Pet Safety

11/12/2024

People still do this and it’s heartbreaking to see. It’s real simple - if the sun is out or the temperature is toasty, leave your dogs at home when you do errands.

Even the intention to run into a shop quickly can take longer than you think if there are queues, complications or you meet someone who wants to chat.

Minutes make a difference in the heat!

⚠️ DOGS DIE IN HOT CARS. If you love them, don't leave them. ⚠️ It's a message we share time and time again, and this year, we're calling on you to help us spread that message further.

Did you know that calls to SPCA about dogs left inside hot cars made up a whopping 11% of all welfare calls last summer? This is a completely preventable issue, and one which is causing hundreds of dogs (often loved pets) to suffer.

Here are some quick facts to share with the dog owners in your life:
👉 The temperature inside a car can heat to over 50°C in less than 15 minutes.
👉 Parking in the shade and cracking windows does little to help on a warm day. Dogs rely on panting to keep cool, which they can't do in a hot car.
👉 This puts dogs at a high risk of heatstroke - a serious condition for dogs, with a mortality rate between 39%-50%.
👉 It is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act to leave a dog in a hot vehicle if they are showing signs of heat stress. You can be fined, and prosecuted.

SPCA has created downloadable resources to help you spread the message even further. Posters, a flyer, and a social media tile can be downloaded from our website here: www.spca.nz/dogsdieinhotcars

We encourage you to use these - and ask your local businesses to display the posters if they can. Flyers can be kept in your car and handed out as needed.

This is a community problem, and one we cannot solve alone. Help us to prevent more tragedies this summer by sharing this post.

On behalf of the animals - thank you ❤️

06/11/2024

Just don’t it.

🚨 Reminder to not leave your dog in the car🚨

As the warmer weather begins around the country, it is so important to keep reminding people about the welfare dangers of leaving a dog in a car.

Despite yearly warnings, some people still leave pets inside cars or on the back of utes on warm days. It’s not only an offense that comes with fines, but it's incredibly dangerous for the animals involved. Here are the facts:

🌡️ Temperatures Inside Cars: On sunny days, the temperature inside a vehicle can double the outside temperature. Even at a mild 24°C outside, a car’s interior can reach a sweltering 38-40°C in just 10 minutes – even in the shade with windows partially open.

🚗 Quickly Dangerous: Within minutes, dogs can experience heat stroke, with symptoms like rapid panting, agitation, weakness, muscle tremors, disorientation, or even sudden collapse.

🛻 Utes Aren't Exempt: Dogs left on the back of utes in the sun can quickly suffer from heat stress, dehydration, and burns from heated metal trays. They should always have a fixed canopy for shade and insulation on the tray.

🐾 Caged Risks: Dogs in cages on the back of vehicles also face risk without proper ventilation – especially when the vehicle isn't moving.

Please, never leave pets unattended inside or on the back of vehicles in sunny or warm weather, even for a few minutes. The consequences can be severe and happen faster than you think.

For more on dog welfare regulations, visit: https://ow.ly/pKmU50U00k5

05/11/2024

When it comes to our beloved pets, the risk of complacency is too great. Be proactive!

05/11/2024

03/04/2024

Not all essential oils are safe for dogs but using the right essential oils can have great benefits for pets.

Experience the world of doTERRA for yourself

31/03/2024

The most important thing is that they are safe 😜

28/03/2024

Know who to call…

If you're heading to the beach this long weekend make sure you have our number saved in your phone.

Project Jonah is dedicated to protecting marine mammals and providing an emergency response to whales and dolphins in distress. Our 24-hour hotline is available anyone to call and report any marine mammals in distress, including stranded or injured animals.

If you see a whale or dolphin in distress, please call our hotline on 0800 4 WHALE (0800 4 94253). Our team of experts will provide immediate advice and support to ensure the safety and well-being of the animal and those working around it.

We urge all New Zealanders to save our hotline number in your phone. Your prompt action could make all the difference in the life of a stranded marine mammal

26/03/2024

Think PET 👍

If your pet is sick or hurt this long weekend and your vet clinic is closed, Think P.E.T and follow these three steps:

🤔 Pause. Think for a moment about whether your pet needs emergency care or could be seen by their vet during normal business hours.
📞 Emergency call. Phone your usual vet clinic for advice if you think your pet needs emergency care or you’re unsure. Even if your vet clinic is closed, they will likely have a recorded message with instructions on what to do in an emergency.
🚗 Take. Follow the advice you receive to either take your pet to an emergency service provider or book an appointment during normal business hours.

