*New Zealand – November 1, 2023* – The manager of
Companion Animals New Zealand, the organisation responsible
for New Zealand's microchip database for pets, is
emphasizing the importance of not relying solely on social
media, particularly during the stressful period of Guy
Fawkes, to find lost pets. With the recent merger of their
two pet services, the NZ Companion Animal Register (NZCAR)
and LostPet.co.nz, Companion
Animals New Zealand has created a comprehensive “super site”
for lost and found animals.
David Lloyd, General
Manager of Companion Animals New Zealand, advises pet owners
to make the newly amalgamated site their first stop if
they've lost or found a pet. This “super site” combines a
free lost and found website with a microchip database of 1.2
million microchipped animals, providing a clear course of
action for pet guardians in distress.
Lloyd points out
that found microchipped animals in New Zealand are likely to
be scanned at over 900 vet clinics, SPCAs, or animal
shelters. It is crucial to ensure your contact details on
the NZCAR are up to date, especially during the Guy Fawkes
period when pets may be frightened and prone to
escaping.
But if a found animal does not have a
microchip, or cannot be taken to a clinic or shelter, then
the finder will usually post a photo somewhere
online.
The newly merged platform features free
“found” listings, making it an essential resource for pet
owners whose animals may not be microchipped or registered.
In this stressful time for pets and their guardians, the
“super site” remains the best place to seek
assistance.
While acknowledging the role of social
media in reuniting lost pets with their owners, Lloyd
reminds pet guardians that social media sites curate
content, meaning not everyone will see their posts, and new
lost animals can push their posts down the page. Companion
Animals NZ recommends posting on the NZCAR/LostPet site
first and then sharing the listing to Facebook, simplifying
the management of the listing in one place. Listings on the
site are live for four weeks but can be renewed
indefinitely.
Ideally, pet guardians should be
proactive and ensure their pets are microchipped and
registered on the NZCAR. Lloyd notes that the registration
step is sometimes overlooked, even though it's often the
responsibility of the vet clinic that implants the chip.
It's essential to differentiate between NZCAR registration
and council registration for dogs.
If your pet does
goes missing, recommends checking LostPet first, as all
found animals taken to SPCA are listed there automatically.
Secondly, Lloyd recommends a thorough physical search as a
crucial second step, highlighting that cats tend to stay
within a few houses of home and can be skilled at hiding,
particularly when frightened or injured. Then, if you need
to create a lost pet listing, it's free to do so on the
“super site,” whether your pet is microchipped or not. Only
after this should you consider sharing your post on
Facebook.
Lastly, Lloyd urges pet owners not to lose
hope, sharing numerous stories of joyful reunions after long
periods of separation over large distances. The NZ Companion
Animal Register, launched in 2007, has registered 1,250,000
animals, including 700,000 cats, 530,000 dogs, 10,000
rabbits, and 700 horses. All animals adopted from the SPCA
are registered on the NZCAR automatically at the time of
adoption. Funds from the register are used to support
desexing campaigns and other animal welfare
projects.
LostPet.co.nz, formerly
known as Pets on The Net, was established in 2002 and became
a Companion Animals NZ service in 2017. Companion Animals
New Zealand provides a 24-hour support service for lost and
found pets at www.animalregister.co.nz
or through their freephone number 0508 LOSTPET (567
873).
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