LECTURE 25- pets and other small animals

what percentage of NZ households own some kind of pet

63%

what is a companion animal

any animal that shares a living environment and relationship with humans

what is anthropomorphism

the attribution of human characteristics or behaviours to an animals

what are the four most common pets in NZ

cats (40%), dogs (31%), fowls (5.5%) fish (5%)

what is the total expenditure on products and services for companion animals

$1.8 billion

what percentage of households with pets have one pet type

31%

what percentage of households with pets have two pet types

18%

what percentage of households with pets have three pet types

7%

what percentage of households with pets have four or more pet types

8%

what are rules surrounding cats in NZ

• No national-level laws regarding cat ownership.  Set by local councils

• Local councils have differing policies around cat ownership

what are rules surrounding dogs in NZ

• National level regulations: must be registered with local councils and microchipped

• Councils set areas where dogs can be exercised off-leash, otherwise dogs must be leashed

• Laws are different for working dogs

what percentage of households have horses/ponies

3.4%

until what year were ferrets kept as pets

2002

why are ferrets no longer kept as pets in NZ

New law in 2002 banned sale, distribution and breeding or ferrets (turned into pest species in NZ; will attack native wildlife if in the wild)

Only few have ferrets through permits, to hunt rabbits

what are the top reasons for pet ownership

1. companion, love and affection

2. had that type of pet in the past

3. relaxation

4. animal needed a home

5. inherited from friends/family

where are cats typically sourced from in NZ

SPCA/animal shelter (37%)

where are dogs typically sourced from in NZ

breeders (34%)

what are the benefits of owning pets

• pet owners are healthier than those without pets

• children with pets are more sociable

• reduced stress and anxiety

• increases activity levels

• companionship and reduced isolation

what are the negatives of owning pets

• large commitment

• expensive to own and maintain

• can be messy and damage belongings

• can cause physical harm and disease (e.g toxoplasmosis from cats)

• pet loss

what small animals are not allowed to be imported into NZ

• ferrets

• guinea pigs (except from australia)

• mice and rats (except lab animals)

• snakes and other reptiles (except for zoos)

what are import restrictions for dogs and cats

• importations prohibited for ‘menacing’ dog breeds (e.g american pitbull)

• prohibited to import hybrids (dogs/cats crossed with wild relatives, e.g bengals, wolfdogs)

what are pet import regulations to protect local flora/fauna from exotic diseases

• When moving to NZ, pets, often stay quarantined for certain period 

• No imports of live birds allowed

what animals are used for  research, testing and teaching in NZ

• sheep (most common, 50%)

• rats and mice

• rabbits and guinea pigs

• fish

what’s the most common research done on lab animals

basic biological research (how food influences growth, how management influences milk production , etc.)

is animal research controlled under the animal welfare act 1999?

yes

• people/organisations using animals must follow an approved code of ethical conduct

• Code of ethical conduct sets out policies and procedures that must be followed by the organisation and its animal ethics committee

• Projects must be approved and monitored by an animal ethics committee

• Must submit annual statistics on number of animals used in research, and the impact of the testing on those animals