Codes of Practice for Animal Welfare

Code of Welfare: Companion Cats

Purpose:	To provide information to owners or people in charge of companion cats about what they must do to meet their obligations under the Animal Welfare Act 1999.
Enforced/administered by:	Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI)
Key Points:	There are 11 minimum standards to be met to ensure the welfare of companion cats under the Code.

Adopting or Purchasing a Cat

Responsibility of seller:

• Provide the new owner with printed information for settling the cat into its new environment and for its ongoing care.
• Provide details of the cat’s vaccinations, flea and worming treatments.

Responsibility of new owner:

• Become familiar with the responsibilities of ownership and be prepared to undertake those responsibilities for the life of the cat.
• Let’s look at how this happens at Emily’s workplace.

Check what the Code of Welfare for cats says about adopting a cat. How well do you think Emily did in her role as an SPCA worker?

Food and Water

Important: cats are obligate carnivores, which means that the nutrients they need to be healthy come from a varied meat-based diet. Vegetarian OR only lean meat (no offal, fat or bone) diets are not regarded as suitable for cats. Vegan diets for cats sometimes get promoted on social media as the better ethical choice for cat food, but this is not supported by the Code of Welfare, nor is the debate around this part of the requirements for learning in this Module.

Minimum standard No. 1 of the Code of Welfare for cats states:

^{Source: All animal welfare codes | NZ Government (mpi.govt.nz).}

If the minimum standards are followed then the body condition of an adult companion cat should easily be maintained. Minimum Standard No. 2 states:

A light layer of fat over the ribs and only a little abdominal fat is healthy for an adult cat. A vet will check for this while inspecting a cat and advise if the cat is too thin.

Note: “chonky cats” are popular on social media, but like humans, excessive weight in cats can increase the chances of disease and poor health.

Cats need water, especially if they are being fed dry food. The amount of water needed will also depend on the cat themselves but the minimum standard for a cat is that palatable water should be available at all times. Palatable water means ‘pleasing to the senses’. This differs from cat to cat – some cats are fussy; others will drink from puddles or out of a toilet. Owners of cats should keep fresh water available.

Housing and Hygiene

Cats are drawn to warmth and sunlight, so this is important to consider when housing them. In the home cats do not typically need to be caged, but in situations where owners are away from the house and the cat has access to the outdoors, the comfort and security of the cat should be considered.

In places where cats need to be caged, such as a cattery, the placement and number of cages is important to ensure the health and wellbeing of the cats contained in them. The minimum standard for caged cats requires sufficient room to move and the opportunity for exercise and play.

Whether caged or uncaged, areas that cats use should be kept clean. This includes food and water dishes, litter trays and bedding. This is particularly important when there are a number of cats in the same household or confined area, as diseases can spread quickly.

Breeding

Feral (wild) cats are a big environmental problem in New Zealand, and one of the contributing factors is that cats breed quickly. Unwanted kittens are often abandoned, and those that survive can form feral cat colonies that are lethal to native New Zealand fauna. It’s recommended that cats be de-sexed to stop them breeding. Cats adopted from shelters are usually de-sexed, or the shelter will offer easy options for new owners to access de-sexing surgery when the cat is old enough.

Cat breeders should consider the health and wellbeing of their breeding animals and allow appropriate time between litters. Kittens will be weaned by 8 weeks, but it is recommended that they stay with the mother cat for longer than this so that they can learn appropriate cat behaviour. Cats that are socialised with both humans and other cats will make better companions.

Health

Owners and people in charge of cats are responsible for preventing ill health and treating it when it occurs. Ownership of a cat should involve knowing the signs and symptoms of poor health and checking for them regularly. The older the cat, the more often the cat should receive official health checks.

Some cats may require assistance with grooming or declawing. Declawing must be done by a vet, or under the supervision of a vet.

Cats that have access to the outdoors are at risk of injury, especially on roads. Owners or people in charge of cats are responsible for minimizing that risk as much as possible. If a cat is seriously injured, then the minimum standards of the Code require that the owner/person responsible for the cat seeks appropriate medical attention.

Collars for cats do double duty as a health precaution against fleas and a way of identifying the cat, but they can also be a health risk. Collars should have a quick release feature, so it is recommended that cat collars are purchased from an appropriate supplier. It’s not appropriate to use another kind of collar.

Cat behaviour

It’s easy for new owners of cats to misunderstand what natural cat behaviour is. Scratching to sharpen claws and spaying to mark territory are normal cat behaviours that are often seen as undesirable by their human owners. These behaviors can sometimes worsen if the cat is stressed, and they cannot be ‘punished’ out of the animal. The best strategy is to provide the cat with opportunities to practice these normal behaviours in ways that humans can live with. Remember that the Animal Welfare Act 1999 states that animals must be allowed to demonstrate their natural patterns of behaviour.

