Sustainable Practices in Animal Care

In New Zealand, we love our unique natural environment, and we love our companion animal family members. As we have seen via the Te Urewera Act though, uncontrolled companion animals can become an environmental issue for our natural spaces.

Companion animals have a significant social impact on us, so rather than ban them completely, let’s look at some initiatives that aim to protect our environment and still enable us to enjoy the company of our companion animal friends.

Wellington City Council have a great page on their website about managing pets in the natural environment.

Read: Nature-friendly pets (15-minute read)

The next article takes a stronger position on the often-bad relationship between the environment and pet ownership. Don’t be alarmed though: the Professor who is interviewed in the story is a pet owner himself and does not suggest anything bad for people who currently have pets. You can read a summary of what he says by following the link, and you can also listen to the interview that aired on RadioNZ (RNZ). The link to the audio file is in the story.

Tūpuna Maunga

The 14 Tūpuna Maunga (ancestral mountains) are an important part of the geography, culture, and history of Auckland and have been owned by the Tamaki Collective, a group made up of iwi and hapu from the Auckland area, since 2014. The Maunga are managed in a co-governance arrangement between the Tamaki Collective and the Auckland Council. Unlike the Te Urewera Act 2014 where non-native animals are not permitted in Te Urewera, consideration has been given to the need to balance environmental needs with social values. Dog access is managed, rather than forbidden: “Cycling / running / walking (including exercising dogs) / recreational events may be provided for where they positively contribute to the Maunga and community.” (Tūpuna Maunga o Tāmaki Makaurau Authority, 2019)

The full management plan is here: Tupuna-Maunga-Integrated-Management-Plan-Strategies.pdf. If you are interested, you can search the document to find specific references to dogs by using the search icon (magnifying glass).

The social pillar of the sustainability model includes goals for:

• No poverty
• Zero hunger
• Quality education
• Good health and wellbeing

Reduced inequalities for humans are also good for our companion animals. Human poverty, hunger, lack of access to good education and poor health and well-being have a negative effect on the lives of our companion animals. Look at this statement from the SPCA:

They (SPCA) go on to say that animal welfare and human welfare are intertwined in a way that is difficult to separate. This is a clear acknowledgement of the social importance of animals to human welfare. In the quote above, they also use the word ‘environment’. Do they (SPCA) consider the economic pillar of sustainability as well?

How does the economic pillar of sustainability relate to the care of companion animals? One study carried out in New Zealand found that “approximately one-fourth of respondents reported that owning a cat and or dog creates financial strain”. (Forrest et al, 2023)

The answer lies in the choices that we make in the care of our pets. In the following article from Stuff.co.nz are some basic suggestions that can help improve the economic and environmental sustainability of pet ownership. As you read, notice how closely economics links to social and environmental factors.

Environmental Sustainability Legislation and Regulations

It is important that you have a general understanding of applicable environmental legislation and regulations as they relate to your job role in the animal care industry. You are not required to be an expert in all the laws and regulations – that can be left to management. However, it is really important that you are aware of and understand the aspects of the laws and regulations that are relevant to your job so that you can remain compliant. Non-compliance may result in fines for you as an individual or for the company you work for, a loss of license that allows the workplace to function or, in extreme cases, be considered a criminal offence.

To gain a greater understanding of laws related to this topic, watch the following video, Environmental Law: A Very Short Introduction.

Watch - Mātakitaki: Environmental Law: A Very Short Introduction (4:02 minutes)

Elizabeth Fisher, author of Environmental Law: A Very Short Introduction, gives her top 10 things you should know about Environmental Law.

Questions

Keep the three pillars of sustainability model in mind as you watch, and make a note of the things that Elizabeth says that align with the model.

In New Zealand, there are a number of acts and regulations that relate to environmental sustainability. These include:

• Resource Management Act 1991 (under review by the current government in 2024)
• Environmental Reporting Act 2015
• Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Act 2019
• Resource Management Amendment Act 2020
• Natural and Built Environment Act 2023

These are big pieces of legislation, and fortunately, you don’t need to read them for this qualification! We will instead focus on the impact of the legislation at the level of the workplace.

Workplaces have a social and, in some cases, regulatory responsibility to implement environmental sustainability policies and procedures. These policies and procedures are documented to help communicate to employees, customers and other stakeholders how the company is working to improve its practices to benefit and sustain the local environment.

