Poppy the resident dog has her very own stairway to heaven.
"There are no pet doors here, so I had to think about what to do so she could get in and out," Holy Cross conference centre custodian Susan Madden-Grey said this week.
A carpeted ramp was constructed, allowing Poppy to trot up from the ground and through an open window.
"She took to it straight away, charging up and down the plank."
The 5-year-old fox terrier has sweeping views of west Taieri and the Maungatuas from her favoured perch at the top of the plank.
"She susses out all the dogs who come to the park. She's very social - with dogs and people - and has made quite a few friends here," Ms Madden-Grey said,"She even gets the odd visitor. We get a dog's head poking through the window sometimes."
Poppy has been living at Holy Cross since taking a sabbatical from her previous life as a farm dog last year.
"She's become quite an identity around town. I call her 'the customs officer', because she's always wanting to check out people's bags and confiscate any food they have," Ms Madden-Grey said.
"But, her favourite thing is sitting out there on her plank in the sun. With summer not too far away I'd better get some suncream for her, I suppose."
