relocating pets

[selchie]

Originally Posted by moggy

an awful lot of walks and trails do not allow dogs, so they may not get to see as much of the countryside as you would like.
tbh we hardly saw any dogs at all there, there is a definitely a different attitude towards dogs

From what I hear, a big part of the restriction on dogs on trails & running loose is to protect the native animal population. I can't recall seeing any dogs during either of our visits to NZ, even in town. Can't say I missed the droppings on the sidewalk!

[saraian]

I agree Selchie it is horrible to see so many dirty streets, we have a major problem with this in the UK. Where I come from if your dog is found in a farmers field, it will be shot!, same in NZ. Can't blame the farmer for that, they have to protect their livestock. You also have a responsibility for the beautiful native animals that live in NZ, letting your dog run riot would not be acceptable. You also have to have them registered.

We have a contact in Oamaru south Island and she has had no problems with taking her two dogs to NZ. The walks are lovely and the weather down there she finds, is better for them.

IF you are a responsible dog owner and IF you take notice of all the regulations, taking your pet to NZ is no problem.

At least the Kiwi attitude about dogs seems to be healthier than here in the states. Dogs, guns & cars are so often used as extensions of a person's... well, ego. On the flip side, we used to have a neighbor - big Norsky fellow - who loved his pomeranian, Otis. But then, if Big Dale had balls as big as Otis' attitude, he had nothing to worry about. Great family, great dog.

Originally Posted by clairebear

Has anyone had any experience of this?

Hi,

we brought our dog with us when we emigrated. We just couldn't part with her - she was/is one of the family. Sure, it cost a bomb, but it was worth it. We sent her down a week after us so that we had time to settle in and get a rental house sorted. Unfortunately, when we went to pick her up from the cargo hold we were told we couldn't have her because Quantas had lost the paperwork. The next day when we did get her was a fantastic moment ! You can picture it - can't you ?

However, she simply hated the sight of her travel box after that. She used to skirt around it as if it would grab her at any moment. We decided we would ceremoniously smash it up in front of her. She seemed to enjoy the moment and sniffed it for ages afterwards - the closest she had got to it since being inside it. We later used it to fuel the log-burner ! (don't do that - they fetch a good price here !). But, she still has a thing about boxes. We bought a (huge) dog travel box for her. She hates it. So, now we have to let her bounce about in the back of the wagon - but at least she's happy ;-)

NZ is great for dogs. Sure, there may be some no-go areas - just like anywhere really - and some dog-run areas are seasonal, certain beach areas for example, but on the whole you can find somewhere to let your dog have a run. Watch out for 1080 signs though - it's a poison that is put down to cull possums. Don't let your dogs swim in areas where this has recently been used either - just in case.

There are lots of dogs and dog-lovers here. Take your dog out and you will meet them. Be careful though about keeping your dog under close control. A number dog attack cases have been in the recent news and the public are extremely wary about loose dogs - for good reason.

The cost of dog licenses is pretty steep here. If I am right, it's about $90 per year for a 'non-doctored' dog. If you have a spayed bitch then you get a $50 discount. I don't know about neutered dogs. Chipping is a requirement to bring the dog in, but they don't seem to be into it here. Our dog is chipped, but the vets we have used so far have not shown any interest in this - I don't suppose the dog register is global. You do not receive a license discount for this either.

As mentioned in a previous post, dogs will be shot if they cause any disturbance near livestock. A dog here, especially in rural areas, is a worker and protector. I have also heard of dogs that have strayed too far into the bush, and have come across hunters, also being shot. I guess the attitude amongst hunters is that a loose dog is just a nuisance. It's a very different outlook, perhaps a hard one to come to terms with, but that's how it is.

Hope this info helps.

Thanks for the post beenAwhile (ok, got to ask, been a while since what??.....)
Lots of useful info in there that will be of help to dog lovers who are bringing their pets ::):
Glad to hear your dog has recovered from her experience!
We saw a piece on the news the other night about some dogs that had been shot and killed after inadvertently straying onto a farmers land - he was well within his rights to do so, but it seemed a bit harsh.... Still, them's the rules, so dog owners Beware - know where your dog is at all times.