Companion Animals New Zealand

Guy Fawkes is just a week away and while fireworks may be fun for some, they can cause severe distress for our companion animals. 😿 To help protect them, now is the time to check that your pet’s microchip details are up to date on the NZ Companion Animal Register (NZCAR). This can make reuniting much easier if they become frightened and run off! Here are some other steps to keep pets safe: 👉 Keep pets indoors, closing curtains to reduce exposure to bright flashes. 👉 Create a safe, quiet area for them to retreat to if frightened. 👉 Take dogs for a walk before dusk to avoid being outside during fireworks. 👉 Provide distractions, like toys or treats, to keep them occupied. 👉 Consider speaking to your vet about calming options if your pet has a severe fear of fireworks. Check your NZCAR contact details today: https://lnkd.in/dDXAevhA Read more of our tips for pet owners here: https://lnkd.in/gARf8KYa

We had a wonderful time at Equifest in Taupō last weekend. This event takes place once a year and sees horse-lovers from all over the country gather for a unique equine event. Our focus this year was to convey the importance of microchipping horses and registering them on the NZCAR - because we know horses can go missing too, just like any other companion animal. With around 1000 horses already registered with us, we know their guardians have additional peace of mind that their horse can be more easily identified! This is an important part of ensuring their welfare is protected. We were thrilled to take part in a microchipping demonstration and worked very closely with the New Zealand Equine Health Association who were sharing news about the future of their National Equine Identification & Traceability (NEIT) project; which aims for readiness of the NZ equine herd in the disease outbreak space.

ShakeOut Day is happening now! 🌏🐾 Today, New Zealanders are encouraged to Drop, Cover, and Hold. It’s the perfect time to review your disaster plan and make sure your pets are included too. 🐶🐱 During the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, the New Zealand Companion Animal Register (NZCAR) helped the SPCA reunite countless pets with their families. Over 800 lost pet notices were placed, and we handled more than 24,000 enquiries. Thanks to microchipping and registration through NZCAR, we reunited 85% of microchipped pets with their families within 3 hours of being found, compared to just 25% of non-chipped pets within three days. Microchipping and registration can make all the difference in an emergency. Learn more by checking out our FAQs at https://lnkd.in/gubFF4kt. If your pet is already microchipped, make sure their details are up to date at www.animalregister.co.nz or call our friendly support team on 0508 LOST PET (567873). Check out our video with some tips on getting prepared! #ShakeOutDay #EmergencyPreparedness #CompanionAnimalsNZ

We are two weeks out from Guy Fawkes, when we can expect colourful skies and loud bangs to bring a whole lot of fear - and potential danger - to our companion animals. Not only are they dangerous for our pets, but livestock, wildlife and our natural surrounds too. Companion Animals NZ supports banning the sale of fireworks for private use to reduce the risk of injury and distress to companion animals. Public sale allows fireworks to be used unpredictably, forcing pet owners to stay constantly vigilant. Limiting fireworks to controlled public displays would confine the noise and bright lights to a set time, allowing pet owners to plan and minimise stress for their animals. Until such a ban takes place... Read our tips for pet owners here: https://lnkd.in/gARf8KYa Read our full evidence-based article here: https://ow.ly/t7Ki50TQmAh

🚨 Call for survey participants: Outdoor Access for Owned Cats 🚨 Companion Animals NZ (CANZ) has teamed up with UC Davis (USA) to explore public views on outdoor access for cats. We’re surveying both cat owners and non-cat owners in New Zealand to gain insights into how people house their cats and their thoughts on free-roaming cats’ environmental impact. This research is key as pressure grows to keep cats indoors, and we want to understand how this affects cat welfare and wildlife conservation. 📢 Open to anyone 18+ 📝 Complete the survey here: https://lnkd.in/g74A_v9E Help shape better resources for responsible cat management and animal welfare!