Identification for Cats

We have already mentioned collars as a means of identifying cats, but the best option is to have them microchipped. Some cats wander and can become lost, and a microchip means they can easily be reunited with their owners. It also helps in cases where ownership of the cat is questioned, or in situations where the cat has passed away in a location other than the owner’s property.

Transportation of Cats

Cats are creatures of routine and habit and the combination of being caged and transported can cause them stress and anxiety. Owners or people in charge of cats should choose cat carriers that help the cat feel secure and keep them safe. It’s important that cats being transported have adequate air and that they do not overheat.

Giving Up a Cat

We mentioned earlier that feral cats are a problem in New Zealand. Sometimes, people abandon their animals because they are moving or they can’t care for them any longer. Some abandoned cats survive and become feral, but in many cases, an abandoned cat is likely to die without human care.

Abandoning a cat is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act 1999. It is also completely unnecessary because there are other options available for re-homing a cat, even if the current owner is struggling financially or with transport.

Hei Mahi - Activity

If someone that you knew told you that they were going to abandon their cat because they could no longer provide care for it, what advice or assistance would you give them without offering to take the cat yourself? Research the options that are available in your area and share them in the forum.

Euthanasia

This term means to quickly and painlessly put to death. It is the kind and humane action to take in situations where the cat is too ill or injured to recover or to have a pain-free quality of life.

It’s best done by a vet to ensure that no unnecessary suffering is caused to the cat. It is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act to kill any animal in such a way that causes it unreasonable or prolonged pain and suffering.

Feral and Colony Cats

These are not regarded as Companion Cats, but it is worth noting that people or organisations who interact with the cats in certain circumstances to improve their well-being may be regarded as having some of the responsibilities outlined in the Code of Welfare for Cats or under the Animal Welfare Act.

Hei Mahi - Activity

To recap about the Code of Welfare for cats, have a go at this activity. You’ll need to have a good grasp of the Code for your assessment, so this will let you know how well you are doing. To challenge you, the questions are not in the same order as they appear in the Code.

Code of Welfare: Companion Dogs

Purpose:	To provide information to owners or people in charge of companion dogs about what they must do to meet their obligations under the Animal Welfare Act 1999.
Enforced/administered by:	Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI)
Key Points:	There are 21 minimum standards of welfare to be met to ensure the welfare of companion and working dogs under the Code.

The Code of Welfare for dogs includes working and sport dogs in the definition of Companion Dog. It does not include fighting dogs as this is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act.

Owning or Adopting a Dog

Dog ownership is a big responsibility and one that many people underestimate. It’s important to choose a dog that will match the lifestyle of the owner or the working needs that the dog is expected to fulfill. Many dogs are rehomed because the new owner did not have a good understanding of the dog’s needs or its natural behaviours. Researching dog breeds and their characteristics before making a decision to adopt is the best approach to take.

Change of Ownership

As we covered in the section about the Code of Welfare for Cats, it’s an offence under the Animal Welfare Act 1999 to abandon an animal, including a dog. There are plenty of options available to help find a suitable new home if rehoming is necessary.

According to the Dog Control Act 1996, dogs must be registered at the local council, and it is up to both the previous AND the new owner to contact the council to update the details of the registration.

You can read about the Dog Control Act 1996 here: Dog Control Act 1996 No 13 (as at 30 November 2022), Public Act – New Zealand Legislation

Food and Water

Nutrition needs of dogs depends on their size and age, as well as their current state of health, sex, growth rate and amount of exercise that they require and are getting. Like cats, a lean meat only diet (no fat, offal or bone) is not suitable for dogs. Bone, intestinal meats (offal) and fat all contain things that dogs need to be healthy that cannot come from lean meat alone. Unlike cats, dogs are not obligate carnivores (only eat meat) and a diet that includes a small amount of plant-based food alongside meat-based food will provide them with a balanced diet. Note though that some plant-based foods are not good for dogs.

From weaning (approximately 6 weeks) until about 4 months old, puppies will need three to four small meals a day. This will gradually decrease to one meal a day, although this will depend on the breed of the dog and the amount of exercise it is getting. By nine months of age, most dogs should be on an adult diet in terms of the amount of food that they need.

Important: Dogs will eat food very quickly and are therefore at risk of choking on small pieces of solid foods. Small bones such as those found in fish or chicken should not be given to dogs. Large raw bones are suitable.

^{Source: All animal welfare codes | NZ Government (mpi.govt.nz).}

The ideal body condition for dogs, which does also depend on breed, is similar to cats. There should be a light layer of fat over the ribs and the dog should have a visible waist with minimal abdominal fat. Body shape in dogs does vary more than that of cats: some breeds of dogs are naturally lean (such as Grey Hounds); while other dogs are stockier (such as bulldogs). However, obesity in all dogs is not good for their health. Vets use a body composition scoring system to determine if a dog is under or overweight.