Workplace policies and procedures

Workplace policies and procedures include, but are not limited to, the following five categories:

• Energy
• Water
• Transportation
• Hazardous materials
• Waste management.

To get an idea of a workplace policy, examine the Sustainability and Environmental Policy, created for the Centre for Corporate Health to “integrate environmental sustainability into its operations, practices and decision making” (Centre for Corporate Health 2022).

Energy

Energy is the amount of ‘work’ an appliance or machine does and is measured in Joules (J). You may have heard of the term ‘energy efficient’. This term essentially means to use less energy to provide the same service. The energy efficiency of household appliances is typically presented by stars. The more stars, the more energy-efficient the appliance will be.

Most appliances and machinery use electricity for energy. So, when an appliance has high energy efficiency, it uses less electricity and is cheaper to use than a similar appliance of lower energy efficiency. Therefore, it is in the best interests of a business to conserve energy use by:

• Installing energy-efficient equipment and appliances, such as washing machines and dryers. This is particularly important when working in settings where there are high amounts of laundry generated.
• Switching electrical equipment and devices off when not in use.
• Turning lights off when not in use and at the end of shifts.
• Installing more sustainable energy sources, such as solar panels.

Water

Water is used in many different ways within a workplace. For example, in taps, toilets, showers and baths; dishwashers; evaporative air conditioners; and garden watering systems. Working in animal care requires a lot of water to be used, such as when you are maintaining the cleanliness and hygiene of the clinic or practice or working in a dog grooming salon. You also need to consider the number of animals that are in the facility and their requirements, not only for hydration but keeping them clean. Imagine how much water is needed to wash a Great Dane!

Methods to reduce water use in the workplace include:

• Using low flow taps or installing a restrictor or aerator
• Fixing dripping taps
• Installing taps that turn off automatically in bathrooms
• Using water-saving toilets, such as dual flush
• Considering appliances with high water efficiency such as:
  • A hydrobath that uses the minimum water needed per cycle
  • A hydrobath that recycles water rather than a bath or sink where all water goes down the drain
  • A double tank hydrobath, which recycles water more efficiently than a single tank hydrobath.
• Ensuring there is thermostat control on air conditioners and setting it to an appropriate temperature
• Using timing devices on automatic sprinklers so they don't operate in the heat of the day
• Installing water tanks or using bore water for gardens, washing machines and toilets
• Using energy- and water-efficient washing machines (washing machines are an integral appliance in animal care where towels and blankets provided at the clinic need to be washed and dried to adhere to hygiene practices)
• Considering the size of the loads you are washing (you should not run a full cycle for three small hand towels, but rather wait until you can fill the machine and then run the washing cycle).

Transportation

Your workplace may offer a transportation or delivery service as part of its operations, or it may receive regular deliveries from transport companies. In addition to work-related transport needs, there are also employees' private transport methods for commuting to and from work. Often, employees commute in a car by themselves.

Ways to improve environmental sustainability regarding transportation include:

• Regular fleet maintenance, upgrading to electric vehicles, free e-vehicle charging stations for staff
• Using cleaner fuels
• Encouraging staff carpooling, use of public transport or cycling where possible.

Hazardous materials

Animal facilities use materials that can pose a considerable hazard to employees, the general community and the environment. Often, the use of these hazardous materials can’t be avoided. However, measures can be taken to ensure their impacts are minimised. The use and disposal of hazardous materials is regulated in New Zealand and workplaces must comply with the requirements or face fines and other ramifications.

Examples of hazardous materials include:

• Corrosive chemicals (undiluted) – for example, used for cleaning
• Petrol and oil products – for example, used for fuel for machinery
• Biological products – for example, carcasses, infectious tissue, faeces and contaminated bedding
• Clinical waste – for example, sharps, bandages and swabs.

As you have already learnt, it is also essential to create a clean and hygienic work environment, especially when working with animals in any veterinary clinic. You will need to ensure you are using cleaning products that are safe around people and animals but can kill unwanted pathogens (any microbe that causes disease and that can be spread). The clinic may want to consider swapping their cleaning products for equally effective, yet biodegradable cleaning products. These products are less likely to contain dangerous and damaging disinfectants, such as sodium hypochlorite (Shaw 2015).