🐴 SURVEY: Seeking your opinion on the use of horses in sport🐴 If you're over 18 years old, jump into this 15-minute survey to contribute to international animal welfare research! ➡️Survey link: Public Opinion of Equestrian Sport (https://lnkd.in/g4sqG3VA) ➡️ Why? Companion Animals New Zealand is committed to promoting a Good Life for Animals. We invest in research and human behaviour change initiatives to improve our understanding of animal emotions to provide evidence based knowledge to pet owners and people responsible for animal welfare. To achieve this we collaborate with a number of international animal welfare research teams. We are inviting you to take part in a research study considering public opinion regarding the use of horses in sport. ➡️ Who? This study is being conducted by Pamela Spisak, an MSc Equine Science student at The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh. Pamela is co-supervised Professor Nat Waran, (Direct of A Good Life for Animals Centre here at Companion Animals NZ). ➡️ Will we see the results? Yes! We'll be reporting on the results once the student has completed the work. The survey has been granted ethical approval from the Human Ethics Research Committee, R(D)SVS, University of Edinburgh.

At Companion Animals New Zealand, we’re passionate about understanding what makes our pets happy and fulfilled. 🐶🐱 Our 2024 ‘A Good Life’ Survey, informed by the experiences of over 3,400 pet guardians, sheds light on how New Zealanders perceive their pets’ emotional wellbeing. By tapping into these insights, we’re able to develop evidence-based initiatives that enhance the quality of life for companion animals nationwide. From recognising animal emotions to addressing modern pet care challenges, we are dedicated to fostering positive animal welfare across the country. Here are some key insights from the report: ▪️ Whilst 99% of people believed that their animal can experience emotions, only 58% of people thought their animal could feel anger. ▪️ When asked about what made their cats and dogs happy, the majority of people thought ‘their company’ was the most important thing for their animal’s happiness. ▪️ 26% of people stated that the cost of living being too high was making it hard to meet their animal’s needs. These insights – and more - help us continue advocating for positive pet welfare across New Zealand. 👉 Discover the full survey results here: https://lnkd.in/gyrHYDET.

We had a fantastic day at EQuiChip Wellington on Saturday. The weather was beautiful, lots of happy horses, and smiling faces all around. 🌞 We microchipped 15 horses and registered 17 on the New Zealand Companion Animal Register, with 2 horses found to already have microchips unbeknown to their owners! A huge thank you to all of our helpers, the Wellington Riding for the Disabled team, and the Wellington SPCA team. Special thanks to Sam Perko from South Wairarapa Vets for microchipping on the day and to her team at South Wairarapa Vets for sponsoring $50 vouchers for two lucky recipients towards veterinary services. We also appreciate the support from our national sponsors, MSD Animal Health and the New Zealand Equine Health Association, along with Saddlery Warehouse for providing spot prizes for our participants. Looking forward to our next event in Christchurch next month! 🐴

Bylaws are essential for improving the welfare of cats across New Zealand—we support and submit many of these, and quite a few local and regional councils around the country have recently made changes related to cats. Why do we think bylaws are important? They help ensure cats have a safe home, protect our native wildlife, and support shelters in their vital work. By encouraging microchipping and registration, these regulations make it easier for you to be reunited with your cat if they get lost—good for you, your cat, and shelters that can then focus on other animals in need.

🐈🏠 Calling NZ cat owners keen on transitioning their cat to an indoor life 🐈🏠 Companion Animals NZ (CANZ) is teaming up with Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT) and the University of Adelaide to study how cats adjust to living indoors only! We’re looking to better understand how both our feline friends and their human guardians adapt to indoor living environments. Interested? Here's what you need to know: ✅ You must be 18+ ✅ Live in New Zealand ✅ Be the caregiver of a cat 6+ months old ✅ Keep your cat indoors for 3 weeks ✅ Keep a diary of their behaviours for 4 weeks Register your interest in taking part here: https://lnkd.in/gs2EuRXG