the tide has turned, and it is and swim, knowing that pack leader Bernice for our massive run. here are three of us In order to meet new clients’ needs, acknowledged that this can actually afect is boss. with the dogs at any one time. We then Bernice says she is deinitely looking at their wellbeing. “People ask how we can keep them all go back to the farm for a bit of a rest and expanding the business and welcoming new “here has been a major shift in people’s under control — it’s hard to explain, but refreshments.” fur friends on board. mindsets, which is why the Dogs Day Out they all behave. Back at the farm, the Dogs Day Out has “I just love all the dogs’ personalities — has become so popular.” Leave a lasting legacy What does the Sunrise Foundation do? We raise funds from donations and legacies We invest funds retaining the capital and generating income We use income from investments to provide grants for local charities and organisations. The Sunrise If you would like more information on how you can make a difference Foundation call Glenda on 06 867 7939 or [email protected]. www.sunrisefoundation.org.nz 29333-06 SATURDAY, JUNE 27, 2020 3 PROFILE NICE TIME OF LIFE: Molly Pardoe is enjoying having time for the things she has always wanted to do. Picture by Rebecca Grunwell ‘You always hear about people having male role models but mine were all women who had a great infl uence TEAM on my life,’ says Molly Pardoe. She spoke with Sophie PLAYER Rishworth about the amazing women who came into her life just when she needed them. olly Pardoe (nee Gage) describes Tolaga Bay is a small community and 18-month old great-grandson, which keeps collaborative approach to health was a herself as a “Sandy Lane kid” Molly’s birth mother and siblings lived across her fi t and busy. diffi cult and challenging time, as well as from Tolaga Bay. h ey were the river from them. For most of her life Molly has always “really interesting”. Msome of the best years of her life “But I didn’t have much to do with them been on a committee of some sort. And e politics involved meant Molly could use growing up there with her grandmother.