Video: Professor Nat Waran on her work with International Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission

At the recent International Society for Equitation Science (ISES) conference at Cambridge, New Zealand, in March 2024, Professor Nat Waran from Companion Animals New Zealand spoke about the work she led in developing a proposed welfare strategy with a new vision of a Good Life for Horses in Sport.

As Chair of the independent Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission set up in June 2022 by the FEI (the international governing body of equestrian sports), Nat led the 10-person Commission who were tasked with developing a final report with recommendations to safeguard equine welfare and the future involvement of horses in sport.

Watch her summary of this work in the following video.

Survey shows more than a third of cat and dog owners think their pet could be happier

New Zealanders love their pets, with 4.35 million pets of many species gracing our homes. Aotearoa has one of the highest cat ownership rates in the world – at least 40% of households have at least one (meaning there are approximately 1.2 million domestic cats). Around 34% of us are thought to own dogs, that’s 850,000 all up.  

A recent survey, commissioned by us here at Companion Animals New Zealand, consisted of a robust sample size of more than 500 dog and cat owners in New Zealand who were asked a range of questions around how they perceived their pet’s happiness.  

Among the key findings were: 

• While most participants felt their pet was quite happy, more than a third of cat / dog owners (36%) thought their pet could be happier, and when looking at just dog owners, this rose to 43%.  

• 4% of people either weren’t sure, or didn’t think, that their pet could experience emotions (3% were not sure and 1% didn’t think their pet could experience emotion). 

• 81% said it was important to them as pet owners that their cat or dog was happy. 

• 90% said it was very important to them that their pet was healthy. 

• Topping the list of what was perceived to make pets happy was food (closely followed by grooming and the company of the pet owner.)  

• Topping the list of what was perceived to cause sadness were things such as aggression/loud noises/shouting, as well as being ill or the pet being left alone.
  

“At Companion Animals New Zealand, we believe that positive welfare for our pets starts with us, the humans.”

— Professor Nat Waran

Professor Nat Waran, Director of A Good Life Centre within Companion Animals New Zealand, says gauging how people perceive animal emotions is a critical component to improving pet welfare. 

“The fact that 4% of owners in this survey didn’t know, or didn’t believe, that their pet experienced emotions is quite a startling find,” says Professor Waran. “New Zealand was among the first countries to recognise and enshrine animal sentience into law in August 2015 – yet there are people who still don’t think their own pet can experience emotion at all. 

Professor Nat Waran

“At Companion Animals New Zealand, we believe that positive welfare for our pets starts with us, the humans. We do these surveys without judgement. We know that understanding people’s beliefs and opinions will allow us to develop the best educational opportunities for sharing what’s needed to give animals a good life.” 

Through its new initiative 'A Good Life for Animals Centre,' Companion Animals New Zealand, will be helping define what a “Good Life” for pets is exactly. This endeavour marks a significant shift from focusing solely on minimising negative experiences for animals to embracing a positive approach. Through the Centre, Companion Animals NZ will harness the science of human behavior change to promote positive animal welfare outcomes. 

“Our understanding of animal happiness may not always match reality as we tend to view their emotions through a human lens, leading to potential misunderstandings,” finishes Waran. “Therefore, we emphasise the need for evidence-based criteria to define happiness accurately and develop practical methods. Our goal is to empower animal guardians in Aotearoa with the knowledge and tools for their pets' fulfilling lives, addressing challenges like recognising the behaviours that tell us about happiness and sadness to enhance awareness and education across New Zealand." 

Companion Animals New Zealand plans to collaborate with various animal groups nationwide, including SCPA, rescue groups, and MPI, to ensure a comprehensive approach to pet welfare.  

The national charity is widely recognised for managing the largest pet microchip database – the NZ Companion Animal Register (NZCAR) - which boasts 1.3 million registered pets and over 900 authorised users. The register plays a vital role in reuniting lost pets with their guardians, particularly during natural disasters. 

The public is invited to engage with Companion Animals NZ's research and initiatives, sign up for updates, and support the organisation's mission of promoting positive pet welfare. 

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Survey highlights

Emotions: 

• 96% of participants believe their pets can experience emotions, while 1% do not believe so, and 3% are unsure. 

• The most commonly attributed emotions to pets are happiness (91%), fear (92%), excitement (87%), and worry/anxiety (82%). 

• Cats are perceived to experience emotions differently than dogs in some categories (e.g., 97% of dog owners felt their pets could feel excitement, while 82% of cat owners shared the same feelings about their cats). 

