Dr Arthur Frauenfelder names his time |PICTURES

ARTHUR Fraunfelder loves pussycats big and small, and has even stitched up the biggest cat of all — a tiger.

The man who talks to the animals will hang up his stethoscope on Tuesday as he plans life in retirement.

Dr Frauenfelder, 65, has been a veterinarian for 41 years and is a former Albury mayor to boot.

He and his wife, Julie, are looking forward to a much-earned seaside holiday, saying of his retirement: “It’s time”.

“I still have a passion for animals and the job, which is why you won’t see the end of me,” he said yesterday.

“When I feel like it, I will do some locum work.

“I am also keen to help out small practices starting out, like one I have my eye on at Noosa.”

This time last year Dr Frauenfelder sold the Hume and Melrose animal hospitals in Albury-Wodonga to long-time employee Dr Rohan Goyne.

The Albury RSPCA president continued working for the past 12 months at the Hume Animal Hospital in Mate Street, North Albury, which he established in 1976.

Dr Frauenfelder has seen it all over the years, but one case that stuck in his mind yesterday was the time a tiger from Ashton’s Circus had to be stitched up.

“I was responsible for the anaesthetic, so (the vet nurse) gave me a bit of a talking to,” he said.

“She was making sure that I did it.”

A farewell party will be held at the Hume hospital on Tuesday, from 10am, for the Border’s longest serving companion animal vet.

Dr Frauenfelder said he and Mrs Frauenfelder had lived and worked on site from 1976 to 1977 when it was a busy 24-7 business.

“The hospital was designed so the clinic ran down one side and the residence was down the other,” he said.

“We have had seven radical changes over the years to get it where it is today.”

Dr Frauenfelder is confident the businesses are in good hands.

“Dr Rohan is an excellent vet. I couldn’t have worked this long without my team of loyal staff members,” he said.