Editorial: The lengths we'll go for our furry friends

Hawke's Bay Today news editor James Ford. Photo / File

I'm sure the lead story in yesterday's Hawke's Bay Today will have struck a chord with many.

Two dogs, Fatso and Nuku, were rescued in the nick of time after being trapped on a Mohaka cliff face for more than a week.

The dogs got stuck after falling down a gorge in remote forestry land at Skudders Ridge, near Kotemaori.

Thankfully the news arrived late on Tuesday evening from SPCA's National Rescue Unit (NRU) that the pups had been reunited with their owner after a strenuous rescue operation.

The NRU team is a group of internationally qualified emergency response volunteers who provide a technical rescue service for trapped animals.

It was a fine display of kindness, bravery and the lengths we will go to for our beloved pets.

We don't have a dog, instead our ball of fluff is a one-eyed cat named Billy.

My fianceeand I got him as a kitten in Oamaru and he has since moved with us to Mid Canterbury, Wellington and now Hawke's Bay.

One night in the South Island he returned home covered in blood.

He had been shot with an air gun three times and beaten.

We rushed him to the late-night vet and for a few days it looked unlikely that he would pull through. He had an operation to remove three pellets and another to remove his heavily damaged eye.

Billy is now perfectly well, despite having only one eye, of course.

It may have cost a small fortune, but it's always worth it. Our pets are part of the family.

That's why it was so pleasing to hear the news of Fatso and Nuku.

Hopefully they're now curled up in front of the fire after a week in the cold.