Hi there,

Welcome to our first CANZ newsletter of 2026. Before we look ahead, we want to say a huge thank you to everyone who supported our Giving Tuesday campaign in December last year. Thanks to your generosity, we exceeded expectations and raised $22,000 - vital funds to support desexing and microchipping grants for shelters around NZ.

We’re still feeling incredibly grateful - and motivated - by the support of this community. We’ll report back on the impact of these funds later this year. For now, here are a few quick updates from us here at CANZ. 🐾

Some 2025 animal stats

NZCAR snapshot: Lost, found and reunited pets

Our data from 2025

Each year, the NZ Companion Animal Register plays a vital role in helping lost animals find their way home. When we reviewed the 2025 data, clear patterns emerged showing just how critical microchipping and up-to-date registration are - especially as time passes and reunification becomes harder.

2025 at a glance:

• 108,930 animals registered on NZCAR, strengthening identification nationwide - bringing the total animal records to 1.5 million!

• 10,000+ pets reported lost during the year on LostPet (nearly 9,000 of these were found or had their listing expire).

• Over 15,400 animals reported found by members of the public, shelters and SPCA.

• There was nearly a 10% increase in dogs reported lost compared with 2024.

• Unregistered animals remain missing around 30% longer than those registered on NZCAR.

👉 Read our full article to explore what the data reveals about species differences, recovery times, and why registration matters more the longer a pet is missing.

Commissioner for Animals Alliance

We've joined this year

Companion Animals New Zealand (CANZ) has joined the Commissioner for Animals Alliance (CfAA), a growing coalition calling for independent oversight that puts animals first in Aotearoa New Zealand.

The Alliance is united in advocating for the establishment of a Commissioner for Animals - an independent role that would provide fair and impartial oversight of the animal welfare system and ensure animals’ interests and wellbeing are represented at a parliamentary level. 

While New Zealand’s Animal Welfare Act sets an important foundation, it is often undermined in practice by gaps in oversight, enforcement, and accountability, leaving animals vulnerable to cruelty, exploitation, and neglect. Unlike children, older people, and the environment, animals currently have no independent representation. A Commissioner for Animals would help address this imbalance by strengthening oversight, supporting the intent of the Animal Welfare Act, and promoting transparency and public understanding. CANZ is proud to stand alongside many other organisations calling for meaningful reform that builds a kinder future for animals. You can read more about this in our CANZ website article.

Latest website articles

Read our latest articles below

Does your mood affect how you read dog emotions?

We like to think we understand our dogs - that a wagging tail means happiness and tucked ears signal fear. But new research may tell us otherwise.

Cracking the mystery of why cats hide.

If you've ever found your cat squeezed into a cardboard box, tucked under the bed, or mysteriously vanished into a closet, you're witnessing one of the most fundamental and fascinating aspects of feline behaviour. 

Budgerigars: Are we underestimating them?

The distinctive chatter of budgerigars has been a soundtrack to New Zealand childhoods for generations. What do these intelligent, social creatures actually need to thrive?