Newsletter Christmas 2023

On Saturday 16th December, the team attended the annual ECB Vets Christmas party and this year was a day full of exciting surprises planned by the three "Santas" - Katy, Sophie and Caitlin! Staff members arrived at the Postman's Leg pub in Glenfield to find themselves participating in a pub quiz and lots of games including bingo, balloon darts, finding "elf on the shelf" penguins hidden around the venue, beer pong, "Jingle Balls" (swinging a Christmas bauble between their legs into a cup which was tied around their waist) and many more. There was plenty of food and Christmas cheer to go around and the team had a well-deserved celebration after another huge work year. Thank you so much to the three Santas who put an amazing amount of effort into spoiling all the staff to an awesome day of fun!

Our opening hours over the holiday period are as follows:

Friday 22nd December: 8:00am - 7:00pm
Saturday 23rd December: 8:30am - 12:30pm
Sunday 24th December: CLOSED
Monday 25th December (Christmas Day): CLOSED
Tuesday 26th December (Boxing Day): CLOSED
Wednesday 27th December: 8:00am - 7:00pm
Thursday 28th December: 8:00am - 7:00pm
Friday 29th December: 8:00am - 7:00pm
Saturday 30th December: 8:30am - 12:30pm
Sunday 31st December: CLOSED
Monday 1st January 2024 (New Years Day): CLOSED
Tuesday 2nd January (Day after New Years Day): CLOSED
Wednesday 3rd January onwards: 8:00am - 7:00pm (open as normal)

If your pet has any kind of emergency while our clinic is closed, please contact one of the following Emergency Clinics:

Animal Referral Centre (located at 224 Albany Highway, Schnapper Rock). Ph: 09 281 5815

North Shore Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care (located at 96b Ellice Road, Glenfield). Ph: 09 443 5640

Here are a few extra reminders from our team to keep your pets safe and well over the Christmas period and summertime:

• Keep chocolate, fruit cake, fruit mince pies, grapes, stone fruits, alcoholic desserts, cooked meat bones, and food containing onions and garlic well out of reach of pets to ensure they do not eat foods that could cause toxicity. If you suspect your pet has eaten something toxic, call a vet clinic or an Emergency Clinic immediately for advice.
• Keep Christmas decorations out of reach and make sure to pack away any small toys so that your pet doesn't ingest them as this could result in a gastrointestinal tract blockage which often requires emergency surgery.
• Try to schedule your dog's walk for earlier in the morning or in the evening/at night as the pavement can get very hot on a sunny day and can burn your dogs paw pads. A good test to check if the concrete is too hot is to press the back of your hand to the pavement and hold it there for seven seconds - if it's too hot for you, it's too hot for them!
• Make sure your pets have plenty of fresh, cool water available each day.

We have been informed that from January to June 2024, Auckland Council will be undertaking a cat control programme at Dacre Historic & Esplanade Reserve in Stillwater, Rodney, in order to protect the native Kuaka (bar-tailed godwits) birds that use this ridge for roosting and feeding. Each month during this period, no-harm, live-capture cage traps will be set up (away from residential areas) for 5 consecutive days to manage unowned cats threatening the wildlife. The Council has stated that every effort will be made to return any pet cats that may be caught back to their owners, and cats that seem owned but don't have an identifiable owner will be released at the edge of the park, but unowned cats will be rehomed where possible and those that can't will be humanely euthanised.
For clients who live in this area; to ensure that your cat is returned to you should they be captured, please read the following guidelines from the council:

• Have your cat microchipped and registered on the NZ Companion Animal Register (NZCAR).
• Check your cats existing microchip at your vet to make sure it is working and is registered on the NZCAR. Clients who have a pet registered on the NZCAR are able to log in and update contact details so make sure all of your details are current and up to date.
• Put a collar on your cat with your name and address or phone number on the tag. Make sure to choose a collar with a safety release latch and even better choose one with a bell or bright colours to keep native birds safe.
• Book your cat in to be de-sexed - this can stop them from wandering and helps to control stray cat numbers.
• Keep cats inside/within the property where possible. If you want your cat to go outside, consider creating a "catio" or investing in a cat-proof fence to keep them, and wildlife, safe.
• If you are going away, plan ahead where your cat will be staying or who will be looking after them.

We hope all of our clients (and pet friends) have an extra happy holiday season! Stay safe and we look forward to seeing you all in 2024!