New Zealand Companion Animal Register

25/06/2024

A State of Emergency has been declared and evacuations are underway on the East Coast and parts of Hawke's Bay.

Make sure your pets' microchip details are up to date in case they are lost in this wild weather by logging in at www.animalregister.co.nz or call our friendly support team on 0508 LOST PET (567873).

Watch our video on being prepared to evacuate for emergencies, and make sure you are signed up for emergency notifications on your NZCAR account.

Stay safe everyone!

19/06/2024

We're pleased to have a presence at the The New Zealand Veterinary Association and NZVNA Conference taking place right now in Te Pae, Christchurch. We've been having some wonderful chats with members, alongside exhibitors, sponsors, speakers and professional peers from around New Zealand about the benefits of microchipping and registering companion animals on the NZCAR.

We're incredibly grateful for the strong and collaborative relationship we share with vet professionals nationwide, who help ensure every pet receives the love and care they deserve.

14/06/2024

Great to hear this story as we head into the weekend 😀

We love microchips! We had a lovely large cat brought into our centre who had a microchip. Luckily the chip was registered on NZCAR so we were able to give his owner a call. Oti went missing 7 months ago approx 60 kilometres away from where he was found. His very excited owner came and collected him today ♥

05/06/2024

We’re so pleased to add another EQuiChip® event to our 2024 series, thanks to Vet South who have offered to help organise one in Invercargill in August. More info will come soon on this event so keep an eye on our website page here for all the details: https://www.companionanimals.nz/2024-equichip-events

04/06/2024

A serendipitous trip to the shops led to a heartwarming reunion! After missing for 18 months, Bella is finally home!

Bella, an 8.5-year-old black cat, went missing in late 2022 from her new home in Epsom, Auckland. Somehow Bella managed to escape and must have been disorientated in her new surroundings.

Bella’s family searched extensively for her - occasionally having a couple of leads however each time it turned out it wasn’t their girl. Despite this, they never lost hope!

About a month ago, Bella’s pet mum Rachel made a trip to her local shops roughly 3km away from her home. As soon as she pulled in, she spotted a wee black cat that looked just like her Bella! She stopped her car, got out and called out “Bella?!” to the cat. The cat immediately meowed in reply! This was enough to give Rachel a glimmer of hope, though she had to be certain and check for a microchip.

Luckily, Rachel was able to get close enough to scoop up the cat and take her into the nearest vet clinic to check for a microchip. While very aware this may not have been her cat, Rachel had a gut feeling that was worth checking.

And she was right! Rachel got the absolute best news that day! The wee cat she spotted rather serendipitously was indeed confirmed as her Bella after a quick scan and search on the NZCAR!

Rachel was overwhelmed with happy tears and the team at Balmoral Veterinary Care were also quite emotional witnessing such a heartwarming reunion. They kindly let Rachel borrow a crate to transport Bella home safely – no way did they want her to escape again!

However, the happiest reunion was yet to come. Rachel had Bella safely tucked away in the bathroom when her 16-year-old daughter Amelie got home from school. Amelie was at first in disbelief that her long lost girl was home and more happy tears ensued! Bella spends most of her days now lounging in her favourite spot – on Amelie’s bed.

When Bella disappeared, she was wearing a collar with her name and Rachel’s phone number, however Bella was notorious for losing her collar. Rachel believes a microchip is the absolute best thing you can have for peace of mind in case your pet goes missing. And in this case, it gave them certainty that the wee cat who answered to ‘Bella’ was in fact their girl!

We’re so pleased that Bella is home safely with her family and will be enjoying this winter inside, warm and cosy where she belongs!

02/06/2024

REMINDER: Our support team are available on 0508 LOST PET (567 873) 24/7 - including weekends and public holidays.
Pets can go missing any time of day, any day of the year so we make sure to be available whenever you might need us.

🐶🐴🐱🦜

31/05/2024

Peek-a-boo! Long weekend loading...

Just a wee reminder that microchipped pets are THREE TIMES more likely to make it home. The NZ Companion Animal Register has microchip details for over 1.3 million NZ pets (and not just cats and dogs!).

Here, our wonderfurrrl model helps show one of our NZCAR branded Halo scanners. These can alert the scanning operator (one of our Approved Users such as Vets and SPCA) when a pet has been marked as 'lost' on the NZCAR, if they have the Scanner Angel software installed.

Angelic software? We think so!