Waste management

All workplaces generate waste of some kind. Waste management is the collection, transport, processing, recycling or disposal, and monitoring of waste materials. A well-made waste management plan should include all waste control elements including collection, transportation, processing, recycling and/or disposal of waste products. All industry sectors can improve their waste management by using resources and disposing of waste responsibly. However, not everything needs to end up in a landfill.

THE SIX RS

Workplaces should consider the implementation of the ‘Six Rs’ to help reduce their waste production:

• Rethink – Consider whether the item needs to be used at all, or if an alternative item or process could be used.
• Refuse – Stop buying items that are not needed or are unethical or unsustainable in their production.
• Reduce – Change processes to limit the consumption or use of certain items.
• Reuse – Replace single-use items with reusable options where possible; try to find ways to repurpose single-use items before disposal.
• Repair – Where possible repair damaged items or equipment before replacing them. When replacement is necessary, try to find more efficient, durable and sustainable options.
• Recycle – Sort items appropriately for collection and recycling, when items are not sorted correctly, the entire batch may end up in landfill instead of being recycled (Mridul 2021).

With the increase in costs for handling waste and overflowing landfills, waste reduction is now a necessary option. Considerable waste created by any business can be recycled. The use of the appropriate bins is a step in the right direction to minimising landfill.

Here are a few additional waste reduction techniques that can benefit every business and the environment:

• Conduct a waste assessment. Looking into what your business purchases and throws away will tell you the types of waste your facility generates. This information will help you identify the items that can be recycled or composted and where changes can be made to the items purchased.
• Implement a recycling or composting program.
• Purchase recycled products.
• Send packaging back to suppliers.
• Use reusable cleaning cloths, bandages and napkins.

The use of X-rays is common in the animal care industry, especially in a veterinary practice. Most X-rays are printed. However, with emerging technology, X-rays can now be viewed digitally. Consider switching to digital radiography over conventional film-based X-rays, which use hazardous chemicals and film that can’t be recycled and will end up in landfill (Shaw 2015).

In addition to these practices, you may wish to consult with government associations to help support your business in the movement towards a sustainable approach. In some cases, there may be the option for financial support to help with the cost of transferring products to adhere to sustainable practice.

As you are just starting in the industry, you have an opportunity to undertake training in your workplace. Taking initiative is always one way to show your dedication to the job and to positively contribute to your work environment and seeking additional training for sustainability may be a good way to start. There may be opportunities to engage in professional development workshops where you can obtain information on creating a sustainable workplace. The information you learn should be shared with those working with you.

Let’s look at how Caleb’s employers made changes in practices to be more sustainable.

Hei Mahi - Activity

If you are currently working in an animal care workplace, make a list of the sustainable practices that are already in place. Then, come up with at least one more sustainable practice that could be implemented that is not yet happening in your workplace. Share your practice idea in the forum.

If you are not employed yet, think about what your household does. What sustainable practices do you have in place? Make a list of them. Then, come up with at least one new sustainable practice that you could implement at home. Share your list in the forum.

Responsibilities

Your role as an employee within the animal care industry comes with several responsibilities. You are not only responsible for the animals you care for, but also for how your actions impact the environment.

Your environmental responsibilities include a duty of care to:

• follow any legal or reasonable directives of management relating to environmental sustainability that may be communicated in written or verbal form.
• reduce and/or improve your use of consumables such as energy, water, transportation, hazardous materials and disposable (waste) products.
• conduct regular monitoring audits of your immediate work area and practices (or the wider organisation if you have access) to determine if more efficient equipment or processes could be implemented.
• report any broken or inefficient equipment, appliances or practices.
• encourage others to be environmentally conscious.

As your experience and knowledge begin to develop, so too will your confidence and ability to recognise environmental issues and implement sustainable practices. While management is responsible for implementing changes and delivering the appropriate training it is important for you to stay on top of any changes to environmental sustainability practices that occur within your industry. This contributes to the future well-being of our planet.

Monitoring of personal resource use

You can make improvements to the amount and number of resources you consume in the workplace, even if your place of employment doesn't have any official environmental sustainability policies or procedures. Once you have identified the environmental and resource issues within your workplace and gained some insight into their scope, you will be able to assess the resources that are used in your role and the approach you take to environmental efficiency.

