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While the live export industry can be secretive about conditions on-board, we can get glimpses of what it was like from brave veterinarians, Official Information Act releases, academic papers and government standards. Read on for more information and photos from New Zealand live export’s recent past. Warning: it doesn’t paint a pleasant picture.

Cats are beloved members of our families and communities. Whilst many cat owners are responsible and desex their cats, we have too many companion cats that are allowed to breed and have unplanned litters of kittens. Often, these kittens experience sickness and death with many needing help from SPCA and other cat rescues. These kittens can also end up as stray cats and further contribute to the cycle of cat overpopulation in New Zealand. Cat overpopulation is a problem for cat welfare and causes problems for our neighbours and wildlife. In this article learn how you can advocate locally for more responsible cat ownership.

Training your dog to wear a muzzle is a great idea. Why? Training your dog to wear a muzzle is a responsible and proactive step for any dog owner. While many people associate muzzles with ‘aggressive’ dogs, muzzles can be actually be useful in various situations.

Dogs die in hot cars. If you love them, don't leave them.
Every year, our Inspectors receive hundreds of welfare calls about dogs that have been left inside hot cars. Over the last summer, these calls accounted for approximately 11% of all welfare calls made to SPCA. Sadly, the message around the dangers of leaving your animals inside cars doesn’t seem to be sinking in. SPCA has created downloadable resources including posters, a flyer and a social media tile to help you to share the message.

At SPCA, we encourage all rabbit owners to desex their rabbits as early as possible. But, if you find yourself caring for a doe and her kits, this guide can help you the proper care for both mother and her babies.

Barking is a normal way for dogs to communicate, whether they're excited, anxious, or trying to alert us to something. However, when barking becomes excessive—happening loudly and frequently—it can become a nuisance for both owners and neighbours. If your dog’s barking is causing issues, don’t worry! With the right approach you can manage and reduce it.

Avian botulism is a paralytic neuromuscular disease in birds that is often fatal if not treated. Birds become sick by ingesting invertebrates, such as maggots, that have themselves ingested toxins produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. This bacterium thrives in shallow/stagnant waters where oxygen levels are low and nutrient levels are high.

Bird gel repellents are used to deter birds from roosting, perching, and nesting but often cause unintended suffering and death. SPCA advocates for restricting or prohibiting the sale and use of bird gel repellents because of the harm they cause.

SPCA advocates that pest management should cause the least harm to the fewest animals and be based on an actual problem rather than negative perceptions of an animal. Other important considerations for pest management are discussed in this article.

Your home is a safe and special space for you, your family, and pets to live in. When a baby arrives, parents will ‘baby-proof’ the house to ensure the place is safe for little ones. But paw-rents should also do a safety sweep of their home as well – as pets can be in danger from household items and chemicals, too!