Clevedon: Animal house

VICKI HOLDER visits the home of TV vet Mark Vette, where the animals get as much space to play in as the family.

After 18 and a half years of ownership, TV vet Mark Vette is selling his high-profile boarding establishment for animals - the Clevedon Boarding Kennel and Cattery.

The star of television show The Funny Farm, Mark and his wife Alison are heading north for a change of focus, letting someone else pick up the reigns of this highly successful business offering an excellent income and client base.

Bordering the Clevedon Polo Grounds and the Clevedon River, the property offers a spectacular building site for someone who wants to develop a new home in a rural setting close to a township.

A comfortable character bungalow has served the Vette family well during their stay. With three double bedrooms and open-plan living areas, it has been modernised and extended for generous, sunny indoor-outdoor living and entertaining.

The original part of the house features polished rimu floors and battened ceilings, which give it a warm, friendly character. About four years ago, a new kitchen was installed with vivid blue cabinetry and a tall glass pantry that hides ample storage and keeps clutter at bay.

A sweeping laminated timber benchtop bisects the room and separates the food preparation space from the lounge area. It also gives a place to sit and relax while sharing a meal or drinks. The bench looks over to a sitting area where an enclosed fire box keeps the living areas toasty on cool winter nights.

Both sides of the room extend out to sheltered decks and a large conservatory that can be enjoyed all year round. Set in timber decking, a spa pool on the upper level of the conservatory is a wonderful place to unwind after a hard day's work. Doors open to a swimming pool, which is a small oasis hidden in a bushy fringe of shrubbery.

As animal lovers, there are spaces everywhere designed as homes for the Vettes' pets. There are aviaries behind the conservatory, and the deck on the other side gives animals a sheltered place to escape the weather.

The Vettes have their own private garden area. But much of the land is taken up with buildings for the business. A log cabin at the end of the tree-lined driveway accommodates several offices, administration areas, a kitchen, laundry, a food preparation area for the animals and places for new animal arrivals.

A large dog area with kennels and a run organised around a grassy exercising field can house up to 120 dogs at a time. The cattery, with small units and larger play areas, takes up to 50 cats in the busy holiday period.

Alison says the facility is designed to give a good business in conjunction with an enjoyable lifestyle. Most of the week, it's a two-person role, though one person can manage the reduced duties alone on weekends.

The daily routine consists of getting up early to go through all the animals' notes. At 8am, while someone is preparing breakfasts and medications, all the animals are let out to be checked and exercised until about 10am. The animals return inside while lunch preparation begins, leaving common areas free to be water-blasted and cleaned.

It's hard work, but it's fun, says Alison. In the early days, when they weren't so involved in their other businesses looking at animal behaviour and training animals for television appearances, the couple used to take a break and wander down to the paddocks beside the river to watch polo on the other side.

It's here they imagined they might build their dream home. Looking north to the sleepy river meandering through the pasture and trees, with a drive that heads down to a mooring, it couldn't be more idyllic. Life became too busy and it never happened for the Vettes, but they're sure the new owners will be inspired to explore this option.

Vital Statistics

ADDRESS: Clevedon Boarding Kennel and Cattery, 196 Kawakawa Rd, Clevedon.

FEATURES: Excellent income and client database; boarding facilities for 120 dogs and 50 cats; New Zealand Boarding Kennel and Cattery Association approved; three-bedroom house; administration building and exercise facilities; private property with northerly aspect; native bush and trees; river boundary with riparian and mooring rights; expansion opportunities.

SIZE: Land area 1.3714ha.

TENDER CLOSES: 4pm, April 22.

AGENTS: Adele Keane, Bruce Frizzell and Richard Sumner, Ray White, Papakura. Ph 295 2002 bus; Adele 021 717 795 mob; Bruce 021 516 305 mob; Richard 027 292 4754 mob.