Happiness  

• 42% think their pets are very happy most of the time, and 54% believe they are quite happy. 

• 81% consider their pets' happiness to be very important. 

• Interactions with company their owners (86%), being talked to (79%), being groomed (88%), playing (81%), and being provided with food (93%) are considered major contributors to pet happiness. 

• Factors perceived as leading to sadness or unhappiness include being alone (52%), illness (69%), loud noises (62%), negative interactions with people (57%), and aggression from other animals (71%). 

• 36% of participants think their pets could be happier. 

Health: 

• 90% consider their pets' health very important. 

Potential Improvements 

• Participants’ plans to improve their pets' lives include spending more time with them (25%), playing more with them (22%), and providing more mental stimulation (37%). 

Barriers  

• Common barriers to meeting pets’ needs include work/life commitments (29%), cost of living (24%), not having enough time (9%), and lack of information about animal emotions (7%). 

Survey methodology: Insights HQ (previously Camorra Research) carried out this survey on behalf of Companion Animals New Zealand. They ran an online survey with a total of 539 pet owners across New Zealand to understand current behaviours and attitudes.

For more information or media enquiries contact rebecca@companionanimals.nz

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England Introduces Mandatory Microchipping for Cats

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 forward in safeguarding the well-being of cats and elevating the standards of responsible pet ownership. 

Microchipping has long been recognised as a valuable tool in pet identification and reunification efforts. Unlike collars and tags, which can be lost or removed, microchips provide a permanent form of identification that is tamper-proof and cannot be misplaced. This added layer of security not only increases the likelihood of lost cats being returned to their homes but also serves as a deterrent to pet theft. 

There are an estimated 4.35 million pets in New Zealand total with over 1.1 million of these being companion cats. Currently, the NZ Companion Animal Register (NZCAR) has more than 1.3 million pets registered, with more than 700,000 cats registered. Proportionately, there are more companion animals in New Zealand than anywhere in the world, other than the United States. 

Companion Animals New Zealand General Manager David Lloyd says, beyond the practical benefits of microchipping, this legislation sends a powerful message about the responsibilities that come with pet ownership.  

“Microchipping and registering your animal is a proactive step which shows a commitment to their welfare and safety, so we commend this step taken in England” says Mr Lloyd. “Registering animals on a national database, like our NZ Companion Animal Register, links your details to your pet's microchip, you are ensuring that they can be readily identified and returned to you if they become lost or stray.”   

Microchipping is required for all dogs registered in New Zealand, with the exception of working farm dogs. Having your companion cat microchipped in New Zealand is optional. However in 2023, an Environment Select Committee’s recommendations to Parliament supported a nation-wide cat management framework, which would see almost all cats being desexed and microchipped.  

Additionally, just last week, Hutt City Council voted to introduce "chipping and snipping" rules for domestic cats. The Control of Animals Bylaw now includes a section on the ‘Keeping of Cats’, which requires owners of cats over 12 weeks of age to ensure the cat is: 

• Microchipped; 

• Registered on the New Zealand Companion Animal Register (NZCAR); and 

• Desexed (unless kept for breeding purposes and registered with a nationally recognised cat breeders' body; or deferred if a registered veterinarian has determined it would negatively impact the cat’s health and welfare) 

This decision follows the likes of Wellington, Palmerston North, Whangārei, Whanganui, Ruapehu and Selwyn in implementing local cat bylaws. 

“While we don’t know the next steps from a national perspective following last year’s recommendation from the Select Committee, we are certainly keen to work with local government when they make decisions like Hutt City has, and are always promoting the animal welfare benefits of microchipping,” continues Mr Lloyd. 

“Microchipping helps animals get home faster which means they’re at less risk of becoming sick or injured or without care for lengthy periods. It is so important animal guardians keep their details up to date if they move or change circumstances. We hope that more people opt into microchipping  their animal – regardless of mandates - because of how it can protect their animal and reunite them if they become separated. ” 

Read more about the legislation in England.

More EQuiChip® events coming soon!

In 2023, a series of four equine microchipping events were held in the Hawkes Bay and Wairarapa communities following the catastrophic events of Cyclone Gabrielle. Following the incredibly sad event, EQuiChip® was born.

EQuiChip® became our national equine microchipping campaign founded and trademarked by us here at Companion Animals New Zealand. Equine microchipping is fundamental in identifying and protecting the NZ horse population. In Europe, equine microchipping is now compulsory in most countries and we believe New Zealand will likely follow this trend.

