Latest fromPets & Animals
'I never meant to harm the Hobbit'
A wrangler at the centre of claims animals were mistreated during filming of The Hobbit stands by his allegations, but says he never intended to tarnish the movie.
Jackson to SPCA: ‘Nothing to hide’
Sir Peter Jackson says accusations of animal cruelty are distressing to dedicated staff.
Dogs raise hopes for paralysed humans
Scientists in Britain have found a way to get dogs with severe spinal injuries back on their feet in a discovery that raises hopes for paralysed humans.
Armed attack on pigeons planned
Armed with air rifles, silencers and night vision goggles, hunters will be staking out the Alexandra bridge over the next few weeks.
Pooch solves mystery
An Eketahuna woman is singing the praises of her english cocker spaniel Izzy after it sniffed out another dog that had been trapped for four days on a sheer cliff face.
Race to save orangutans
Over 300 people took part in an ape-themed "amazing race" around Auckland Zoo last night to raise money for the critically endangered orangutan.
A race for Orangutan
Over 300 people took part in an ape-themed "amazing race" around Auckland Zoo last night to raise money for the critically endangered orangutan.
Pet lambs stolen from school kids
Six much-loved pet lambs belonging to Wanganui school children were stolen at the weekend.
Tiritiri Matangi: Little piece of bird heaven
Spring is the perfect time to enjoy the conservation success story that is Tiritiri Matangi Island, finds Cate Foster.
Courts taking animal abuse lightly
Parliament provided a clear direction to the judiciary when it unanimously increased penalties for animal cruelty in 2010, writes Catriona MacLennan.
Quake-affected dog poisoned
A Christchurch dog owner who poisoned his quake-affected pet with insecticide after it attacked his grandson has been banned from owning animals for five years.
Website to get tails wagging
Animal-loving science students design network to bring pets and their owners together.
Rachel steals eggs (for a good cause)
Ditching the high heels for gumboots, Rachel Hunter spent a night creeping through the bush to bring a kiwi egg to Kiwi Encounter.
Albatrosses under increasing threat
Endangered albatrosses which nest in New Zealand are under increasing threat as they compete with commercial fishing operations in the same waters, University of Canterbury researcher Lorna Deppe says.
World's rarest whale sighted for first time
The world's rarest whale - the spade-toothed beaked whale - has been sighted for the first time, according to University of Auckland scientists.
Takahe released on Motutapu Island
Motutapu Island is fast becoming a safe haven for rare native birds with the release yesterday of nine takahe on to the pest-free land.
Animal cruelty
A family cat cut into pieces and a carabiner threaded through the neck of a dog are among the most inhumane treatment of animals on the SPCA's annual list of shame.