CLINIC NEWS

March Newsletter 2015

For March and April, we are running a special promotion for cat microchipping with the price being reduced to $45! It's never too late to microchip your cat and ensure that if they should go missing, they've got the best possible chance of making it back to you.

Did you know that there is a 40% chance of a cat being returned to its owner if it goes missing? This is a very troubling statistic, especially considering there is a 95% chance that a missing dog will be returned to an owner, often as quickly as within the same day they went missing. The difference is that dogs must be registered and microchipped so when they do go missing and are brought into vet clinics or rescue centres, through the appropriate channels their owners details can be found. We receive calls about missing cats almost daily and its very disheartening to know that for many cats, they don't manage to find their way back to their families again.

Because of this, microchipping your feline friends is highly encouraged. Cats are unpredictable and for many, they're able to roam as far as they like and for whatever reason, can find themselves unable to get home. Often times they may be considered strays and sent off to rescue centres or some cats manage to get into garages, cars, and moving vans, ending up miles away from home. Collars can be helpful in identifying an owned cat but these can be removed leaving your cat with no way to be identified as owned or belonging to you.

The microchip itself is no bigger than a grain of rice that is implanted just underneath the skin between the shoulder blades. It's quick, the process similar to your pet having their annual vaccination, and can save you from a world of heartbreak. The chip has a unique code that is put in our clinic database and the New Zealand Animal Companion Registry along with your contact details. When an animal is found, it's routine for them to be scanned with a microchip scanner that will pick up the number and be entered into the database to bring up the corresponding contact information. This means that you can be notified as quickly as possible and be reunited with your furry friend.

Puppy Preschool

We are excited to announce that Puppy Preschool is back up and running! Puppy Preschool is a 4 week programme designed for puppies between 8-14 weeks old to help socialise the puppies and teach them basic commands, as well as to educate owners on all aspects of puppy care. Our first lot of classes is due to begin on Thursday 5th of March and will run from 7:30pm to 8:30pm by our vet nurse Eileen. The cost of the programme is $110 and includes plenty of hand outs and goodies for you to take home as well as a graduation pack when you and your puppy finish the course.

All the best,

The team at Whangaparaoa Vet Centre