Situated just in front of the Ponsonby News offices in Hakanoa Street lives Colin, proud owner of two boxer dogs and a grumpy looking Persian cat called Jaffa.
Although Colin originally got the animals for his children and has never had pets himself, he says it is usually the parents who end up looking after them once the kids grow up.
“I got Jaffa for one of my daughters, and the dogs were for my son and other daughter,” he said. “But now it seems to be me looking after them.”
Colin admitted to being more of a dog person than a cat person and enjoys taking the two dogs, Hinemoa and Mana, for walks, particularly off-leash at Grey Lynn Park.
“Dogs are much tamer off-leash,” he said. “On leash they’re always pulling you around trying to look tough, but once you let them off they calm down and just walk around sniffing things.” (GEORGE SHIERS)