30/05/2024

Want to see all the microchip myths we've shared and debunked this month in one place? We've got you sorted! You can read them all in this article on the Companion Animals NZ website below 💪

There are a lot of myths out there about microchipping and registration of pets, so we decided to use the month of May to bust many of them!   Firstly, what is a microchip? A microchip is a small device about the size of a grain of rice implanted in your companion animal. The microchip hol

28/05/2024

🚫May Microchip Mythbusting 🚫 Our final myth for the month!

9️⃣MYTH NO.9: Only cats and dogs can be microchipped ❌

✅FACT: The NZCAR has over 1.3 million animals registered of many species. These absolutely do include cats and dogs, but also horses, rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, cows, turtles and more!

If you have an animal that could go missing, and you would like them linked back to your contact details – microchip and register them on the NZCAR.

Ask your vet today about ensuring ALL your beloved companions are microchipped and registered.

26/05/2024

The first 2024 EQuiChip® event took place in Taupō on Sunday, ran by our team at Companion Animals NZ. What an amazing community event with many volunteers pitching in to get 33 horses microchipped and registered on our NZ Companion Animal Register (NZCAR). These are all about raising awareness that you can microchip horses why it is so important to - horses can go missing just like any other companion animal!

A big thank you to our Vets from Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre Taupō, our microchip sponsors MSD Animal Health and Taupō Equestrian Supplies for some spot prize donations – and NZEHA for feeding our volunteers with the catering! And we cannot forget the incredible venue of Fiber Fresh National Equestrian Centre Taupō for their space to carry out the event also.

We’re excited to share more about our upcoming events very soon! https://www.companionanimals.nz/2024-equichip-events

24/05/2024

Thank you Cat Care for sharing this heart warming story! Over 5 months away from home - wow!

😺 If your pet goes missing, be sure to log into the NZCAR and make sure your details are up-to-date.
😺 Make sure to keep them up-to-date. Some animals are found, months (like Maq!) or even years after they go missing!
😺 If your pet is not microchipped or registered, head over to www.animalregister.co.nz to learn more.

22/05/2024

🚫May Microchip Mythbusting 🚫

8️⃣MYTH NO.8: Microchips cause long-term health issues ❌

✅FACT: Microchipping has an established, long-term health safety record.

While it is not possible to claim that a reaction to an implanted microchip will never happen, microchipping is considered a safe procedure endorsed by veterinary professionals, and as such, the likelihood of your pet experiencing an adverse reaction is very low.

The benefits of having your pet positively identifiable (and therefore increased chances of being reunited with them should they become lost), far outweigh any rare and unlikely negative health impacts associated with the procedure.

19/05/2024

🚫May Microchip Mythbusting 🚫

7️⃣MYTH NO.7: Implanting is painful and/or unsafe ❌

✅FACT: Inserting a microchip is a very common procedure. For many species, the microchip is implanted under the scruff or the skin of the neck and does not cause any more than slight discomfort – the same as anyone would feel if they received an injection!

It is important that your animal is microchipped by a vet or qualified person to ensure the microchip is located and implanted correctly (which varies between species). This professional will know how best to restrain your animal, before and after care, and correct implantation technique to ensure the safety of your animal.

14/05/2024

🚫May Microchip Mythbusting 🚫

6️⃣MYTH NO.6: Vet clinics can access each other’s systems so it is not important to register on the NZCAR ❌

✅FACT: Veterinary clinics can only access their own clinic's client information and animal data. If your pet were to go missing and their microchip number was only stored on your vet clinic's system, your pet would need to be taken to your vet clinic in order for them to contact you.

What if your pet wandered to the next neighborhood, or a kind citizen picked up your pet and took them to their vet across town!? Having your pet registered on the NZCAR means your contact details can be accessed by over 900 Approved Users all around NZ – including all vets, SPCA and many animal rescues.

12/05/2024

🚫May Microchip Mythbusting 🚫

5️⃣MYTH NO.5: Registration is automatic. An animal's microchip is immediately registered to a database when it is implanted ❌

✅FACT: Registration is not automatic to any databases. Even your veterinary team, SPCA or local council will need to manually enter your pet’s microchip number into their own system at the time of implantation.

Most veterinary teams will begin the NZCAR registration process for their clients, but it's important to expect an email from the NZCAR. This will tell you that registration is successful AND ask you to log in to ensure your details have been entered correctly and to complete all remaining fields (you can even add a photo of your pet!).

08/05/2024

🚫May Microchip Mythbusting 🚫

4️⃣MYTH NO.4: The Guardian's personal information is exposed via the microchip itself (anyone could access details) ❌

✅FACT: A pet’s microchip number is linked to their guardian’s details on a secure database (such as the NZCAR).