It is important to review the consumption of and use of all resources used in your workplace. For example, to remain conscious of minimising waste of chemical products, careful measuring, correct dilution rates and good storage practices are important. Another example: paper is one of the most commonly used resources in almost all workplaces. Think about how you could reduce paper waste in your personal workplace practices.

Can you think of other workplace resources that could be used more efficiently?

Common resources that are used in animal care workplaces include, but are not limited to:

• animal shampoo
• animal food
• kitty litter
• medications for animals
• flea and tick control products
• disinfectants and antiseptics
• printer ink and cartridges
• paper towel
• washing up liquids and other cleaning products
• bandaging materials and other single-use disposables
• clipper blades, scissors, combs and brushes
• bags for customer purchases
• poo bags.

Ask yourself some questions such as:

• How often do you use the above resources?
• Could the resources be replaced with recycled materials or environmentally sustainable resources?
• Could you change your work practices to reduce the use of materials and resources?

Once you have identified the resources you use in your work role you can then begin to work out your current usage to estimate the reduction that could occur if you changed some of your processes and procedures.

The following table outlines some common considerations for each of the five main areas of environmental sustainability.

Area of Sustainability	Considerations: Ask the Questions
Energy	Do you turn off your computer, machinery or other electrical equipment each night? Do you switch off lights as you leave a room?
Water	Do you use the half flush option on the toilet when applicable? Do you only run the dishwasher when it is full?
Transportation	How do you travel to work? Is there a more sustainable method available, such as walking, cycling or public transport?
Hazardous Materials	Do you follow workplace and legislative recommendations for the use and disposal of hazardous materials
Waste Management	Do you use single-use items such as paper towels, latex gloves, sanitising wipes? Are there any reusable options available? Do you recycle items such as paper and aluminium cans?

By being aware of your resource use and making even small improvements, you will make a difference and set a good example for others regarding environmental sustainability.

Environmental sustainability audits

Workplace environmental sustainability audits are larger versions of personal resource monitoring and can be conducted internally or externally. Audits may be preventative, as a means of improving operations, efficiency and safety, or reactionary as a result of an incident. Preventative audits are the best option as reactionary audits may be too late to avoid fines or legal consequences for the business. In this section of learning we will take a look at what internal and external audits are and how they relate to animal care roles.

Internal audits

Internal audits are often undertaken by a committee of workplace representatives or, if the business is large enough, by a specific department or person dedicated to environmental sustainability. During the internal audit process, environmental hazards and their associated risks should be identified and evaluated. The environmental sustainability audit process may be combined with a workplace, health and safety audit.

Internal audits often follow pre-determined checklists of things to inspect and monitor. For example:

Internal Sustainability Checklist	Yes (Y)	No (N)	Comments
Type of lighting equipment used is sustainable.
Lights left on in the workplace unnecessarily (after hours, weekends or public holidays)
Timing or motion control devices to limit the use of unnecessary lighting
Opportunities to increase the use of natural light (windows and skylights)
Computers and other electrical equipment are switched off at the wall each night
Check the energy efficiency rating of appliances like refrigerators, washing machines and dishwashers
Run full wash cycles only
Controls in place to minimise printer and toner use
Recycling programmes utilised for paper and toner cartridges
Low-flow taps/showerheads in use
Toilet systems feature dual flush systems
Recycled water or rainwater tanks used to supply water for hoses and other high water use appliances, like hydro-baths
Recycling bins available
Food waste tracker used to monitor and eliminate unnecessary food waste at facility
Rotation of stock
Expiry dates check and/or only long expiry dated stock accepted in orders

Let’s look at how Emily approaches this at work in the following case study.

Hei Mahi - Activity

Review the learning content about sustainability monitoring and compare it to Emily’s solutions. Can you think of any other suggestions for the new food storage policy? Make notes for your own reference.

If you are currently working (in any workplace, not just in animal care) download this worksheet and complete an internal audit for your work place. You might find some actions to improve on that you could share with your supervisor and colleagues.

Final Note on Internal Audits

There are many different factors that lead to food wastage in animal care facilities, including incorrect ordering levels, failure to rotate stock, poor storage techniques or the nature of the business.

