NZ Among Leaders in Dog Ownership
If you read the local media or watch tv, you will have noticed a big increase in items regarding dogs. Seven Sharp on TV One is an example of this. And the reason has become obvious if still not obvious to many.
NZ is among those countries with the biggest number of dogs per human capita of in the world. And 35% of households in NZ own at least one companion dog. NZ is also one of those countries with more cats than dogs but dog ownership is catching up.
Stats show that NZ has 180 dogs per 1000 human population and of course most of these are pet owned. At the top in the world is the USA with 274 dogs per 1000 humans followed by Brazil 261, Romania 213, Hungary 211, Poland 203, Portugal 203 and Australia 201.
The most dogs in the world reside in China and the USA and both these countries have serious issues with dogs.
China (excluding HK) is estimated to be approaching 110 million dogs while USA has in excess of 95 million. Brazil comes in third with 55 million.
China has dog meat as part of higher-end meals at restaurants though the public generally do not eat dog meat for home cooking. The USA has many dogs unwanted and abandoned, dogs badly managed and cared for, dogs in shelter facilities, dogs euthanised.
Americans spend over 102 billion dollars annually on commercial dog and cat food. It is big business. What one gets from this stat is the over feeding of commercial dry food (kibble/biscuit) to dogs in the USA. This shortens the expected life span of dogs and their long term well being.
NZ currently has around 900,000 dogs with 15% unregistered. Forty percent of dogs here are pure breed and another 10% being "designer" breed.
While NZ is high in dog numbers per human capita, we are slow to progress in dog welfare and treatment. For instance, we still allow shock collars, "chaining" dogs for long periods, not making appropriate/recommended daily dog exercising compulsory for dog ownership, antiquated dog registration systems, chemicalised/fluoridated tap water given to dogs. Almost 4 years ago we did away with the docking of dog tails and ear cropping which was considerably behind many other countries.
Upper Hutt has the most dogs per human capita of any city or district within the Wellington region at around 6500 registered in 2022 with another 10-15% unregistered.
Poll: Do you mind when neighbours leave freebies on the street?
Some spare wood, used furniture or children's toys - do you mind when your neighbours leave goods on the street for others to make use of?
Share your thoughts in the comments and poll below.
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83.1% It's fine!
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15.1% It annoys me!
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1.8% Other - I'll share below
Bees and insects
The fruit trees are in blossom but where are the bees? A few bumblebees but nothing else?
We seem to have a crisis for some reason. I see in the UK where they actually keep records, 80% of butterflies are in decline, 42% of bees and hoverflies are also in decline since the 1980's, and in another survey all flying insects in the UK are down 60% between 2004 and 2021.Even earthworms in the UK are down 30% in 25 years. Perhaps we are the same? Anyway - no fruit on our trees this summer I guess.
ALEXANDER ROAD SPEED LIMIT
Alexander Road in Trentham-Wallaceville of which 50% separates a golf course from a military encampment enclosure and the rest has mostly high fenced off industrial and residential areas on both sides, should have a 70km speed restriction.
Only a short time ago the road had a 80lm restriction and was reduced to a pedestrian 50km much to the frustration of many. It has never been an accident prone stretch of road.
The several round-abouts ensure speed is reduced to 30-40km when these things occur.
I recently stayed a few days in Feilding - often given the title of the best town in NZ - and one of the lengthy main streets has a 70km speed restriction despite a predominance of unfenced residential properties on both sides.
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