MARIANNE'S PUPPY LOVE 'Joey soothes my anxiety'

Unable to see her beloved family, the Shortland Street star found a lovable lockdown buddy to hug instead

- Rebekah Hebenton

The past nine months have been a whirlwind for actress Marianne Infante. After struggling for years to make ends meet to pursue a career in the arts, often surviving on two-minute noodles, she is now living her dream as the first Filipino character on Shortland Street.

And having a stable job on the TVNZ 2 soap has meant Marianne can take the grown-up step she has always longed for - adopting a dog.

“I always told myself when I achieved the level of adulthood where I felt like I could look after another being, I would rescue a dog," says animal-lover Marianne.

Growing up, her family had dogs and before she was ready to adopt one of her own, the star always donated to her favourite animal charities.

Then, late last year, the 26-year-old was scrolling through the Country Retreat Animal Sanctuary Facebook page, when she came across a wrinkly litter of Shar-Pei/Labrador-cross puppies.

“I saw the picture and I was like, 'Oh, my gosh, these dogs are so wrinkly and chubby, and have the fattest faces.' I just wanted to smooch their faces so much." When she went to visit the litter, it was love at first sight when she spied sweet pooch Joey, named after the famous Friends character.

“When I met his litter, they were all asleep, except for Joey. He was the only one who snuggled up to me. I knew this was 100 percent my dog."

Though Marianne was elated to bring him home, she admits those first few weeks of looking after a puppy were extremely stressful.