The following are some easy ways to reduce wastage of food within animal care facilities:

• Use correct storage temperatures
• Ensure animals aren’t being overfed
• Correctly store leftover food to prevent pest infestations, moulds, spoiling or other damage
• Find an alternative supplier if their minimum order is too high for your facility
• Rotate stock and check expiry dates often
• Use an alternative product such as dry food instead of wet food or vice versa
• Donate excess stock to charities or give to staff with animals
• Discount stock that is close to expiry
• Label opened items with the date opened
• Store and seal leftover food in airtight containers
• Freeze and defrost food as needed.

External Audits

External audits are carried out by personnel that do not work in the same workplace. There are a variety of private external audit companies that provide preventative consulting services for workplaces. Your workplace may use such a company, in which case you may be required to participate in their audits. This may include being interviewed about your work practices or having someone observe you working for a period of time.

Outcomes of audits

Informal personal resource use monitoring may result in you identifying certain environmental hazards, risks, or inefficiencies. Part of your duty of care is to notify your supervisor and/or applicable environmental sustainability officer or team of these issues.

Reporting may be any or all of the following:

• Informal, such as a face-to-face conversation, telephone call or basic email.
• Formal, such as via a hazard identification or incident notification form, which may be paper-based or electronic. Another example of a formal method of reporting would be to add the issue to the agenda of the next formal staff meeting.

After a formal internal audit has been conducted by authorised staff members, a report is usually generated for management's consideration. The report will outline the results of the audit and provide recommendations for improvements.

Management will determine if any of the following is to occur:

• policy or procedural implementation or amendment
• repair existing equipment
• purchase new equipment or resources
• conduct training for staff.

Some changes may be initiated immediately. However, other changes may be phased in due to their complexity or cost. Remember, it is not necessarily the best option to replace products or equipment that have already been purchased just because they are not the most environmentally efficient option. Management may elect to wait until items run out or break down and need to be replaced before considering environmentally sustainable products or equipment.

Measuring and documenting resource usage

Measurement is a critical component of improving performance for most areas within an organisation. This is also prevalent in resource use and sustainability.

Common techniques for measuring resource usage may include examination of:

• invoices from suppliers to compare the volumes of orders and per-unit cost of a product or service examining data provided in utility bills, such as water and electricity bills.

Why measure and document resource usage?

Most environmental sustainability policies and procedures aim to get organisations to use their resources more efficiently, and as a result, create less waste. You will be able to determine how effective a policy or procedure is by measuring the resource usage of the facility.

The measurement of resource usage will also inform you of where to focus your efforts. In other words, if you find several areas where you can improve, you will want to find the most important couple of areas and focus on those first before starting on the others. By doing this you are increasing the chances of success for the improvements to environmental sustainability.

You can also use data and best practice information about your resource usage to understand how your facility compares to others. You can obtain information on best practices for resource usage from an environmental group or your industry body. For instance, you may have measured your facility’s resource usage and discovered that although there are some additional wastes that could be recycled, the electricity usage is much higher than the industry best practice. As such you may suggest some initiatives to reduce the usage of electricity before the waste reduction ones.

Calculations and formulas

When collecting data on resource usage, you will need to understand how to calculate the usage as well as the appropriate units of measurement. Let’s look at some common methods and examples for calculating the use of water and electricity (or energy).

Measuring Water Use

Water usage is measured in kilolitres (kL). 1 kL is 1 000 litres. Every residence and business place has a water meter that measures the amount of water that is used by the premises. To calculate water usage, you need to know how to read the water meter.

Watch - Mātakitaki: How to read your water meter and check for leaks (1:13 min

The following video is an easy guide to help you measure water use.

Three methods can be used when measuring water in the workplace.

Method 1: Water bill

Read your water bill. The water bill will tell you exactly how much water has been used within a specific period.

Method 2: Calculator tools

You can calculate your daily average water usage using an online calculator tool, such as those provided here: Water Calculator: What’s your water footprint? (smartwatermark.org).

For example, assume that your total water usage for a billing period of 30 days was 5.25 kL and you want to know what your average daily use is. Simply divide the total usage by the number of days in the billing period. Remember that 1 kL = 1 000 L!

Method 3: Meter measurements

First, read the water meter to calculate the volume of water used each day in the period you wish to calculate. You should read the meter at the same time each day during this period.

To document your measurements, it is best to create a table. You may wish to do this digitally or with pen and paper. Make sure to plan the number of columns and rows you will need and include appropriate headings and units.

