Uncorked: That doggie in the window

Most weekdays and occasionally over the weekend, visitors to Marlborough Weekly’s office on Scott Street get greeted by an unofficial receptionist. He’s also unpaid, though he considers friendly company an ample reward.

His name is Tiernan. He is a springer spaniel. He spends most of his time by the news editor’s desk, dozing on a dog bed inside a soft-sided crate. But when the front door opens, he opens his eyes and, more often than not, sidles up to the newcomer in the lobby.

Tiernan is not just a working dog. In off-hours, he joins the pack of regulars at Sheps Park and makes other friends – canine and human – along Taylor River greenways. Oh, and of course, he is the fur baby of pet parents who adore him.

My wife, Amy, and I left two dogs in the States when we arrived in August. Our horizon at the time was 12 months here, so we found loving homes where the girls to stay. Once we applied for residency (fingers crossed!), their foster parents accepted them long-term.

That was the best decision for Shayna and Onyx. For Amy and Evan, less so; we had at least one dog, up to four, at home throughout our 20 years together. Our landlord empathised.

So, we started looking. Among the small- to medium-sized dogs up for adoption at shelters, this sweet face at the SPCA Centre in Greymouth caught our eye … and subsequently stole our hearts.

Both of us have a soft spot for rescues. They bond with the people who choose them – and, even more importantly, the people they choose. We headed to the West Coast with seeing somewhere new to us as the only guarantee.

Obviously, everything worked out. He chose us, and the love at first sight was mutual.

He also chose his name. In Greymouth, he was known as Ted, which sounds more like a pub mate. (Apologies to anyone with pets named Ted!) He did not respond to it, either.

Over lunch on a café patio in Westport, Amy read off names from a source we used when we named our late lab-coonhound, Tynin. Ted’s head turned to her at the utterance of Tiernan (TEER-nin). I called him with that, and he came right to me.

Tiernan has been with us for four months. He is three years old, give or take a month or two, so he will be with us for a while.

Please feel free to come meet him. And, if our story inspires you, please check with the SPCA, Marlborough Four Paws and the other organisations who create forever families.

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