NZCAR Approved Users can only search the database by microchip number so they must have your pet and approved access to NZCAR, in order to find your details.

Any time you log into your account, you can review the details that would be visible, should your animal be found and scanned by an Approved User of the NZCAR. We take privacy seriously and recently had an independent assessment confirming our system is very secure.

07/05/2024

What a trip! We are so pleased to hear Fletcher is home safe after his adventure all the way across town! 😻😻

Thank you Prebbleton Veterinary Hospital for sharing Fletchers story and for great information about how microchips get lost pets home!

Check your pets details are up-to-date today, at www.animalregister.co.nz 🐈🐕🐇🐴🫏🦙

We would like to introduce Fletcher

Fletcher is a patient here at the clinic who lives in Lincoln with his loving family. Unfortunately Fletcher went missing for 12 days. He was found all the way over in Rangiora. Yes, you heard us correctly, around 45km away!!

The reason Fletcher was reunited with his family was because he was micro chipped and on the NZ Companion Animal Register. The animal register means that as soon as an animal's microchip is scanned by one of their approved users (vets, spca etc), they can contact you and arrange their safe return.

The NZCAR is for all companion animals (pets) including cats and dogs, rabbits, horses, birds, guinea pigs, and many others!

This is a friendly reminder to have your pets micro chipped and then put onto the NZ Companion Animal Register.

Check in with our friendly reception team today to see if your pet is on the database or how to go about getting them on the animal register.

A big welcome home Fletcher from us all at Prebbleton Vets

06/05/2024

🚫May Microchip Mythbusting 🚫

3️⃣MYTH NO.3: The microchip itself holds guardian information ❌

✅FACT: A microchip contains only a unique number which can be read using a microchip scanner. That number must then be associated with the guardian's details in a database such as the NZCAR in order for that microchip to be used to get the pet home. Once an animal is found they can then be scanned by more than 900 Approved Users around NZ to see if the animal has a guardian associated with them.

02/05/2024

🚫May Microchip Mythbusting 🚫

2️⃣MYTH NO.2: My dog is registered with the Council and National Dog Database so doesn’t need to be registered with the NZCAR ❌

✅FACT: The National Dog Database (NDD), Council registration and the NZCAR serve different purposes. The NDD is mandatory and helps monitor dangerous dogs. The Dog Control Act 1996 mandates registration of dogs over three months old with local councils. These details are accessible only by Council staff.

Our NZCAR is voluntary, created to provide a national database of all microchipped pets, accessed by Approved Users (such as vet clinics and SPCA), so that found pets can quickly be returned home.

It is extremely important that new dog owners understand these differences so that they can make an informed decision for their pet. Check out our handy 'differences' graphic here: https://www.animalregister.co.nz/uploads/public/A4-Database-Comparison-2.png

02/05/2024

Exciting news - Taupō bookings are now open for our first EQuiChip® event of 2024! These community events are designed to improve the welfare of horses in NZ through positive identification on our NZCAR. Read more about them and find details of other events - possible only with generous sponsors and local partners🙌 - on the Companion Animals NZ website: https://www.companionanimals.nz/2024-equichip-events

EQuiChip® is a community-driven event where the local equine community and vets can come together to improve traceability of NZ horses.

30/04/2024

🚫May Microchip Mythbusting 🚫

1️⃣MYTH NO.1: Microchips have GPS / can track location ❌
✅FACT: A microchip is not a GPS or tracking device, so nobody can track your pet's location via the microchip for any purpose, whether this is to attempt to steal them or to help recover them if they become lost. Microchips are passive and only ‘activate’ in the presence of an appropriate scanner (which will read the microchip number).

25/04/2024

Let’s debunk some microchipping myths! Throughout May, we're dedicated to dispelling common misconceptions surrounding microchipping. Have you come across any inaccurate information about microchipping? Or do you have pressing questions about it? Share your thoughts in the comments below or email them to [email protected]. Let's separate fact from fiction together.

24/04/2024

Lest we forget this ANZAC day - the humans and the animals who served during times of conflict.

Please remember our support team are available on 0508 LOST PET (567 873) 24/7 - including weekends and Public Holidays.

Pets can go missing any time of day, any day of the year so we make sure to be available whenever you might need us.

📞🐱🐶🐰📞

You may be surprised to know that men and women weren't the only ones who served their country during wartime. In fact many animals took part as well. These ...