The following table is an example of a record of water meter readings over a period of four days. The first day you record the reading is Day 0, because you can’t calculate the usage for this day. It just gives you a starting point for the measured usage.

Day	Time	Water Meter Reading (KL)
0	8 am	5250
1	8 am	5500
2	8 am	6012
3	8 am	6020
6	8 am	6040

Next, calculate the difference between consecutive days to get the total usage for the previous day. Then add all the daily usage amounts to calculate the total usage for the period. Examples of these calculations have been demonstrated in the following table, using the data collected in the previous table.

Day	Calculation	Total Daily Water Use
Day 1	(Day 1) – (Day 0) 5550 – 5250 kL	= 250kL
Day 2	(Day 2) – (Day 1) 6012 – 5550 kL	= 462 kL
Day 3	(Day 3) – (Day 2) 6020 – 6012 kL	= 8 kL
Day 4	(Day 4) – (Day 3) 6040 – 6020 kL	= 20 kL
	Total usage for this period	250 + 462 + 8 + 20 = 790 kL

Finally, now that you have the total water usage for the period, you can calculate the average daily usage using the same equation from Method 2.

While this method takes longer, it allows you to determine the days you are using the most amount of water. From these calculations, you can see that the most amount of water used was on day two.

Measuring Electricity

Electricity is measured in Watts (W). The equivalent three methods can be used to measure electricity as to measure water usage:

Method 1: Electricity bill

Reading your electricity bill. The electricity bill will tell you exactly how much electricity has been used within a specific time.

Method 2: Calculator tools and devices

Calculate the energy use or annual running cost of any appliance within the workplace using an online appliance electricity cost calculator. The electrical cost calculator allows you to work out how much electricity is being used by one appliance over a year.

You can also buy an appliance power meter. A power meter is a device that plugs into the wall socket and the appliance is then plugged into the power meter. The power meter measures the amount of electricity (energy) used by the appliance that is plugged in.

Method 3: Meter measurements

First, read the electricity meter to calculate the amount of energy used each day in the period you wish to calculate. You should read the meter at the same time each day during this period.

To document your measurements, create a table with the appropriate number of columns and rows. Don’t forget to include headings and units where necessary.

The following table is an example of a record of electricity meter readings over a period of four days. Remember that Day 0 is to work out the starting point for the measured usage.

Day	Time	Electrical Meter Reading (KL)
0	8 am	2500
1	8 am	3500
2	8 am	3750
3	8 am	4080
4	8 am	5000

Next, calculate the difference between consecutive days to get the total usage for the previous day. Then add all the daily usage amounts to calculate the total usage for the period. Examples of these calculations have been demonstrated in the following table, using the data collected in the previous table.

Day	Calculation	Total Daily Water Use
Day 1	(Day 1) – (Day 0) 3500 – 2500 W	= 1000 W
Day 2	(Day 2) – (Day 1) 3750 – 3500 W	= 250 W
Day 3	(Day 3) – (Day 2) 4080 – 3750 W	= 330 W
Day 4	(Day 4) – (Day 3) 5000 – 4080 W	= 920 W
	Total usage for this period	1000 + 250 + 330 + 920 = 2500 W

Finally, now that you have the total electrical usage for the period, you can calculate the average daily usage using the following formula.

As with calculating water usage, this method of measuring usage provides more detail around differences in usage across the period being looked at.

Measuring Finite Resource Usage

To measure water and energy usage, you measure the flow of the resource into the workplace as a whole or to a specific appliance. However, many resources are used in discrete units, such as reams of paper, cans of dog food or packets of kitty litter.

To measure the usage of these types of resources it can be easier to examine ordering invoices or record every time a new packet is opened.

For example, to calculate the average amount of paper used per person, per day you will want to find out the total amount of paper used during a certain period. You can do this by finding out how much paper is used over a period, say a month, and then dividing this number by the number of days in the period. This will give you the daily average usage of the resources. Then divide the daily average usage by the number of personnel who use that resource to calculate the average amount per person, per day. You can then use figures like these to compare work areas or compare efficiencies of different procedures.

Hei Mahi – Activity

Practice measuring electricity and water use by completing the activities in this worksheet. You can compare your answers with your classmates in the forum if you wish.

