Pets pile in for holiday adventure

ALEXIA JOHNSTON

Gypsy, an Indian ring neck parrot, is a traveller from Temuka.

The bird is one of three pets that will be loaded into Maria Foley and Colin Higgins' campervan for a holiday this summer.

Their brain-damaged Australian red rump parrot, called Peeps, also travels with the couple, along with their Flemish giant rabbit, Albert, bigger than an average-sized cat.

Ms Foley says leaving the pets with other people to look after has never been an option.

"They aren't the sorts of pets that go casually to other people."

All of the animals were rescued by Ms Foley and Mr Higgins. They took Gypsy in after the Christchurch earthquakes and took a liking to Peeps, who cannot fly because of his brain injury.

Peeps needs supervision as he tends to fall over backwards if left on his own too long.

Albert was also in need of a home when the couple first met the larger-than-life rabbit.

She says all the animals travel well – Gypsy sits on a perch in the campervan, while Peeps sits quietly on a flat surface.

When they arrive at their destination, Albert hops about on a lead, but never ventures too far.

Ms Foley says they receive "weird" looks while holidaying with their pets, but it is something they are getting used to.

Grumpy Moss, of Grumpy's Retreat `n' Holiday Park outside Geraldine, says it is not unusual for people to bring pets with them on holiday – the most common being dogs. Birds, cats and a horse have also stayed at the park.

"I can assure you in most cases they are the family child," he says of the pets.

Farmyard Holiday Park owners Geoff and Kerrie Biggs also welcome pets.

Mr Biggs says that on average, every second visitor brings a pet, most commonly dogs, cats and canaries.

- © Fairfax NZ News