I smile, then gesture at the sign that’s approaching on our right. It says, ‘Noah’s Ark No-Kill Animal Sanctuary.’
She inhales, her eyes widening, and then she gives me a beautiful smile. “Oh my God, seriously! Oh, Kingi!”
About a month ago, she read an article on Noah’s Ark in a magazine, and she was captivated by the story of the billionaire businessman, Noah King, who built the animal sanctuary with other members of his family after his wife died giving birth to their baby, who also died. Noah developed acute agoraphobia as a result, but over the past few years he’s remarried, and the article explained how intense therapy and his wife’s support have meant he’s now living a relatively normal life. The Ark was his brainchild, and it’s now the largest and most successful animal rescue center in the country.
Chessie loves animals, and she’s mentioned visiting here several times, so it’s great to see her face as her wish comes true.
Scarlett also loves animals, and she’s been using their puppy, Bearcub, for some of the therapy sessions she carries out at her women’s shelter. Bearcub is staying with Spencer and Marama while they’re away. Chessie has told Scarlett about the article, and so Scarlett also looks thrilled as Orson takes the turnoff and steers the car slowly down the long, winding drive to the Ark.
It sits high on a hill overlooking the Pacific and the Bay of Islands. To the south is Waitangi and the small coastal town of Paihia, across the bay is Russell, once called Kororareka or Little Penguin, and to the north is the tiny village and accompanying cove called Sunrise Bay. It’s a fantastic setting, chocolate-box picturesque, and stunning in summer. I’ve been to the Bay of Islands a few times, but haven’t been to the Ark before, and I’m really looking forward to it… and to our secret mission.
Orson drives past the sign for the Children’s Petting Zoo and heads for the central block of buildings set around a large square. A big sign out the front declares that this is Noah’s Ark, accompanied by a painting of a boat with lots of domestic animals in it—dogs, cats, sheep, horses, and goats, which are presumably the main animals we’re going to see here rather thanthe usual animals you see on pictures of Noah’s Ark like lions, tigers, and elephants.
After slotting the car into a parking space in the accompanying car park, Orson turns off the engine, and the four of us get out. We’ve told the girls we’re taking them out to lunch, so they’ve both taken time over their appearance, and Orson and I are wearing chinos and shirts rather than the shorts and tees we’d probably have worn otherwise.
We make our way across the square to the building marked reception, and we’re just about to go in when someone says, “Kingi, I presume?”
I stop and turn to see a guy walking toward me with a smile. He’s about six foot tall, and in his forties, with short gray hair and an easygoing smile. “Noah King,” he says, and he holds his hand out to me.
“Ahhh, good to meet you at last.” I shake his hand. “This is Orson, and this is his fiancée, Scarlett, and my fiancée, Chessie.”
Noah shakes hands with them all. When he gets to Chessie, he holds her hand a little longer and rests his other hand on top of hers. “I understand we have you to thank for your interest in the Ark.”
She flushes. “Yes, I read the article about you and said I’d love to visit. We weren’t expecting to come today though! It’s such a lovely surprise.”
“Kingi called and explained your interest. I’m so glad to have you here. I thought maybe I could take you on a tour?”
Her face lights up. “Oh, that would be amazing.” She glances at me as if to say ‘How did you wangle this?’ I just smile. Later on, I’ll explain how I made a very generous donation to the Ark, and as a result Noah called me, and we chatted for half an hour about this and that before I put my idea to him. He was most amenable, and it’s why he wanted to greet us personally.
“Come on,” he says. “Let’s start with the veterinary clinic.”
He takes us into the left-hand building. It’s their lunch break, he explains, which is why there aren’t many clients around. The vets are catching up on paperwork and a couple are doing operations. We get to meet the head of the clinic, Stefan, and Noah’s cousin, Hal, and several of the other vets. Then Noah takes us through to what he calls The Hotel, which is where the animals recover after their operations.
After that, he shows us the offices containing the business side of the Ark—finance, HR, and IT. He explains how he and his cousins initially invested their own money, but it’s now self-sustaining, and in fact flourishing following many generous investments. He smiles at me, and I see Chessie give me a suspicious look. She knows me well enough to guess I was one of the investors—I know she’ll quiz me about that later.
We then visit the grooming station, where rescue animals are washed and tidied when they’re first brought in, and after that Noah takes us into the rehoming facility. Here he introduces us to a guy called Cullen Reeve. Tallish, in his thirties, and well-weathered, he seems gruff, but when he smiles the corners of his eyes show a plethora of laughter lines.
“Cullen used to be a police dog handler,” Noah says as he shakes our hands. “He helps us train rescue dogs when they come in, because many of them don’t even know basic commands.”
“That must be so rewarding,” Chessie says. She bends and looks at a German Shepherd lying under the table. His big brown eyes watch her warily. “Hello, sunshine.”
“His name is Ghost,” Cullen says. “He’s a bit wary of strangers.”
“I won’t bother him, then.” She straightens. “Is he your dog?”
He nods. “He was a police dog. We’re both retired now.” He doesn’t venture any more information, but it’s clear there’s a story there.
Noah smiles. “Is everything ready?” When Cullen nods, Noah looks at us and says, “How about you guys?”
Orson looks at me, and we both nod, while inside my stomach flips.
“What’s going on?” Scarlett asks.
Cullen just smiles. “Would you like to follow me?”
He leads the way through the room full of cages with all the animals who are looking for a new home. The girls stop to talk to some of the dogs, and are relieved when he says that the app that the Ark runs means that most of the animals who are rescued take less than two weeks to rehome.
“We’re going to get a dog in the New Year,” Chessie says. “Maybe we should get a rescue one?” She lifts her hopeful gaze to me.