Furry friends farewell Stokes Valley vet Ian Hughes at funeral

Ian Hughes was dedicated, hard-working, and was always wearing a technicoloured waistcoat. Photo / Supplied

Beloved Stokes Valley veterinarian Ian Hughes' funeral ran a little different to how most would normally go.

It could be because the aisle of the venue was lined with dogs, or because an honour guard of pets stood with wagging tails as his pawprint-decorated coffin was brought to the hearse by pallbearers.

Hughes was a man who dedicated his life to caring for animals - even though it put him deep in debt - so it was apt for his funeral service to be punctuated with the occasional yap of an excited pup.

Ian Hughes' coffin was marked with pawprints. Photo/Melissa Nightingale

His family requested that those attending bring well-behaved pets so Hughes could be farewelled fittingly at this afternoon's service at Silverstream Retreat in Upper Hutt.

There were about eight happy dogs and two disgruntled cats at the ceremony.

One guest could be heard jokingly muttering that the place had "gone to the dogs".

As friends and family shared tributes and anecdotes about Hughes, animals snuffled under chairs and a golden retriever on a leash stole as many discreet pats as possible from anyone within reach.

Hughes died on Valentines day after a two-year battle with bowel cancer.

He had operated out of Stokes Valley Veterinary Clinic alongside his wife Lorna Hughes for 34 years, before he got sick and could no longer work.

Cats and dogs form an honour guard outside Ian Hughes' funeral service today. Photo/Melissa Nightingale

The 62-year-old was known in the area for his dedication to helping animals - whether or not their owners could afford to fork out for their treatment.

When it came out Hughes had no income and was in tens of thousands of dollars of debt, the community rallied to help Hughes.

A Givealittle page has so far raised nearly $50,000 to help cover the debt Hughes racked up helping animals whose owners couldn't afford treatment.

Celebrant Graham Small said Hughes "respect and focus" on the care of those animals was "legendary".

"Ian gave more than he received."

One woman who got up to speak during the open tributes said Hughes was the only vet who her dogs were excited to visit.

"He is the only vet any of my dogs ever went into the clinic tail wagging furiously because they wanted to see Ian," she said.

"They went in wagging their tail and they come out wagging their tail, no matter what unspeakable things had been done to them."

Stepdaughter Vicky Roebuck said Hughes' family would "miss him terribly".

She remembered a man who never took off his earrings or his beads, and was always wearing a technicoloured waistcoat. She would go to the clinic with him and if she was very careful he would let her sterilise instruments or feed his "treasured tropic fish".

"He was a very special man, a kind man, a giving man, and generous man, and we are all very proud of him," she said.

Roebuck read a poem from Emily Dickinson that she felt described the way Hughes had lived his life.

"If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain; if I can ease one life the aching, or cool one pain, or help one fainting robin unto his nest again, I shall not live in vain."