Desexing and microchipping
Desexing your pet
We advocate for responsible pet ownership. One of the very first things you should do as a new pet owner is to get your animal desexed.
Uncontrolled breeding, particularly among cats, has been a real problem on the island. It is cruel for a litter of kittens to be born into a life of scavenging for food and warmth without the comfort and companionship offered by a loving home.
Stray and feral cats also represent a threat to the island’s native birds and wildlife. While these cats are a nuisance to local residents, they are a life-threatening hazard to native fauna and can damage the local environment.
Get your pets desexed as a priority.
Microchipping your pet
A tiny microchip (about the size of a grain of rice) is inserted under your pet’s skin, usually at the back of the neck. This gives your pet their own unique code. Once in place, it can’t be seen but can be read by a scanner. Your pet can’t feel the microchip and it shouldn’t cause any problems.
Register the microchip
You must register the microchip and your pet’s details with the NZ Companion Animals register. This means your pet can be indentified if its microchip is scanned.
The success rate of finding the owner of a lost pet with a microchip is very high.
Keep your details up to date
If you move house or change your phone number you must make sure you update these details on the NZ Companion Animals register.
Our microchipping and desexing programmes
Free microchipping
We can microchip and register your pet for free through a grant from the Companion Animal Trust.
We can also update your pet’s details on the register for free, and our animal advocate can microchip your cat in the comfort of their own home.
Email or call our animal advocate to book an appointment.
Desexing
We understand that some pet owners cannot cover the full costs to desex pets.
Part of our commitment to the Waiheke community is to help every pet owner be responsible.
Get in touch If you genuinely cannot afford to get your pet desexed or microchipped. We can offer financial help on a case-by-case basis.
Keep an eye on our Facebook page for free desexing promotions.