Tiakina te taiao mā runga i te haepapa tiaki mōkai Care for the environment by being a responsible pet owner

Love and keep your pet safe and minimise its impacts on our natural environment.

Desexing and microchipping your pets is one of the most important steps you can take as a responsible owner.

• Desex kittens before they reach puberty. Older cats that were not desexed as kittens should be desexed as soon as practically possible.
• Get your pet microchipped and registered on the Companion Animal Register so it can be returned safely to you if anything goes wrong.

You can also take other steps to protect our natural environment:

• Keep dogs away from nesting shore birds, kiwi and other vulnerable wildlife. If you live near native bush, consider enrolling your dog in kiwi avoidance training.
• Put a bell on your cat’s collar. A bright scrunchy collar is even more effective than a bell at warning birds. Collars should always have a safety release to keep your cat safe.

Keeping your pets indoors or on your property can protect them from getting lost and injured. It also protects native wildlife.

• Ensure small pets such as turtles, birds and rats are securely housed so they cannot escape.
• If you are keeping larger animals such as pigs or goats, make sure your property is well fenced.
• If you are a cat owner, there are products available such as 'catios' or cat-proof fencing that allow your cat access to the outdoors while keeping it on your section.

Pet ownership is a commitment for the pet’s lifetime.

If you can no longer care for your pet, you must find someone who can commit to looking after it. If you cannot find anyone, you can give the pet to an animal welfare shelter (such as the SPCA) for adoption.

The worst thing you can do for the pet and the environment is release the pet into the wild. It is not good for the pet or our native wildlife.

It is also an offence under the Animal Welfare Act to abandon any cat.