Behaviour has long been regarded an important influencer in the adoptability of dogs, especially in shelter environments. Less emphasis, however, has been given to the human element and our tendency to attribute different personality and behavioural traits to dogs based on their appearance, and the influence this might have on how adoptable we perceive a dog to be.
Life as a practising veterinarian can be a demanding one, with high workloads, client complaints[1] and other client-related factors, including economic limitations, unrealistic expectations and lack of compliance at the top of the list when it comes to workplace stressors[2,3]. On top of which, by virtue of their profession, veterinarians often interact with distressed clients or those experiencing caregiver burden (strain from caring for an ill loved one[4]), which can result in a transfer of burden from client to veterinarian[5].
The manager of the charity that runs New Zealand’s microchip database for pets is reminding pet owners that social media should be one of the last steps in the search for a lost pet.
On October 25th, Companion Animals New Zealand, merged it’s two pet services - the NZ Companion Animal Register (NZCAR) and LostPet.co.nz to create a “super site” for lost and found animals.
General Manager, David Lloyd, says the newly amalgamated site should be the first place people go if they have lost or found a pet.
“We have combined our free lost and found website with our microchip database of 1.2million microchipped animals.” says Lloyd.
“Many pet guardians have experienced that horrible feeling of having an animal go missing, and not knowing where to start. Now, our super site means guardians have a clear course of action to take.”
In New Zealand, microchipped animals are likely to be found and then scanned at any one of 900+ vet clinics, SPCAs or animal shelters, so Lloyd says it is important to check your details on the NZCAR are correct as quickly as possible.
“Because of the merger, people can also check our free ‘found’ listings at the same time. Every found animal that is taken to the SPCA will automatically get a LostPet listing on our site, so if your pet is not microchipped, or not registered, then the super site is still the best place to come.”
Performing a thorough physical search is an important second step, remembering that cats will usually be within a few houses of home and can be excellent hiders, especially if they are scared or injured.
If you still need to create a lost pet listing, then it is free to do so, whether your pet is microchipped or not, and then, finally, from there you can share your post to Facebook.
“Social media definitely has it’s place in lost and found pet reunions, and there are many well-managed pages in New Zealand” says Lloyd. “But Facebook curates content so not everyone will see your post, and your post will be pushed down the page as new lost animals are listed.”
Companion Animals NZ recommend posting to the NZCAR/LostPet site first and sharing from there, so guardians only need to manage their listing in one place. Listings are live for four weeks but can be renewed indefinitely.
“Ideally pet guardians would be proactive and get their pet microchipped before they go missing, and they should ensure that they are registered on the NZCAR.” Lloyd says the registration step is sometimes missed – as is often done by the vet clinic who implant the chip, but sometimes it is left for pet guardians to do themselves. It is also important to remember that NZCAR registration is different from council registration for dogs.
Lastly, Lloyd says to not give up hope. “We have dozens of stories of happy reunions after pets and people have been separated by large distance and many months”.
The NZ Companion Animal Register was launched in 2007 and now has registered 1,250,000 animals, including 700,000 cats, 530,000 dogs, 10,000 rabbits, and 700 horses. All animals adopted from the SPCA are registered on the NZCAR automatically at adoption time. Funds from the register are used to support desexing campaigns and for other animal welfare projects.
LostPet.co.nz, formerly knows as Pets on The Net, was established in 2002 and became a Companion Animals NZ service in 2017.
Companion Animals New Zealand provide a 24-hour support service for lost and found pets at www.animalregister.co.nz or on freephone 0508 LOSTPET (567 873).
Contact information:
David Lloyd
General Manager
Companion Animals New Zealand david@companionanimals.nz
Companion Animals New Zealand is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Nat Waran as the inaugural Director of an exciting initiative aimed at advancing the wellbeing of companion animals in New Zealand.
The virtual Centre will drive initiatives aimed at changing human behaviour which in turn will advance the wellbeing of companion animals in Aotearoa.
By investing in research, education and advocacy programmes, Professor Waran says it will be possible to help address knowledge gaps and barriers so that we can better support the overall objective of ensuring a Good Life for Animals.
Companion Animals New Zealand is a Charitable Trust aimed at advancing the understanding, quality and adoption of responsible companion animal guardianship in New Zealand.
Waran says she feels extremely fortunate to have been involved with Companion Animals New Zealand since joining the Board in 2019, and to have been the Chair since 2020.
“The Board’s strategic decision to invest in the creation and transfer of evidence-based knowledge to enhance the quality of life for companion animals, marks a significant step for the organisation. I am honoured to have been given the opportunity to head up the development of the new centre, and to have the support of the Board to ensure that all companion animals live a good life.’
She notes the importance of developing a collaborative approach and having strong stakeholder engagement with universities, national and international NGOs and government departments.
Professor Waran is an internationally respected applied animal welfare scientist and educator with expertise in applied research, and the design and delivery of evidence-based education initiatives. She has more than 30 years of experience working as a strategic leader at senior level in the tertiary sector in NZ and overseas.
Prior to returning to New Zealand in 2016 she was the inaugural Director of the Jeanne Marchig International Animal Welfare Centre established at the University of Edinburgh’s veterinary school, where she collaborated with various organisations to advance animal welfare in developing countries.
