Cork vet back on screen for ‘Peataí’

A NEW series of Peataí returns to RTÉ One this month, and there are some very exciting animals to look forward to seeing.

Now in its third season, Peataí is an Irish language series that aims to answer some common, and not-so-common, questions that families across the island of Ireland have about their pets.

The show sees the owners’ questions being put to a panel of experts who share their expertise and give some tips and tricks for caring for pets at home.

This panel includes a vet, a pet behavioural expert, and a groomer

Returning this season is Cork-born vet Ellen Hegarty, who will be sharing advice with families across the country about looking after their pets.

Speaking to The Echo, Ms Hegarty said that while Peataí is an Irish language programme, it is also subtitled and not limited to people who can speak Irish.

“It’s a lovely show for families or anyone who’s interested in animals, it’s very light-hearted but underpins a message of the responsibility of pet ownership.

“I’m the vet on the show I meet adults and children and their pets and solve problems or answers any questions they might have.”

Viewers also get to meet some interesting animals.

“There’s a tortoise, a snake, a bunny, a cat, a pony and even an elderly gecko called Schrodinger whose family are worried that he’s lonely — it’s wonderful for me as a vet, because I get to see beyond the ordinary day to day of cats and dogs,” Ellen Hegarty said.

Ellen is no stranger to Irish TV screens and is not only known for her work on Peataí, but also starred in Madraí, a six-part series that featured on RTÉ earlier this year.

That series featured some of Ireland’s most loveable canine rogues and invited families who were finding it hard to cope with their dogs to get expert advice from Ellen and behaviourist Paula Doohan.

Peataí is due to air on next Monday evening (October 16) at 8pm on RTÉ One.