Cuddly crew set to roam

CUDDLY FRIENDS: Allan Kirk, with just a few of his "cuddly creatures", which he hopes to take to rest homes further afield.

A Masterton resident is turning to crowdfunding to take his adorable army of critters on the road.

Allan Kirk is the man behind Cuddly Creatures -- an interactive show for senior citizens, featuring a menagerie of life-like, mechanical animals.

Retiree Mr Kirk began Cuddly Creatures in 2010, travelling to rest homes with his life-size labrador puppies, fluffy lap cats, and wide-eyed monkeys in tow, leaving the residents beaming from ear to ear.

So far, he and friend Shirley Cooper have brought the show to rest homes from Wellington up to Dannevirke, but are raising funds to bring their 200-plus cuddly creatures before a wider audience.

Mr Kirk has set up a Givealittle page for the show, with proceeds to be set aside for fuel and accommodation costs, so he and Shirley can travel further north.

"We've wanted to go to places like Napier, Taupo and Rotorua -- but we're on fixed incomes, so it was a bit beyond us," he said.

"We'd love to visit more homes -- life isn't always easy for our seniors, but if we can come along with a bunch of cuddly animals and put a smile on their face, we're doing a good thing."

Cuddly Creatures began when Mr Kirk discovered a 1m tall mechanical pony at the Warehouse.

"There was a huge crowd gathered around something -- and it was this horse, neighing and swishing its tail.

"It was on special, so I dived right in and got it."

He started browsing Trade Me and eBay and, before long, his collection grew to fill an entire room of his house.

They come in "all shapes and sizes" -- tiny squirrels and rabbits which sprint across the floor, grinning Tasmanian Devils, monkeys which wiggle their ears and reach for a hug, blue birds who twitter in tune, and puppies in top hats who perform a tap "routine" at the touch of a button.

"There's even a remote controlled caterpillar in there somewhere."

The cuddly creatures' first "performance" was for a group of seniors at St Matthew's Church, which was met with rapturous applause.

A registered nurse friend then suggested he take the animals to rest homes, and he made a booking at Lansdowne Court.

"The residents were in stitches -- I don't think I've seen anyone laugh so hard."

Mr Kirk said he starts a Cuddly Creatures show with the smaller animals, letting them "run around underfoot, with their tails wagging, and their eyes lit up.

"With 20 of them going at once, it's a sight that has to be seen to be believed."

He then lets residents spend "one-one-time" with the bigger critters -- clear favourites being Waggs the dog, a lab who shakes hands, begs, and tilts his head for a pat, and Snowflake the cat, who "kneads" when she's placed on a lap.

"We had one lady talk to it, and her voice must have been the perfect pitch, because it talked back to her for about 15 minutes."

Mr Kirk said each trip to a home comes with a memorable tale -- such as getting locked in dementia wards, cracking jokes with the nuns at the Home of Compassion, and befriending 105-year-olds with the energy of a 70-year-old.

Most heartwarming was the response from a previously withdrawn resident to Waggs the dog.

"He told us about the dog he had as a kid.

"The matron later told us those were the first words he'd spoken in about six months.'"

Touring with Cuddly Creatures can be exhausting for Mr Kirk, but knowing the animals are bringing residents joy at the end of their lives keeps him going.

"Life can quite boring and lonely in a rest home, especially if all your friends are disappearing.

"But they love the animals -- they're loveable and intriguing, and it's nice to see the residents having a giggle."

To support Cuddly Creatures, go to givealittle.co.nz/smilesforseniors.