SPCA advocates that guinea pigs must only be kept as companions when a person has the knowledge, ability, and means to provide them with a Good Life where they experience positive welfare and their physical, health and behavioural needs are met.

SPCA is concerned about animal hoarding and recognises that it is a complex issue which encompasses mental health, animal welfare, and public safety concerns.

SPCA advocates that all persons involved in the breeding, keeping, or use of horses, ponies and other domesticated equines must have the facilities, skills, knowledge, and resources to provide them with a Good Life where they experience positive welfare and meet their physical, health and behavioural needs throughout their life.

SPCA advocates that owners of a companion animal ensure that the animal is appropriately identifiable.

SPCA advocates for companion cats to be kept at home to keep them safe from harm and promote positive welfare, whilst minimising their negative impacts on wildlife and nuisance in the community. Cats can be kept healthy and happy at home through a variety of ways including an enriched indoor environment, a safe and secure area such as a fenced garden, or with a cat enclosure or ‘catio’.

SPCA supports efforts to keep animals healthy and happy in their existing home or community through supportive services, including education, supplies and other resources.

SPCA advocates for the New Zealand Government to implement legislative requirements for companion cats to be desexed by the age of four months unless the cat is a registered breeding animal or a veterinarian has deemed this would be detrimental to the health and welfare of the cat.

SPCA supports the use of appropriate and correctly fitted muzzles for limited durations, as needed.

SPCA advocates for the New Zealand Government to implement comprehensive legislation for cat management to improve cat welfare and reduce the negative impacts of cat overpopulation. SPCA advocates that this legislation includes requirement for companion cats to be desexed, microchipped, their microchip registered, and kept at home.

SPCA advocates that non-traditional species are not suitable to be kept as companion animals because it is difficult to provide them with a Good Life where they experience positive welfare and their physical, health and behavioural needs are met.