National Pet Day 2025: Companion Animals NZ calls for a stronger commitment to pet welfare

Companion Animals New Zealand (CANZ) is calling on pet lovers across the country to take a stand for animal welfare this National Pet Day, Friday 11 April 2025 and the weeks following. With companion animals playing an essential role in the lives of many New Zealanders, CANZ is launching a nationwide pledge campaign to ensure pet welfare remains a priority in political and public discourse. 

As a national charity for companion animals, CANZ will use this campaign to raise awareness, encourage responsible pet ownership, and urge policymakers to address critical issues affecting pets and their guardians. The pledge invites individuals to show their commitment to animal welfare and support CANZ’s advocacy for policies that ensure pets receive the care, protection, and positive experiences they deserve. 

A commitment to Companion Animal Welfare 

The pledge focuses on key areas essential to ensuring a 'Good Life' for pets in Aotearoa, including calling on the Government to look at: 

• National frameworks: Develop and maintain world-leading companion animal policies, codes of welfare and regulations that position New Zealand as a recognised global leader in companion animal welfare 

• Pets in rentals: Implement rental housing protections for pet owners, recognising the importance of the pet-human bond  

• Pets in emergencies: Ensure well-resourced emergency management plans include provisions to evacuate, rescue, shelter and reunite companion animals

• Microchipping mandates: Implement and enforce comprehensive microchipping requirements for all companion animals supported by accessible national databases 

• Shelter support: Establish a NZ Animal Shelter database for local animal shelters and rescue organisations to provide accurate unowned pet population information 

• Desexing access: Establish free or low-cost spay/neuter programmes to help reduce the unowned pet population.  

“Pets are vital members of our communities, and we need to ensure their needs are considered in national and local policies,” says Prof. Nat Waran, Director of ‘A Good Life for Animals’ Centre at CANZ. “We know 63% of New Zealand homes have a pet and there is so much more we can do to improve their welfare through national oversight while also making pet ownership more accessible and supported. Clear policies and better resources can help ensure pets receive the care they deserve while allowing more people to experience the benefits of responsible pet ownership. By signing this pledge, New Zealanders can send a powerful message to decision-makers that companion animal welfare must remain on the agenda.” 

In addition to the pledge, CANZ will submit a letter to the Government outlining the key priorities for pet welfare, along with the total number of digital signatures collected. This initiative builds on CANZ’s longstanding commitment to research, education, and advocacy, as well as its operation of the New Zealand Companion Animal Register (NZCAR), the country’s leading microchip database. 

“We encourage every pet guardian and advocate to take action by signing the pledge,” adds Professor Waran. “Together, we can drive meaningful change and ensure a better future for all companion animals in New Zealand.” 

For more information and to sign the pledge, visit: National Pet Day Pledge — Companion Animals New Zealand  

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Companion Animals New Zealand (CANZ) is an independent, science-based charity committed to ensuring all companion animals live a 'Good Life' with responsible guardians. We use research, education and community programmes to achieve this. We also operate the New Zealand Companion Animal Register (NZCAR), the country's largest microchip database with more than 1.4 million pets registered. Our Board comprises independent trustees and representatives from a range of animal welfare groups, including SPCA, New Zealand Veterinary Association (NZVA), Dogs NZ, New Zealand. Cat Fancy, the New Zealand Veterinary Nursing Association (NZVNA) and the New Zealand Institute of Animal Management (NZIAM).    

Microchip myth-busting!

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 holds a unique number that needs to be registered to a database and associated with your details – this unique number can be read using a microchip scanner by an Approved User (including Vets, SPCA and many animal rescues). 

Microchipping then registering your animal is an important part of responsible ownership. The NZ Companion Animal Register (NZCAR) was created by Companion Animals New Zealand as a database to hold microchip information with guardian details and has over 1.3 million animals on it. The NZCAR helps lost pets get home to their worried families. 

Now let’s get to the myth-busting! 

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1: MYTH: 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). 

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 2. MYTH: My dog is registered with the Council (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/.../A4-Database... 

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 3. MYTH: 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. 

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 4. MYTH: 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. 

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 5. MYTH: 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!). 

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 6. MYTH: 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 neighbourhood, 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. 

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7. MYTH: Implanting is painful/unsafe 

FACT: Placing 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 trained professional 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.  

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8. MYTH 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. 

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9. MYTH 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, should it go missing, you would like 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. 

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So, there we have it! Nine of the most common myths around microchipping. If your pet is not microchipped, getting one implanted is quick, easy and affordable. Give your local vet clinic a call and ask them about booking an appointment or adding the procedure to an existing appointment. You could also reach out to a mobile vet/nurse in your area that may provide this service in your home. You can view a list of approved implanters here. 

 Microchipping is an essential part of responsible pet ownership. Read more about it on our NZCAR website: animalregister.co.nz.