Pets bark tribute to loved vet
Ian Hughes went thousands into debt treating animals whose owners couldn’t pay
The funeral of much-loved Stokes Valley veterinarian Ian Hughes was different from usual. The the aisle of the venue was lined with dogs, and an honour guard of pets stood with wagging tails as his pawprint-decorated coffin was brought to the hearse by pallbearers.
Hughes was a man who dedicated his life to caring for animals — even though it put him deep in debt — so it was apt for his funeral service to be punctuated with the occasional yap of an excited pup.
His family asked that those attending bring well-behaved pets so Hughes could be farewelled fittingly at yesterday afternoon’s service at Silverstream Retreat in Upper Hutt.
There were about eight happy dogs and two disgruntled cats at the ceremony.
One guest could be heard jokingly muttering that the place had “gone to the dogs”.
As friends and family shared anecdotes about Hughes, animals snuffled under chairs and a golden retriever on a leash stole as many discreet pats as possible.
Hughes died on Valentine’s Day after a two-year battle with bowel cancer.
He had operated out of Stokes Valley Veterinary Clinic alongside his wife, Lorna, for 34 years, before he got sick and could no longer work.
The 62-year-old was known in the area for his dedication to helping animals — whether their owners could afford to pay or not.
When it came out that Hughes had no income and was tens of thousands of dollars in debt, the community rallied to help.
A Givealittle page has so far raised nearly $50,000 to help cover the debt Hughes racked up helping animals whose owners couldn’t afford treatment.
Celebrant Graham Small said Hughes “respect and focus” on the care of those animals was “legendary”. “Ian gave more than he received.” One woman who spoke said Hughes was the only vet her dogs were excited to visit.
“He is the only vet any of my dogs ever went into the clinic tail wagging furiously because they wanted to see Ian,” she said.
“They went in wagging their tail and they come out wagging their tail, no matter what unspeakable things had been done to them.”
Stepdaughter Vicky Roebuck said Hughes’ family would “miss him terribly”.
She remembered a man who never took off his earrings or his beads, and was always wearing a technicolor waistcoat.
Roebuck read a poem by Emily Dickinson that she felt described the way Hughes lived: “If I can stop one heart from breaking, / I shall not live in vain; / if I can ease one life the aching, / or cool one pain, / or help one fainting robin / unto his nest again, / I shall not live in vain.”