SPCA Pet of the Day: Meet Marge
Meet Marge, who was once a stray.
"I am a very talkative girl who is always up for a chat with my special human. I have a lot to say, especially when you pat me! I'm also very affectionate, with a particular affinity for head butts, pats, and being picked up. Being slow and steady in your interactions with me is really important, as I can get nervous and unsettled when approached too quickly or intensely.
I'm not your typical lap cat during the day, but at night I want nothing more than to be by your side, whether that's sleeping on you or near you. I love bean bags, and temptation treats (in moderation of course!). I'm not always down to play, but when I'm in the mood, I love ping pong balls and stringy toys!
I'm looking for a quiet home with indoor/outdoor access, and that gives me space and independence when I need it. I would prefer a home without other animals or children as my mood can sometimes change quickly if I feel threatened or am unsure of my surroundings."
⚠️ DOGS DIE IN HOT CARS. If you love them, don't leave them. ⚠️
It's a message we share time and time again, and this year, we're calling on you to help us spread that message further.
Did you know that calls to SPCA about dogs left inside hot cars made up a whopping 11% of all welfare calls last summer? This is a completely preventable issue, and one which is causing hundreds of dogs (often loved pets) to suffer.
Here are some quick facts to share with the dog owners in your life:
👉 The temperature inside a car can heat to over 50°C in less than 15 minutes.
👉 Parking in the shade and cracking windows does little to help on a warm day. Dogs rely on panting to keep cool, which they can't do in a hot car.
👉 This puts dogs at a high risk of heatstroke - a serious condition for dogs, with a mortality rate between 39%-50%.
👉 It is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act to leave a dog in a hot vehicle if they are showing signs of heat stress. You can be fined, and prosecuted.
SPCA has created downloadable resources to help you spread the message even further. Posters, a flyer, and a social media tile can be downloaded from our website here: www.spca.nz...
We encourage you to use these - and ask your local businesses to display the posters if they can. Flyers can be kept in your car and handed out as needed.
This is a community problem, and one we cannot solve alone. Help us to prevent more tragedies this summer by sharing this post.
On behalf of the animals - thank you ❤️
Fair play
Whether it’s a playhouse, she shed or teenager’s sleepout, a stencil-painted floor in Resene Clockwork Orange will elevate it from meh to wow. Find out how to create your own with these easy step by step instructions.
Would you like a free copy of our February 2025 issue?
Kia ora neighbours. We give away free copies to readers whose recipes are used in our magazine. We're still on the hunt for tomato recipes, so send your family's favourite way to use up your homegrown harvest, to: mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz. If we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of the mag