Rebecca Wright & Rudy, Newshub presenter
Though he’s a big dog with an equally loud bark, Rebecca Wright says her beloved wheaten terrier Rudy is one of the sweetest dogs she’s ever met.
“Rudy has the most gorgeous nature. He’s happy and relaxed, and I can take him anywhere, which I love! He’s a very sweet and calming presence in our house.”
Rebecca has always been an animal lover but fell in love with wheaten terriers the moment she laid eyes on one while enjoying a getaway on Auckland’s Waiheke Island in 2014. She immediately put her name down with a breeder and not long after, Rebecca and her daughter Scarlett were elated to bring Rudy home.
The 42-year-old is so besotted with her pooch that when she moved to New York in 2017 as TVNZ’s US Correspondent, she couldn’t bear the thought of leaving him behind for three years, so brought him
with her.
“While it felt a little crazy at the time, I loved having him there. It’s a great city for a dog, and he got me out of the house in the heat and the snow for our daily walk around Central Park. I loved our morning walks – they set the rhythm for the day.”
When it comes to Rudy’s favourite member of the family, Rebecca says there is no competition in that department. “It’s me,” she tells with a laugh. “He’s a Mama’s boy!”
Ben Boyce & Beau and Jono Pryor & Milo, The Hits Breakfast radio co-hosts
Though they are best friends, when Jono and Ben arrive at the Weekly photoshoot, it is the first time their pooches have met. Despite Samoyed Beau being three times the size of cavoodle Milo, after a quick sniff, the pair – much like their owners – are fast friends.
Ben has had pets his whole life, so when he welcomed daughters Sienna, now 13, and Indie, 10, with wife Amanda, he knew he wanted them to have the same joy of growing up with a dog.
The moment they met large and lovable Beau seven years ago, they knew they had to bring him home.
“We went and saw these Samoyed puppies – just for a look, not to buy one. But that went out the window after seeing how cute they were,” admits Ben. “I honestly can’t imagine what our family would be like without him. We love him so much and get so much love back.”
Meanwhile, Jono has never been a dog person. His daughter Poppy spent years begging for a pet and in March this year, while he lay sick in bed with Covid, The Hits Breakfast host finally agreed. He admits he wishes he’d done it sooner.
“Adding a dog to the household has been the greatest thing ever” tells Jono, who also shares son Oscar with wife Jenn. “It’s crazy how quickly they become part of the family. My favourite thing is his wildly unreasonable reaction when we return home. No one has ever been this happy to see me. A dog is great for your self-esteem!”
While their dogs couldn’t look more different, the dynamic duo agree that their pups have one thing in common – their desire to eat everything in their path.
“From rocks to cicadas, someone needs to explain to dogs that everything isn’t free rein to put inside your mouth,” says Jono. Ben adds with a laugh, “Beau once stole underwear from a neighbour’s clothesline. It was a humiliating experience for me, having to return them!”
Steve Broad & Gus, More FM Southland Breakfast Club host
When Steve Broad went on an Easter hike near his home in Queenstown, he never imagined he would come home with a new pet goat. But when he and his partner, who prefers to remain private, saw the tiny goat, now named Gus, dodging traffic on a busy road, they knew they had to help.
“He was running across the road between cars and away from a dog. So, we like to think we saved him,” says Steve with a smile. “It’s been a wild ride. He’s cute with so much personality and a lot of attitude. He’s just started jumping around hysterically with excitement when you visit his paddock. It’s awesome.”
The 36-year-old grew up on a sheep farm in Southland, so is no stranger to the work involved in caring for a wild animal. Though Gus enjoys the comforts of most house pets, often joining Steve on the couch for movie night, he still has some wild tendencies.
“He has to be tied up as he loves to break out of his paddock, go wandering around the neighbourhood and visit the neighbours! His adventures have been spotted on numerous home security cameras.”
Jay-Jay Feeny & Kanye, More FM radio host
For years, Jay-Jay Feeney dreamed of having a dog, but her then-husband Dominic Harvey was never interested. Now, eight years after adopting their adorable Sydney silky Kanye, who they still co-parent, she can’t help but laugh at the close bond the pair share.
“Dom was never keen to get a dog – now he loves that dog more than anything else.”
And the feeling is mutual.
“Kanye loves me, but he LOVES Dom. He’s always licking Dom and he prefers Dom when I’m in the room. It’s quite cute, really.”
Sharing custody of her beloved pooch, Jay-Jay makes the most of every moment they have together and says her favourite thing is when Kanye comes into her bed for a morning cuddle before work.
Though the 48-year-old always had pets growing up – including rabbits, guinea pigs and a cockatiel – she admits having her own dog as an adult has been a completely different experience.
“He’s made me more patient,” she enthuses. “And he gives me more purpose and responsibility. I love him too much. He makes me laugh so much with the funny things he does and the funny expressions he has. He should live another five to eight years, but I always worry about how I’ll cope when he passes on.”
Sally Martin & Jimothy, Shortland Street actress
Soap star Sally Martin searched for years for the perfect pooch to join her and her partner Dan King. When she scrolled past her adorable pup Jimothy on a Staffordshire bull terrier-lovers Facebook group, she knew her search was over.
It has been almost four years since they brought him home and Sally says Jimi, as she affectionately calls him, is still just as excited to see her at the end of the day as he was when they welcomed him into their family.
“He always greets me at the car with a full-body waggle and a gift, which is just the closest thing to him at the time – a piece of kindling, Dan’s jandal, a leaf. Yesterday, it was an entire branch of fallen ponga – three times his size,” she laughs.
Not just one to give gifts, Jimi – like all of us – loves unwrapping presents as well!
“I have taken to wrapping his old toys in newspaper just to watch him parade them around and open them. It’s pure joy.”
While the long hours that come with working on Aotearoa’s favourite serial can be stressful, Sally admits the best way to ease her tension is a cuddle at the end of the day with Jimi.
“Jimi is such a calming force for me,” she enthuses. “He is gentle and intuitive, and has the best quirks and personality. Having that sort of energy around is the best kind of medicine.”
