Welcome to our October edition of the Good Life newsletter. As we enter the warmer months, we're pleased to share our most recent webinar series with you, as well as exciting cat research collaborations we have underway (which you can participate in!). We also share our ambition for raising more funds to assist with our work, including contributing to desexing for managing pet breeding. And of course, our latest website articles. Happy reading! |
3,467 people took part - here are the results! |
In our last newsletter, we asked you to fill out a quick survey about your pets - and nearly 3,500 of you did! An incredible result. Thank you so much to those people who took the time.
You told us a great deal, including your understanding of animal emotions and what makes your pet happy. Check out the results in the link below. All the research we undertake as a charity aims to gather data and information to help better understand the New Zealand pet landscape and develop programmes to ensure animals have a Good Life. |
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Donate to our work ahead of summer |
Summer brings many new animals into the world. Sadly, some of these animals are unwanted and lack loving families to care for them. We believe in responsible pet ownership and giving all companion animals the best start in life, which is why we contribute funds to desexing and microchipping work to help animal shelters around the country.
Last financial year, we gave $180,000 towards grants to rescues across Aotearoa. |
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This crucial work is in addition to the many other welfare, advocacy, research and education initiatives (like our webinar series below!) we deliver which all aim to give animals a Good Life for animals.
Our Annual Impact report looks at our many achievements between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024. This work enables us to provide credible and up-to-date information to pet owners and donations of any size are welcome as we look to broaden the impact we can have for companion animals in New Zealand. Small steps together can make a big difference for animals and every one of your donated dollars counts! |
Watch our recent webinar series |
If you were one of the many people who attended our recent webinar series, 'Misbehaviour or Misunderstood?' - you would agree we were so lucky to have some of our accredited professionals share their insights and answer common questions about our pets' behaviours. You can watch the recordings of these webinars below for the next two weeks only - so get in quick!
A huge thank you to these wonderful accredited professionals for taking the time. We look forward to sharing details about our next series very soon! |
Webinar 1: “Aggression Towards Familiar People - Beyond the Myth of Dominance “ - Mat Ward.
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Webinar 2: "Is my pet in pain or being a pain?" - Dr Jess Beer.
Watch here > |
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Webinar 3: “Understanding Canine Instincts and Utilising Enrichment" - Lisa Sturm and Adele Curran.
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Webinar 4: Cracking the Code: Understanding Animal Emotions and Body Language - Dr Lucy Scott.
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Webinar 5: Managing Aggression Towards Familiar People: Key Treatment Techniques - Mat Ward.
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Participants wanted: Transitioning a cat to indoor life |
Here at Companion Animals New Zealand (CANZ), we're excited to be conducting a study into how cats adjust to living indoors only, in a collaboration with the Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT) and University of Adelaide, Australia.
Our research is aiming to understand more about how our feline companions (and their human guardians!) adapt to indoor living. Visit our website to find out if you're eligible and how to express interest in being involved! Participants will receive a $100 Prezzy card as koha for their time. |
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New survey: Share your views on outdoor access for owned cats |
Do you have an opinion on the importance of outdoor access for owned cats? We need to hear from you!
We are seeking both cat and non-cat owners for this survey to share your views on outdoor access for owned cats. |
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Cat management strategies are being discussed across New Zealand, and we believe understanding people’s views on what housing factors are important to cats and their welfare is important to these discussions. The survey will take 5–15 minutes (depending on if you have cats or not, and how detailed you want to get in your responses). There are three $50 Prezzy cards up for grabs too! |
Growing trend of local and district councils introducing bylaws
Read our media release following the most recent proposal by the Far North District Council to introduce mandatory “chipping and snipping” for cats.
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Does a wagging tail mean your dog is happy?
For many people a wagging tail is seen as an unequivocal sign of a happy and friendly dog. But is this assumption supported by scientific research?
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Do cats like to play with their humans?
Do cats actually like to play with us, or are they just responding to certain stimuli and natural instincts?
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World Animal Day
We were proud to join the global celebration of World Animal Day on 4 October, sharing how we aim to raise the status of animals in order to improve welfare.
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The powerful impact of pets on mental health
We explored the significant impact our companion animals can have on our own mental health.
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Why rabbits make incredible companions
On World Rabbit Day, we took the opportunity to highlight the unique qualities that make rabbits exceptional pets.
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Nominations close soon... |
Do you know someone who's making a difference in the lives of companion animals? Nominations are open for Te Tohu Maimoa for just a few more days! This award is open to anyone who has helped improve the lives of companion animals—whether through their work or volunteering in shelters, veterinary clinics, or government initiatives.
Te Tohu Maimoa holds deep significance, with Maimoa meaning "to cherish or care for" as a verb, and "companion animal" as a noun, while Te Tohu translates to "award" in te reo Māori.
Te Tohu Maimoa focuses on the smaller, incremental wins and outstanding acts within the past six months. It’s a chance to celebrate the everyday heroes whose efforts make a real impact on the welfare of companion animals. |
Your privacy is important to us. We are committed to protecting your personal information and will not share it with third parties without your consent. |
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