If you’re welcoming a furry friend to your family this summer, adjusting your lifestyle can be as much of a journey as choosing the right name for them.
In Waimakariri, ‘Bella’ outranks any other as the most popular name for dogs in 2024.
There are more than 170 dogs registered to the Waimakariri District Council named Bella, followed by Poppy (160), Charlie (143), Molly (136) and Ruby (134).
These align closely with the national list from the New Zealand Companion Animal Register that revealed New Zealand’s top five dog names for 2024 are Luna, Bella, Poppy, Daisy and Charlie.
Whatever name you choose for your new pup, they won’t mind if they’re well-loved and looked after. To help dog owners this summer, we’ve compiled a short list of things to be mindful of during the holiday season.
Chocolate isn’t for dogs
If you have chocolate wrapped as a Christmas present for a loved one, make sure you keep it well away from any dog that could sniff it out. Chocolate can be toxic to dogs and, if eaten, can cause an increase in heart rate, blood pressure, agitation, tremors, and seizures.
Here’s a short list of foods your furry friends should not eat and why.
Keep an eye out for toxic algae
Summer is when toxic algae starts appearing in our waterways. Our canine friends are most at-risk of the harmful effects of toxic algae. The musty smell attracts dogs, and it only takes a small amount being ingested to have fatal consequences.
We will be sharing health warnings on our website and putting signage up when there is presence of toxic algae at any of our hot spots – there are warnings already in place for the Ashley Gorge Bridge and Pegasus Lake, so please avoid these areas until the warnings are lifted.
More information about toxic algae can be found at ecan.govt.nz
Taking your dog to the beach
If you’re heading to any of our beaches along the Northern Pegasus Bay coastal strip, please be mindful of other beach users.
Dogs cannot stay within surf lifesaving patrol flag areas or within 50m of the flags, however, they can pass through provided they are on a short leash and under effective control.
To protect ecological values and bird habitats around the Ashley River/Rakahuri estuary and wetlands, dogs are not allowed in that area.
We updated our Northern Pegasus Bay Bylaw in 2024 and you can find more information on our beaches and estuary page.
Don’t let your dog’s paws get burnt
If the pavement or sand is too hot for you, it is too hot for your dog!
To check if the temperature is safe enough, place the back of your hand on the pavement or sand for five seconds. If it's too hot to keep your hand there then your dog shouldn't be out walking on it.
PetMD has some tips on what to watch for and what to do if you suspect your dog’s paws are in pain.
Arranging a dog-sitter
If you're leaving your dog with someone else over the holidays, make sure your dog-sitter can not only commit to taking them on regular walks but is available to stay with them overnight too.
Dogs can get lonely at night, so ensuring someone can stay with them at your place or have them at theirs means the dog is less likely to bark and whine or become restless.
If you can't find a reliable dog-sitter, it's best to get them booked into a boarding kennel as soon as possible.
Our services over Christmas
Our animal management team will be on holiday from Tuesday 24 December until Monday 6 January. Our after-hours service will still attend to all urgent jobs such as dog attacks, wandering stock, and lost dogs.
However, if a lost dog isn’t microchipped and/or registered, the dog will stay at our shelter until after the holidays. If you haven’t registered a dog yet or your contact details have changed, please get them sorted with us before Christmas.
Have a great summer with your dog, and if you do see a lost dog or wandering stock, you can call us any time on 0800 965 468.