The 2023 series of events were driven by Professor Nat Waran (Director, A Good Life for Animals Centre, Companion Animals New Zealand) and enabled the equestrian community to take positive preventative measures to help reduce some of the risks and stress associated with being unable to identify horses and find their guardians in an unforeseen circumstance (weather event, national disaster, biosecurity threat, or loss of their horses due to theft).

More than 200 horses were microchipped and registered on the Companion Animals NZ national database during the four events and this sparked the idea to take the campaign nationally and trademark it as EQuiChip®. The video footage shown below was taken at one of the Hawke’s Bay events.

2024 events on the horizon

While still in the planning phase, we hope to host events with the help of generous sponsorship at the locations and dates below:

• May/June 2024: Taupō

• July 2024: Cambridge

• August 2024: North Auckland

• September 2024: West Auckland

• October 2024: Wellington

• November 2024: Christchurch

In the 2024 series we hope to microchip and register between 400 and 500 horses across the six events, involving the local equine community and vet clinics - making them very community-driven events.

There are so many benefits of equine microchipping and registration, including mitigating biosecurity risks, helping with proof of ownership and the ability to include body temperature measurements. The process is easy and, similar to a vaccine, the chip is inserted with a needle. No sedation is required in most cases.

We look forward to sharing more soon and confirming dates! If you’d like to know more, contact us at welfare@companionanimals.nz.

Companion Animals in a Changing World – Conference 2024 Wrap

Companion Animals NZ Chair, Steven Thompson, with Hon. Minster Hoggard

On 12 March, more than 120 animal welfare experts, including researchers, advocates and senior figures, gathered in Hamilton New Zealand to discuss the impact of the changing world on our pets. Hosted by Companion Animals New Zealand, this biennial conference serves as a platform to bring together diverse perspectives in animal welfare and foster industry-wide collaboration. 

The day was full of insightful presentations across a number of themes – from our changing expectations and changing climate, to our changing lifestyles and how we can provide a Good Life for our companion animals in a changing world.  

The conference commenced with an inaugural address by the Honorable Andrew Hoggard, Minister responsible for Animal Welfare, who underscored the intrinsic value companion animals hold in New Zealanders' lives. Drawing from personal anecdotes, including the cherished position of his own pets within his household hierarchy, the Minister emphasised New Zealand's steadfast commitment to upholding high standards of animal welfare. 

Keynote speakers included professors and expert practitioners from all over the world, speaking on a variety of topics including: 

•  how societal views and our own lifestyle and behavioural changes have impacted our pets health and welfare (for example, working families and increased incidence of ‘modern’ diseases such as obesity in humans),  

• how research around retired greyhounds in the UK is helping improve the success of efforts to home greyhounds and mitigate their rates of relinquishment, and  

• how the environmental footprint of pet management including breeding, veterinary procedures and pet food production should be considered into the future.  

Also covered was the mutual benefit of the human and animal relationship and research around how we can measure an animal’s emotional experience to ensure it enjoys mostly positive emotions and has a good quality of life. 

Professor Nat Waran of Companion Animals New Zealand reflected on the  insights gleaned during the 2024 Companion Animals Conference, emphasising the important role this event holds as a catalyst for meaningful, forward focussed dialogue. She highlighted the importance of recognising our impact on companion animals and their welfare,  and cautioned against imposing human interpretations on their experiences. 

Waran remarked, "One key takeaway for me personally ist he need to view animal welfare through a lens devoid of human biases. Often, our perceptions of what constitutes a positive experience for animals may not align with their reality. As our understanding of the importance of positive human-animal relationships grows, so does our recognition of the ethical responsibilities we have towards them and their maintenance in our society." 

Expressing gratitude to the diverse array of speakers whose contributions enriched the conference, Waran spoke of the collaborative spirit that drives progress in animal welfare. She noted, "These gatherings foster an environment of sharing  and learning, paving the way for a more enlightened and compassionate approach to caring for our cherished companions to ensure they experience a good quality of life." 

Following on from the Conference day, the gala dinner saw the announcement of four incredible winners of the Assisi Awards, recognising animal welfare excellence.  The conference was also attended by participants online from various countries via a live-stream link.

Plenary and invited talks will soon be made available to the public via companionanimals.nz. Companion Animals New Zealand would like to thank all the sponsors who made this event possible – outlined below. 

WHY YOU SHOULDN’T RELY ON FACEBOOK TO FIND YOUR LOST PET

WHY YOU SHOULDN’T RELY ON FACEBOOK TO FIND YOUR LOST PET

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