Cook Islands four legged and furry friends have a new doctor at Te Are Manu Vet Clinic (TAM) in Rarotonga.

Dr Rose Hasegawa from Perth, Western Australia, arrived in Rarotonga on Monday. 

There’s no shortage of work for the 29-year-old vet, heading straight to the clinic from the airport to tend to an injured dog.

Hasegawa is the first permanent veterinarian at Te Are Manu since Dr Machael Baer left for Samoa in November last year. 

“I came over in October to meet Mike and accepted the job after I visited because it’s a beautiful place to work and a really good cause,” she says.

She has six years of veterinary experience, working for Vets Beyond Borders - International Animal Charity in Australia: “I’ve done a bit of travelling for work. I spent a week in Torres Strait last year, but this is the longest I’ll be away from home.” 

An animal lover all her life, Dr Rose grew up with dogs and horses.

“I really love the bond that people have with their animals. It’s nice to be able to help them and keep them as healthy as possible so they live a long life with their owners.”

“Te Are Manu Aunties” Pip and Lorraine were stoked to welcome Dr Rose: “We couldn’t wipe the smiles off our faces. We’ve had support from volunteers since Mike left but it’ll be great to have some consistency. We’re just delighted.”

Lorraine looks forward to “doing some proper planning” for the year with their new addition. 

The clinics desexing programme is one of the first things on their to-do list as there hasn’t been a community desexing day since the departure of Dr Mike. 

Dr Rose looks forward to getting out in the community and the Pa Enua: “TAM outreach days are great. It’s pretty special that we can offer that. You usually have to bring them in.”

“I’d like to help Raro but also some of the outer islands as well. There’s Aitutaki where we do sterilisation, but I’d like to help care for the outer islands animals too.”

Dr Rose deals with both small and large animals, filling the gap left by the loss of Dr Mike who had a special interest in the care of large animals. 

Lorraine says no two days will be the same for Dr Rose: “We get people coming in with goats, piglets, the occasional duck and lots of chickens. Also, the occasional turtle.

“It’s interesting. You don’t really know what’s going to happen in a day,” says the administrator.  

On her first official morning of the job Dr Rose had many visitors from Honey the dog who needed a shot for her arthritis, to a local woman with concerns for her large bull who appeared to have an abscess in his side. Barely taking a moment to settle in, Dr Rose has definitely taken the bull by the horns in her new role. 

Dr Rose reminds the community to stay up to date with Te Are Manu on Facebook, especially for their upcoming desexing day as it’s a priority to get the island’s cat population under control.

She says: “I am so looking forward to meeting you and your pets. See you all very soon!”