20/03/2024

Remember, you could
* be at home
* not be at home or able to get home or
* be away and have petsitters
when disaster strikes.
So always have a support plan in place for each scenario.

Household Plan: looking after pets 🐕🐈🐇

Your animals are your responsibility. Don't forget to include them in your emergency plan.

Make sure you have enough emergency water stored and food for your pet for 3 days or more.

If you have to leave home, take your pets with you and make sure you pack their essentials e.g. food, medicine. It's helpful to have cage or carrier handy to transport them and keep them safe.

Have a prep talk today and make a plan: https://getready.govt.nz/en/prepared/household/make-a-plan

24/02/2024

Tagging saves lives!

A pet tag is cheap, an obvious sign that the pet is owned and loved and allows the kind stranger rescuing your lost pet to comfort him/her by name while immediately calling the number on the tag. This massively reduces the time and stress involved when there is no identification tag.

A pet tag also reduces the chance of someone keeping or stealing your pet. Sadly some lonely people have a finders keepers mentality with pets, especially cats and will not bother to take a pet to be checked for a microchip but instead assume an uncollared pet is stray and they can keep it.

Wandering pets wearing a tag can be reunited with their owners IMMEDIATELY by the person who finds them.
Pets without a tag but with a registered microchip take longer to reunite as they have to be taken to a vet or council to read the microchip.

If the owners details are not registered or up to date on a national database the pet will spend time locked up while an attempt is made to trace the owner through social media and vet clinics.

If the owner is not found, they may never be reunited.

Show you care and want them back asap, by tagging your pets.

(And always check that your contact details are up to date at your vet clinic and on your country’s national animal database)

20/02/2024

A registered microchip not only reduces the stress on a lost animal or searching owner by reuniting them quickly, it literally saves lives.
Without a registered microchip, an animal could end up claimed by a stranger, in a pound or worse.
Microchips prove that the smallest things can make the biggest difference!

Lost > Chip scanned > Reunited

Did you know that having your pet microchipped and registered increases their chances of finding their way back home by three times if they ever get lost? 🏡

Disasters can strike at any moment, leaving you and your pet in a vulnerable situation. In an emergency it can be hard to contemplate what you need to do before evacuating. That's why it's crucial to have a plan in place. 🚨 Check out our handy list of tips to help you prepare for the unexpected and ensure your beloved companion is safe and cared for:
https://ow.ly/FInv50QFnBT

One essential step in preparing for emergencies is to have your pet microchipped and registered with the New Zealand Companion Animal Register (www.animalregister.co.nz).

📌 This simple yet crucial measure helps ensure that you can be reunited with your pet if they ever go missing or if you become separated during an emergency. Don't forget to keep your contact details up to date!

While you're logged in, make sure you're subscribed to receive emergency updates. 📲 If you need assistance accessing your account or updating your information, don't hesitate to reach out to us at 0508 LOSTPET (0508 567873) or [email protected]. We're here to help!

27/01/2024

Preparedness saves lives and reduces heartbreak ❤️

🌧️ One year after Auckland's floods: A reminder to keep our pet safe 🐾

Today marks the anniversary of the catastrophic weather events that shook Auckland and brought challenges throughout the year, including Cyclone Gabrielle in February. 🌪️ Amidst reflection, let's take a moment to consider the safety of our beloved pets.

Did you know that in 2023, there were more than 500 pets on average marked as missing every month? 🐕🐈🐎 Now is the perfect time to ensure you're prepared for the unexpected.

🔍 Check your pet's microchip registration: Ensure your companion animal is microchipped and registered on our national database https://ow.ly/fVVJ50QuF00. The chances of a swift reunion skyrocket when your details are up to date! 🏡

👉 If you lose your pet? List your pet on www.lostpet.nz which has recently merged with our national register, making this the best place to list and locate animals.

Let's work together to keep our pets safe and secure all the time, including during emergencies. Share this post and remind fellow pet owners to update their information.

🤝💙

03/11/2023

Fireworks are magical 💥but so many animals get hurt or lost every year as result of this tradition and irresponsible use of this noise, fire and pet safety hazard. 😔

31/10/2023

What’s fun for people might not be fun for pets, so remember that safety always comes first and be silly responsibly 😜

12/08/2023

If you live in potential flood zone, a pet life jacket will be a great addition to your safety plan 👍

Cutest model and goodest girl we’ve ever seen! 🦸‍♀️

Rosa got to show off some awesome flotation devices kindly donated to us by our hoa (friends) at Animal Evac New Zealand. 🐶

Our specialist water rescue teams will be able to put this equipment to use when rescuing animals in and around water! 🌊