Water is very important to dog health, especially for working dogs, dogs in hot climates, and dogs that exercise a lot. Dogs that eat dry food will need extra water. The water should be clean and palatable.

We will cover nutrition for dogs in more detail in another module.

Containment of Dogs

Owners or people in charge of dogs are required to keep them under control at all times. This helps keep them safe from harm and also prevents them from becoming a nuisance. This does not mean keeping them short-chained or caged for long periods of time as it is important for dogs to be able to move around. This is part of their natural pattern of behaviour protected under the Animal Welfare Act 1999.

If kept outside, dogs need dry and shaded shelter. If a secure fenced area is not possible then a kennel with an attached run or tether line is recommended by the Code of Welfare for Dogs.

However, the SPCA has been campaigning against the tethering and confinement of dogs for several years. Proposed changes to the regulations around this were submitted for public consultation in early 2023. There has not been a decision made by the government at this point in time (late 2023). You can read about it here: Chained Dogs (spca.nz)

If dogs are kept in kennels, then the kennel needs to be warm, dry, and draught free with enough room to stand, lie down and turn around. Dogs can be kept in communal kennels in places like animal shelters, or on farms provided they interact well with each other. In these situations crowding and hygiene need to be considered to make sure the health and wellbeing of the dogs in the communal spaces is not affected.

Hei Mahi - Activity

Find out about Rhodesian Ridgebacks online. Then look at the Code of Welfare for Dogs and identify what size kennel that you think Aroha would have recommended.

All animal welfare codes | NZ Government (mpi.govt.nz).

Sanitation and Hygiene

Areas where dogs spend most of their time need to be kept clean. This includes:

• Removing urine and faeces regularly
• Washing and disinfecting kennel areas and food and water bowls
• Checking bedding or mats for pests like fleas or parasites, and washing them regularly

Breeding

Owners who plan to breed dogs must ensure that the breeding process does not result in puppies that have poor health, poor temperament, physical deformities or genetic disorders that can then be passed on to their offspring.

Owners who plan to breed dogs should also consider whether they will be able to find suitable homes for all of the puppies. In New Zealand there are usually more dogs and puppies needing homes than there are people who are available to take them in. This can lead to dogs and puppies being dumped/abandoned, or mistreated. De-sexing dogs reduces this issue and is also better for their general long-term health and wellbeing.

Breeding dogs should be in good health and of an appropriate age for breeding. This can be as young as ten months for smaller dogs and 16 to 18 months for larger dogs. Gestation (pregnancy) is about two months. Giving birth for dogs is known as whelping.

Puppies need milk for the first few weeks of their lives. At 3-4 weeks solid food may be introduced, and puppies may be weaned from their mother at 6-7 weeks. They should not be re-homed before this time. The best age to rehome is after 8 weeks, as this will have allowed the puppies time to learn socialisation behaviour from the mother dog. It’s best that puppies also become used to human handling before being rehomed. Socialised dogs make better human companions.

Health

As we have already learned from the Animal Welfare Act 1999, owners have responsibility for the health and wellbeing of their dogs, and to treat them or seek expert advice when the dogs need it.

Poor health in dogs can be prevented by good nutrition, appropriate exercise, a clean and safe place to live, vaccination, flea and de-worming treatments, and regular veterinary check-ups. Some diseases can be passed from dogs to humans. This will be covered in another module.

Dogs benefit from regular washing/bathing, and in the case of long-haired dogs, regular grooming to maintain their coats and prevent infection from parasites. Some dogs may need their claws clipped to maintain good paw health. This is not the same as dewclaw removal, that we learned about earlier in this module.

Hei Mahi - Activity

Is Caleb allowed to trim Bucky’s nails? Check the Code of Welfare for Dogs and find out.
All animal welfare codes | NZ Government (mpi.govt.nz).

Exercise

Dogs are made to move! Not getting enough exercise can lead to physical and mental issues. Keeping dogs confined for long periods of time without adequate exercise is denying them their natural patterns of behaviour.

Note: hot surfaces such as concrete, asphalt and sand can burn the pads on dog paws. It pays to be mindful about where and when dogs are being exercised.

We’ve already mentioned that dogs like to chew things. Exercise away from the home or their usual place of shelter means increased risk of a dog accidentally eating something toxic such as poison-laced bait in areas where pest control is happening. It’s important that they are supervised when being exercised and where appropriate they are kept on a lead. Seek professional help immediately if it is possible that the dog has been poisoned. Either a vet or the NZ Animal Poisons Helpline on 0800 869 738.