Methods for documenting the usage of resources

Sometimes reading and interpreting numerical information and data can be overwhelming. Presenting data and information in graphs and tables tends to make it much easier to understand. Graphs make it easy to see any trends that are present and have an easy way to show this data to others who may need to know. There may be specific systems that are in place within your workplace that is used to generate the data and present it in a readable format. It is up to senior staff and management to ensure their staff have been trained how to read and interpret these documents to ensure the team is across resource usage. The following images are some examples of how documentation of resources can be displayed.

Knowledge check

Complete the following questions.

What was covered?

Well done and kei runga noa atu - outstanding work on reaching the end of Module 2 on legislation in the animal care industry. The key pieces of legislation for the animal care workplace that you need to be aware of are:

• The Animal Welfare Act 1999
• The Animal Welfare (Care and Procedures) Regulations 2018
• Te Urewera Act 2014
• Code of Welfare for Companion Cats and Dogs
• Temporary Housing of Companion Animals

Also covered in this module because it is the essential legislation for any New Zealand workplace is:

• The Health and Safety at Work Act 2015

We then revisited the concept of workplace health and safety policy and procedures, as these are always informed by HSWA. As part of your health and safety training you also need to be aware of what the policy and procedures are for large scale emergencies.

The final topic that we looked at is sustainability in the animal care workplace. We didn’t do a deep dive into the legislation around sustainability in New Zealand (that would be an entire programme by itself!). However, we did look at the responsibilities that organisations and workers have to ensure that the sustainability requirements of the legislation are being met.

Hei Mahi – Activity

You have already summarised the two Codes of Welfare for Cats and Dogs. To add to these notes, download this worksheet to make notes on the Animal Welfare Act and Regulations to help you remember the key points of the legislation. You will be able to refer back to these when you have graduate the course!

If you have any questions about content in this module that you would like to ask your tutor or your class mates then post your questions in the Module 2 General Questions Forum.

What can you expect?

This assessment will be very similar in format to 01A1 in Module 1. It is based around scenarios that have short answer questions. The questions are designed to show that you can apply your knowledge in your own words*. So rather than reading each question and searching the learning content for a specific answer, the questions require to you to make connections between the learning content and the provided scenario and write a response that shows you understand what a worker in the animal care industry needs to know and do.

The goal for the first learning outcome of the assessment is for you to be able to: Explain regulatory requirements and relevant codes of practice for animal care and welfare in New Zealand.

• The assessment tasks will require you to explain the legislation and why it applies. The goal for the second learning outcome of the assessment is for you to be able to: Comply with the regulatory requirements and industry codes of practices relevant to an animal care and welfare setting.
• The assessment tasks will require you to decide what action would be expected of organisations and/or workers in the workplace to be compliant with the legislation. The best way for you to prepare for your assessments is to pay attention to the case studies, the activities and the discussion forum questions in the learning content because these offer you the opportunities to practice applying the learning content, rather than just trying to read everything and memorise it.

Aromatawai - Assessment Tips!

*NOTE: you will see the instruction ‘in your own words’ in some of the assessment tasks. This means that you must not copy the wording of the learning content or copy directly from a source like a legislation web page. We ask you to do this for two reasons:

1. There are legal consequences for directly copying from someone else’s work
2. Writing an explanation in your own words is the best way for you to prove that you understand the question and know how to answer it.

You may be asked to re-submit your assessment if the ‘in your own words’ part of the task is not met.

Finally, take your time answering the questions – there’s no need to hurry. It’s a good idea to write your answers, then put the assessment aside for an hour or a day or two. You’re more likely to notice mistakes or missing points when you have fresh eyes and a rested brain.

How will you be graded?

To pass this assessment you will need to get 80% of the questions correct. You will be able to attempt the assessment three (3) times if you do not achieve 80% on your first try.

Most of the questions have a word count – this does not mean your tutor will be counting every word you write in your assessment answers. It’s there as a guide to let you know how much to write. Your tutor will be looking at the details in your answer, not the number of words.

There’s no need to hurry through your assessment. Take your time!

Practice Questions

Scenario:

Kiara works at a boarding kennel that temporarily houses companion dogs. Recently, a dog named Riley was brought in for a two-week stay. Riley's owner informed Kiara that Riley has specific dietary needs and requires regular outdoor exercise to prevent anxiety. Kiara also notices that Riley’s bedding is soiled and needs to be replaced daily to ensure his comfort.