11/04/2024

How incredible! 🙌 We LOVE a good microchip success story any day of the week - but especially on a Friday 😻

Thank you so much to The Mobile Vet Nurse for helping get this gorgeous boy home to his family! And thank you to his family for having Cruze microchipped and registered on the NZCAR 👏

Check your pets details are up-to-date today, at www.animalregister.co.nz 🐈🐕🐇🐴🫏🦙

😲 WARNING!! CRAZY, HAPPY MICROCHIP STORY BELOW! 👇

I visited a client yesterday, who had had a stray cat hanging around her house for around 3 weeks. I scanned him for a microchip (which he had) and, through the NZ companion animal database, reached out to the owner!
Their story is a crazy one, and they have okayed that I share it with you tonight! 😃👌 Enjoy! Xx

"I just wanna say miracles really do happen, and if you know the background story, you're not gonna believe me.
In December 2022, we moved to Rolleston from Leeston.
A few days after we moved our kitty Cruze escaped outside.
A few months later, an identical cat was found passed away right outside our old house, and rest assured, we thought it was him, brought him home, and buried him in our garden.
Welll fast forward to today when I got a strange email.
At first, I was confused and thought they meant our now current cat Oj. After an hour long conversation, I was like no he’s on the bed in front of me to repeatedly say, no I’m talking about Cruze which I replied, No, he’s in my garden.
Well, after more conversation, we had a very big cry, and I grabbed some contact information and instantly rang Andy.

Well……..
the microchip confirmed it, and we have our very missed and loved cat back home with us.

I don’t know who’s in the garden, but he has been very loved since.

But Geez, I can’t believe how much I’ve cried this afternoon, hehe.
And can’t believe someone actually found my cat, and might I add, in Bromley too.
We would really like to thank you so very much for your efforts!!!!!
The family is so excited, and Cruze is already purring and having cuddles.
Thank you so so much."

Moral of the story -
1. Microchip your pet
2. Register their microchip
3. Continue to update the register every time you move house, change your phone number, and even your email address! 🙏🩷

Ps: I'm doing a wee happy dance tonight!! Got all the feels! 💥

10/04/2024

Today is National Pet Day! 🐈🐎🐕🐇🦜🐁🫏

We often think of companion animals as cats and dogs primarily - but did you know there are many more species on our NZCAR? Companions come in all shapes, sizes and species!

So, who is your companion?

10/04/2024

Microchipping cats - the latest news from near and far!

A Step Forward in Responsible Pet Ownership In two months’ time on 10 June 2024, a new milestone in pet welfare legislation is set to take effect in England. Under this mandate, all cat owners will be required to have their feline companions microchipped. This initiative marks a significant stride

08/04/2024

This Thursday 11 April is National Pet Day - a perfect opportunity to ensure you're keeping your pet as safe as possible! ​

As New Zealanders, we love our animals and we have 4.6 million pets across the country, but are your details linked to your pet in case of an emergency? ​

At Companion Animals New Zealand, we have the largest national database of microchipped pets which can be accessed by people such as vet clinics, SPCA’s and other approved users, so that your pet can quickly be returned home to you should you ever become separated. More than 1.3 million pets are on our New Zealand Companion Animal Register (NZCAR) – but we want the other three million to jump on too! ​

Is your pet microchipped and registered on our NZCAR? Go to animalregister.co.nz today to check your details are there and up to date – it’s a one-off payment and your pet is registered for life ensuring peace of mind. Your animal is your family too, so let’s ensure they’re protected this National Pet Day. ​

Companion Animals Home

04/04/2024

Are you in the Wellington/Wairarapa region? A great opportunity thanks to SPCA this Sunday 👏

Get your pet microchipped and then ensure you keep details up to date on our NZCAR, meaning you can be reunited if you ever become separated.


https://www.facebook.com/wellingtonspca/posts/pfbid02KYweiT1hZFZTCLK411VGHsmxDEdMVTMsmfMyZyqfAGTS3bcu5npdcesnm1FQ6gpUl

FREE MICROCHIPPIING 🎉🙏

Hey Wellington! If you have a cat or dog that hasn't been microchipped, come along to our Wellington Centre this Sunday 7 April between 10am - 2pm for our free microchipping event! Koha donations would be greatly appreciated ❤️

Every day, animals go missing. Sadly, many are not able to be reunited with their families simply because of a lack of identification. A microchip gives your pet the best chance of coming home to you, if they're ever lost or stolen.

Event details:
👉 140 Alexandra Road, Newtown
👉 Maximum of four pets per household/address
👉 Microchipping is only available for owned pets
👉 Pets must be healthy and 8+ weeks old

We're looking forward to seeing you there!