Surgical Procedures

As we have already learned from the Animal Welfare Act 1999 surgical procedures on animals can only be carried out by a vet or by a person in training and under the supervision of a vet. One type of surgery vets are approached about is debarking surgery. Barking can be seen as undesirable behaviour by humans, especially in urban areas where a barking dog can cause issues with neighbours. If behavioural training has not worked some owners may seek to have their dog debarked.

We already know about dewclaw removal, but the Code of Welfare for Dogs provides additional detail around this.

Another kind of surgery that veterinarians may be asked about is tail docking. In the past this was popular for cosmetic reasons. It is now banned in New Zealand unless it is necessary medical treatment.

Dog Behaviour

It’s really important that new dog owners understand what normal dog behaviour is. Sadly, many dogs are put down (euthanised) because of perceived behaviour issues. Dogs can respond well to training that minimises some behaviours, but poorly socialised dogs may be difficult to train. As part of a human ‘pack’ some dogs will need extra assistance to help them understand where their place in the pack is – and usually this is not as the ‘top dog’.

Sadly, sometimes it is the human that needs behaviour training and not the dog: physical abuse is not the best way to teach a dog to show positive behaviour and is an offence under the Act. However, there are a number of physical aids that can be used to help in the behaviour training process, but these are best used by people with experience using them.

Transportation

We’ve already thought about this in the section about the Animal Welfare (Care and Procedures) Regulations. Do you remember what your advice would be for Zoe in buying a vehicle for her new business? Here’s some additional information that she would need to be aware of. Would you change your recommendation for Zoe based on this information?

Is there a happier thing to see than the smile on a dog’s face when they are in the car with the window down? The Code of Welfare for Dogs suggests that this could actually be quite dangerous for them, although this is not included in the minimum standards.

Euthanasia

It’s an offence under the Animal Welfare Act 1999 to kill any animal in such a way as to cause it pain and suffering. It’s unfortunately very common for unwanted dogs to be dumped in water ways or deliberately euthanised by drowning. The minimum standard here is the same as for cats – drowning is an offence and not an acceptable option for managing unwanted dogs or puppies.

There are plenty of other options available to re-home dogs or puppies. Veterinarians in New Zealand report that euthanasia of animals is one of the biggest mental health issues of their role, not to mention the unfairness to animals who are put down because the time hasn’t been taken to explore other options for rehoming them.

Euthanasia is a necessary part of the animal care industry where animals are severely injured or sick but should always be a last resort.

Hei Mahi - Activity

To recap about the Code of Welfare for dogs, have a go at this activity. You’ll need to a have good grasp of the Code for your assessment so this will let you know how well you are going. To challenge you, the questions are jumbled up and therefore don’t follow the order of the minimum standards as they are set out in the Code.

This Code is relevant if you work at or are intending to work in places like catteries, kennels, animal rescues and shelters, or retail establishments such as pet shops.

Purpose:	To provide information to people in charge of companion animals on how to house them temporarily.
Enforced/administered by:	Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI)
Key Points:	This Code contains information on companion animals being kept in temporary housing facilities (like businesses or organisations) and includes places temporarily housing stray or unowned companion animals. It does not apply to the temporary housing of animals by their owners, or animals being held temporarily within foster homes or training facilities, or companion animals in temporary emergency shelters during civil defence and other emergency situations. There are 17 minimum standards in this code.

Hei Mahi - Activity

We are going to try a different study method with this Code, because in many ways it is similar to the Codes of Welfare for cats and dogs. Instead of providing you with the key points and some interesting scenarios for you to think about, this activity is going to sharpen your research and study claws (whoops, we mean skills!).

You will be able to write answers to the following questions and then save them as a pdf document which you will be able to keep for your own notes. If you really, really, really want feedback on your notes, you could make a post in the forum and ask your classmates what they think of your answers.

Access the code here: Code of Welfare: Temporary Housing of Companion Animals | NZ Government (mpi.govt.nz)

Topic Summary

In this module we looked at the key points you need to know about the Codes of Welfare for Companion Cats and Dogs. These set out specific standards of care for cats and dogs as expected under the Animal Welfare Act 1999.

Breaches of the Codes of Welfare can be prosecuted under the Animal Welfare Act 1999.

We also looked at the Temporary Housing of Companion Animals Code. This provides guidance on the level of expected level of care for businesses or organisations that provide temporary housing for animals. Breaches of this code can be prosecuted under the Animal Welfare Act 1999.

Hei Mahi - Activity

Download the following Power Point templates and make notes for yourself on the Codes of Welfare. Power Point is a good tool to use because it encourages you to write in bullet points. Bullet points are much easier to remember, meaning the information is more likely to stay in your head.

• Code of Welfare Cats
• Code of Welfare Dogs

The documents are plain – feel free to add your own colours, backgrounds or pictures if you think it will help you with your learning.
Wow, tino pai, you’re making great progress! The next topic is a really important one: sustainability. Go check out Topic 5 to find out why.