Treat-seeker loved by all

Otago Daily Times

17-07-2025

Alyssa Serignese and Antony Le Prevost with Poncho in their Alexandra tattoo shop. PHOTO: ELLA JENKINS
Whether you are out for a coffee, visiting the dog daycare or getting a tattoo, chances are you have bumped into Poncho on his quest to find treats in Alexandra.
Poncho, a seven-year-old Australian Shepherd and Border Collie mix can often been seen walking around Alexandra looking for treats or out with his owners Alyssa Serignese and Antony Le Prevost, owners of Alexandra Tattoo Co.
Ms Serignese adopted Poncho when he was six months old, and the couple bought him with them when they moved from Colorado to Central Otago in 2021.
For three years Poncho has been the emotional support dog for those getting piercings or tattoos and some people visit the shop just to pat him.
"People will poke their head in and just be like, 'hey, I'm not interested in the tattoo, I just wanted to say hello to the dog'," Mr Le Provost said.
Ms Serignese believed that Poncho was better known and more liked than her and Mr Le Provost.
"A lot of people will say more people know Poncho than they know us, I would say."
Mr Le Provost said Poncho would wait for a chance to escape to the nearby Pet Pit Stop at least once a day, often returning with a treat.
To repay the petshop, the couple would put a $5 note and some treats for the shopkeepers for Poncho to take over when he visits.
Pet Pit Stop manager Jo Shakespeare said Poncho would come to grab a frisbee with treats in it and return to the tattoo shop.
When the frisbee was empty he would come back with lollies for the shopkeepers and occasionally $5 to pay for treats.
As well as hunting for treats Poncho was known to find scraps of food that might have been dropped.
"He's my vacuum cleaner. If there's any treats dropped, he'll find them."
He would even dive under shelves and invade the office to find treats, she said.
Another place Poncho frequented was Cafe Rossi popping in at least twice a week manager Krystal Scott said.
For the dog-friendly cafe, Poncho is a frequent four-legged visitor, with his picture on a wall with all the other dogs that visit the cafe.
Poncho came over for pats, and then returned to the tattoo shop, she said.
"We need to get him some treats, but we just give him pats and that, we love all our dogs here."
Ms Scott believes Poncho is probably the most famous dog in Alexandra.
"Oh, he's just gorgeous," she said.