Piha Rescue Dog

A few of you may have been reading my Dad's (Lance Eastman’s) column about boring veterinary things. Well one day he was sick and he asked me to write a column from a dog's perspective. My Dad is now very annoyed as my column was much more popular than anything he has written.
 
The good news is I get to have another go.
 
Now many of you know me as the beautiful, clever Golden Retriever that performs a vital meet and greet service at the Blockhouse Bay Vets. What you may not have realised is that I also provide critical services for the Piha Surf Life Saving Club. My mum is a lifeguard and I guess that makes me a dog lifeguard.
 
One of the great things about Blockhouse Bay is that it is in the city but on the edge, surrounded by bush and beaches. I have been going to Piha on a regular basis now since I was just a puppy. In fact, during that time I have been a fully paid up member of the Piha Surf Life Saving Club.
 
I am not 100% sure if a dog can be a member but they gladly take my money, and when I say my money, I mean my Mum's money. I am a dog after all. 
 
So what do I do as a dog lifeguard? Well I don't actually swim out and save people. Have you seen the size of those waves? I am not sure why anyone swims there when there is a perfectly flat lagoon with almost fresh water nearby. I am certainly not going in one of those orange boats, no way. In fact the really crazy bit is, I am not actually allowed on the beach so some duties are a challenge.
 
I spend the days on patrol at the surf tower watching the water for signs of problems. I am not sure what a problem looks like, but every now and then the lifeguards stop eating the muffins my Mum makes, and run down to the water, dragging some person back up the beach. They then return to the muffins and pat me and tell me what a great dog I am.
 
My other critical role is to entertain the Nippers. Nippers are like puppy life guards.
I really enjoy this role. My only real disappointment is that apart from some very small cameo roles in Piha Rescue, they have not made me a TV star yet.
 
If you head out to Piha, look out for me and don't forget to swim between the flags.

I can't watch the whole beach.
 
Breeze