Vet shaves head for worthy cause.
A Havelock North vet has a lot less hair and a full heart after shaving her head with animal clippers for drought-stricken farmers.
With her six-year-old daughter Aoife by her side, VetEnt Havelock North veterinarian Dr Alanda Rafferty shaved her head on Saturday for the second time in three years.
Expecting to be the support crew, fellow VetEnt Havelock North veterinarian Heather Neill was quickly passed the animal clippers and did the honours.
“I don’t think I should quit veterinary to become a hairdresser, that’s all I can say,” she joked.
When the surgical-grade animal clippers were put to Dr Rafferty's head she had already raised $450.
While it is still “way off” her target of $2000, there is still time before the fundraiser closes on August 25 and she hopes more people will get behind the cause.
After the shave, Aoife eagerly felt her mum’s head. “It feels like daddy’s hair,” she said. To which Dr Rafferty said, “it’s shorter than dad’s hair”.
Her original vow to not shave her head again after first doing it in 2017 quickly went out the window when she saw first-hand the impact drought and Covid-19 was having on farmers in Hawke’s Bay.
"I felt I needed to do something and now I've made a reasonable donation I feel really good," she said. “I have no regrets now. It is for the greater good.”
But her donations did not stop there.
About two metres worth of her hair will be donated to Pantene’s Beautiful Lengths for extensions.
She is also continuing to call for farmers to allow their dogs to be tested at no cost her research study into the prevalence of hip dysplasia in the New Zealand working Huntaway.
While she has had some response, about 100 more dogs in good general health and aged between two and 10-years-old are needed.
They will be examined, sedated, and radiographed and a blood sample collected for a future DNA study conducted by Massey University.
Owners will receive a free evaluation of their dog’s hips, a written report of the hip assessment results and an indication of possible breeding hip dysplasia issues.
Dr Rafferty said she was thankful for all the support she had received during her campaign and made special mention of the "very supportive" donation of $250 that she received from her company VetEnt in Havelock North.
As for whether she will do it again when her hair grows back, Mrs Rafferty said it depends on the cause.
“If there is a good enough cause maybe I will, but perhaps they wouldn’t want it because it is starting to go grey.”
Those still wishing to donate can do so by visiting: https://givealittle.co.nz/fundraiser/cutting-locks-to-feed-the-flocks
To contact Alanda Rafferty for further details on the radiography trial, email: alanda.rafferty@vetent.co.nz
