A little bit about me
Ollie is an absolute bundle of energy - a little dog who is truly full of beans and always on the go! He often looks to his brother Jack for a quick confidence boost and can sometimes be found hiding behind him when he's feeling unsure. But once Ollie realises everything is safe and friendly, his playful, excited personality bursts out and he's ready to explore the world.
Ollie is incredibly sweet and affectionate. He's a bit of a "shark" with his enthusiasm and loves giving lots of licks - especially face licks! Once he's comfortable, he really enjoys attention and happily soaks up cuddles, chest rubs, and belly rubs (usually after he's finished wandering around investigating everything).
He's also a very clever boy. Ollie has already mastered sit and down (although he's smart enough to know those are most worthwhile when treats are involved!) and he's close to getting the hang of paw as well. He's been great with his crate and settles well there.
Ollie doesn't love being left alone and can get a bit panicky if he isn't sure where Jack is, so he'll benefit from ongoing confidence building and gentle reassurance as he grows.
Toilet training is going well overall, although Ollie is a tiny bit trickier than Jack and there have been a few indoor accidents when he hasn't been taken out quickly enough. With consistency, he's making good progress.
Outside in the garden, Ollie is a little explorer. He's always nose-to-the-ground sniffing and investigating, and he has a special talent for climbing into the most awkward and unexpected spots!
Ollie is a loving, curious little dog who will grow into a wonderful companion. With continued patience, training, and confidence building, he's going to make someone a very special and entertaining best friend. 🐶💛
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1. Can you care for a companion animal for their whole life?
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- The average lifespan of dogs and cats is around 12 years but some dogs and cats can live 20 years or more!
- If you want to adopt a pet for your children, consider that children can tire quickly of the routine of caring for the animal. Parents often quickly become the animal’s primary caregiver and need to be OK with that. Therefore, adding a new animal to your family must be a family decision and a family-wide responsibility.
- If you are planning to move to another country or travel in the future, it might not be the right time to adopt an animal. However, it is possible to move country with your animal, and also to manage travel so that your animal is well cared for when you are away. Moving country and travel are situations that can be managed, but this can be expensive and needs careful consideration and planning.
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2. Can you afford to care for the pet you are considering adopting?
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All animals available for adoption from SPCA have been health checked, and most are desexed, vaccinated and microchipped (for details see each adoption listing, as the exact details can vary by species); all of these are included in the adoption fee. However, there are also ongoing costs associated with having a companion animal that you need to consider.
These may include the following:
- Quality food and treats
- Worm and flea treatments
- Items such as leashes, toys, collars, housing, bedding, kennel, crates, enclosures
- Annual health check and vaccinations
- Veterinary visits and treatments due to illness or accidents, and preventative care
- Fees for boarding or home care for your animal if you need to go away
- Doggy Day care fees if you have to be away from your dog for long periods
- Training classes for puppies and dogs
- Annual registration fees for dogs (this is a legal requirement)
- Grooming expenses
- The cost of things that your animal might damage or that might suffer wear and tear, such as shoes, TV remote controls, books, couches, carpets, etc.
To help you get an idea of the cost of keeping a companion animal, Companion Animals NZ has published data showing that companion animal owners spend on average the following amounts per year:
- $670 on their cat
- $1200 on their dog (larger dogs can be more expensive)
- $785 on their horse
- $310 on their rabbit
However, depending on an animal’s individual needs these costs could be significantly higher.
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3. Are you able to care for the pet you are considering adopting?
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- It is your responsibility to know how to properly care for your animals; the Animal Welfare Act 1999 states that “the owner of an animal, and every person in charge of an animal, must ensure that the physical, health, and behavioural needs of the animal are met in a manner that is in accordance with both good practice and scientific knowledge.”
- We can give advice on how to care for companion animals and help with any questions you might have. Your veterinarian is another source of credible and helpful information about caring for animals.
- Doing your research before you decide to adopt an animal will help you to make a good and informed choice about whether you can care for an animal and what animal would be most suitable for your situation.
- It is important that you are able to set aside adequate time to feed, exercise, groom, and interact with/play with your companion animal for their entire lifetime.
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4. Is your home suitable for the animal you are considering adopting?
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- The size of your home and garden and the location of your home are significant factors that determine how suitable your home is for a particular animal. For example, dogs need a safe, fenced section, shelter, shade and enough space outside in which to exercise, explore and play. If you are thinking of adopting a cat and letting the cat outside, then you need to consider that cats can get injured on roads or affect local wildlife. Rabbits and guinea pigs need space inside, or a fenced area outside, in which to exercise, explore, and play.
- Some landlords do not allow their tenants to have animals. This means that having a companion animal can affect how easy it is to find a rental property and is something that you should consider if you are renting.
- If you already have companion animals, it is very important that you consider them, and how they will adapt to a new arrival, when thinking of adding another animal to your family.
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5. Will a pet fit into your lifestyle?
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- Long working hours, a busy social life and regular trips away are all factors that will influence whether your lifestyle is suitable to share with a companion animal, and also what kind of animal might be best suited to you. It is important to consider these factors before deciding to adopt.
- All companion animals need human company and if you don’t spend enough time with them this can make them unhappy and seriously affect their quality of life.
- You should not adopt a companion animal unless you are:
- home often enough to keep your animal company (or have someone else at home to keep the animal company)
- prepared to walk your dog every day (if you are thinking of adopting a dog)
- able to give your animal the basic training they need
- able to arrange suitable care for your animal when you are away
If you have carefully thought through all of the questions above and your answer to all of the questions is ‘YES’, then you are ready to adopt!
If you said ‘no’ to any of the questions above or are unsure, please consider what you would need to do to ensure you are well prepared to become a responsible companion animal owner.
Visit our Advice and Welfare section for more detailed information about caring for specific animals .
Contact your local SPCA centre if you have any queries regarding animal ownership.
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We‘re excited to start sharing our inspirational stories with you, keep you up to date with how we’re helping New Zealand's animals, and let you know when there are opportunities to give your support.
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Watch this space for your next update! And thanks again for your support, it’s what keeps us going.
Ngā mihi nui
The SPCA New Zealand Team
How to adopt Ollie
1. Enquire about me
To enquire about an animal, click the ‘Enquire about me’ button on their profile and fill in the form with as much detail about your family as you can. If you need help with your online enquiry form, please don’t hesitate to phone the centre for help.
Most of our animals available for adoption are currently in foster homes in the community and not at the centre, as this is less stressful for them.
2. Talk to our SPCA animal experts
Our friendly animal team will be in touch to help you choose the pet that’s right for your family – it might not be me after all. They will discuss your lifestyle, experience level and what you’re looking for.
They’ll check you tick all the boxes for adoption and talk to you about some of the animals that are right for you and your lifestyle. They might also request some photos and other documentation to see where the animal will live.
3. Come and meet me
If you like, we can arrange for a meet and greet of the animal you have applied for prior to taking it home, to ensure it is a good fit. Bring everyone who lives in the house (especially any children) to come and meet the animals to ensure the best match for your family.
4. Fill in the paperwork and pay the adoption fee
Once you’ve found the animal for you, you’ll need to complete an application form and get one of the team to review and approve the adoption. You then pay the adoption fee and get ready to bring your new family member home.
5. Register
Some of our centres include registration with the local council in their fees, but others don’t so you will need to register your new dog with the council before you can take them home.