Community helps ailing Hutt vet

‘‘He was always about animals first.’’

After sending out a plea for people to repay their bills, Lower Hutt veterinarian Ian Hughes and his family have been overwhelmed with donations from the community - and beyond.

Hughes was diagnosed with terminal bowel cancer five months ago and has been struggling with debt from pet owners not paying up at his Stokes Valley Veterinary Clinic.

Step-daughter Victoria Roebuck said news of Hughes’ health and financial predicament broke on the Official Stokes Valley Community page. People throughout the community were asking how they could help.

‘‘All these people have been amazing.’’

A Givealittle page set up for Hughes last week has raised nearly $40,000 so far.

Wife Lorna Hughes said Ian always put animals first and never turned them away, from dogs he found on the street to three-legged cats. If owners couldn’t afford vet care Hughes would treat them anyway.

He would often start work before dawn to check in on the animals. In his 34 years working in Stokes Valley, he had never taken a holiday and often worked six days a week, caring for animals.

‘‘He never over-charged. In fact we under-charged,’’ Lorna said.

Now the couple has been left in the lurch, with previous customers owing them money they urgently need.

Roebuck said Hughes was forced to stop working around Christmas and with Lorna his full time carer, income was limited.

‘‘He was always about animals first ... [People] paying their bills would go a long way.’’

The couple was in a ‘‘significant amount of debt’’, Roebuck said.

While people offering help would never be turned down, the family mostly wanted the people who owed Hughes to pay him back.

‘‘It’s not about begging for money, it’s about getting Ian what he’s owed and what he deserves.’’

Roebuck had been overwhelmed by the supportive comments coming through Facebook and the Givealittle page. She was looking forward to showing her stepfather the response from people and planned to make a scrapbook of comments.