1. Identify one relevant New Zealand regulation or code of practice that Kiara should follow when caring for Riley. Explain in your own words why it applies to this situation. (50 words).

Priya’s assessment answer:

"The Animal Welfare Act 1999 requires owners of animals, and persons in charge of animals, to take all reasonable steps to ensure that the physical, health, and behavioural needs of the animals are met in accordance with both—(i) good practice; and (ii) scientific knowledge.

Mei’s assessment answer:

"Kiara should follow the Animal Welfare Act 1999 because it’s designed to protect animals from unnecessary suffering and to ensure they receive proper care. Since Riley is in her care, the Act applies to him and outlines Kiara's responsibilities to meet his needs, like providing food, water, and shelter. This regulation helps make sure Riley stays healthy and safe."

2. Explain in your own words one action Kiara should take to comply with the regulatory requirements for animal welfare in this scenario. (50 words)

Hemi’s assessment answer:

"To comply with the regulations, Kiara should make sure Riley has a clean and comfortable space to rest. This would include regularly changing his bedding and checking his area for any hazards that could harm him, which meets his need for a safe environment."

Sione’s assessment answer:

" 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 "

Scenario:

Eli manages a temporary cat shelter where cats are housed for up to a month. One cat, Bella, appears stressed in her enclosure, hiding and refusing to eat. Eli wants to improve Bella's environment and support her welfare needs according to the Code of Welfare for Companion Cats. He considers adjusting her enclosure space, ensuring access to hiding spots, and minimizing noise in her area.

1. Identify the specific New Zealand Code of Welfare that applies to Bella's situation. Describe in your own words one requirement from this code that Eli should follow. (50 words)

Maddison’s assessment answer:

"Caged cats must have sufficient room to enable them to stretch and move around freely and must be provided with appropriate areas for feeding and toileting. Caged cats must be provided with the opportunity to engage in play and exercise daily.

Manaia’s assessment answer:

"The Animal Welfare (Companion Cats) Code of Welfare 2007 is relevant to Bella’s care because it provides guidelines to make sure cats are looked after properly in shelter settings. One important requirement is that cats should have a comfortable place to rest with clean bedding and enough space to move around, which helps Bella feel safe and reduces her stress."

2. List in your own words two actions Eli could take to comply with the welfare requirements and help improve Bella’s wellbeing. (50 words)

Wiremu’s assessment answer:

" Eli could make sure Bella’s bedding is clean and changed regularly to keep her comfortable and free from germs. He could also set up a quiet area where she can feel safe, away from loud noises and distractions, which would help her relax and feel more at home."

Maka’s assessment answer:

"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."

Scenario:

While exploring in Te Urewera, Rangimarie, an animal care worker, finds a stray dog that appears injured. Given the location, Rangimarie knows that Te Urewera is a protected area under the Te Urewera Act 2014, and specific rules apply to animal welfare actions on this land. Rangimarie wants to help the dog but needs to be sure she complies with the legal requirements for this protected area.

1. Explain in your own words how the Te Urewera Act 2014 might influence Rangimarie’s response to finding the injured dog. (50 words)

Zara’s assessment answer:

"The Te Urewera Act 2014 recognizes Te Urewera as a living entity with its own rights, which means Rangimarie needs to respect the natural environment and carefully consider her actions. This Act would influence her to prioritize the wellbeing of Te Urewera itself, meaning she should only intervene with the injured dog in a way that doesn’t harm the area or disrupt the ecosystem."

Destiny’s assessment answer:

"Te Urewera is established as a legal entity with 'all the rights, powers, duties, and liabilities of a legal person' under the Te Urewera Act 2014. Te Urewera is to be preserved in its natural state. The indigenous ecological systems and biodiversity of Te Urewera are preserved, and introduced plants and animals are exterminated.”

Hei Mahi – Activity

Work placement Check-in 1

In the navigation panel on the left and underneath the link for assessment 02A1 you will see a link for WPE01. You will need to complete the document located here so that we can keep track of your work placement hours. The form will need to be completed even if you haven’t started your placement yet.

Please read the information provided in WPE01 and if you have any questions let your tutor know in the Module 2 General Questions forum.

You are now ready to complete and submit assessment 02A1. Good luck, and we are confident that you will do an amazing job on your submission. Ka pai temahi!