Responsible pet management
Fluffy cats and loyal dogs are wonderful pets and great companions! We, like you, are cat and dog lovers! We also love our native biodiversity. Loss of biodiversity is one of the greatest threats we face. Without biodiversity, the world's ecosystems do not function as well. If you are a cat or dog owner like us - then you have the power to influence and help restore biodiversity in a few simple steps. Sadly, our pets are also a significant danger to our native wildlife.
Burrow nesting seabirds, like little blue penguins / kororā and grey-faced petrels / ōi are breeding on the Karioi coastline all year round. They come ashore at dusk and spend their nights on land in burrows during the breeding season, nesting and raising cute fluffy chicks! Seabirds are irresistible to our pets - because they smell so pungent and fishy! It's like 10 cans of sardines all stuffed into one burrow - phew imagine that! And dogs love to chase and dig - not a good combo with vulnerable seabirds or little blue penguins waddling up the beach.
So many people in our community tell us how much they love hearing the birds back on Karioi and in their own backyards, thanks to the predator trapping that’s been done. We’ve been seeing kākā, bellbirds, tomtits, shining cuckoos, grey warblers, falcons, fantails, silvereyes, tūī and kererū as well as bats, lizards and many other invertebrates
So here’s the catch - responsible pet ownership is just as important as predator control!
Safe pets = safe wildlife!
Yes! - We - like you - want our native species to survive, and thrive. Safer pets mean fewer roaming dogs and cats, and well-fed, happy pets tucked away at night.
Sadly, the current situation is that “in our cities, birds do not breed fast enough to stop their decline caused by domestic cats”, according to Predator Free NZ. Cats can annihilate an entire breeding colony in just one week. Contrary to popular belief, cats rarely bring their catch back to their owners. If your cat does not appear to hunt, it can still roam a radius of 5 km in one night, so keeping cats inside - especially at night is a great way to help native birds.
And dogs? Dogs like all pets need to be kept under control and on a leash in reserves and around sensitive habitats. Some signs around the beach and coastal reserves have been erected to remind people to keep their dogs under control and on a leash to stop them from interfering with sensitive breeding grounds.
So what can you do?
Keep your cats inside – especially during hunting hours at night from dinnertime until breakfast!
Keep your cat stimulated indoors so it doesn’t feel the need to relieve its boredom outside!
Microchip your cat, a cheap, simple process available at Anexa Vet Clinic.
Put a bright “collar” or bell on your cat to scare birds away when your cat approaches. Check out the options available at Anexa Vet Clinic.
Keep your dogs on a leash around beach reserves and seabird habitats (see map below)
