Pet Life Magazine, New Zealand Pet Life Magazine Issue 6 Autumn 2018 | Page 5

that having a pet can lower blood pressure and is a wonderful antidote for anxiety and depression.” This is now being recognised by the New Zealand Government. Housing Minister Phil Twyford announced at the end of last year that there was a role for pets in improving quality of life for Housing NZ tenants, and proposed changes to tenancy laws this year include respecting a tenant’s right to own a pet. “We have been part of the discussions,” say Deb and Grace. “We think it’s pretty exciting!” ARK Pet Programme ARK specialises in pe t-friendly lettings for responsible pet owners. Quite simply, there is less choice for tenan ts that own pets. • 67% of New Zealand ers are pet owners. • Currently, only 13% of landlords allow pe ts as tenants to reside at their rental properties. ARK has created a pro cess that officially ce rtifies the suitability of a pet to live in a rental home . This is called the ‘ARK Pet CV © ’. AR K presents responsibl e pet owners that have completed the ARK Pet CV © and who have been thoroughly checked and verified. ARK give landlords “th e reasons to say YES to responsible pet owners”. As part of the ARK pet progra mme: • carpets are profes sionally cleaned, annu ally, at no cost to the landlords ARK is proud to be partnered with Paw Justice, and donate 10% of all Pet CV sales to the organisation. ers Craig ce found ce Gray with Paw Justi Deb Meleisea and Gra mpbell. Dunn and Shaughan Ca Waata the Weta: Can He Find The Perfect Home? Author: Jo Carson Barr (RRP $15 NZD) Illustrator: Simon Barr Waata the Weta is different from the other weta, he has ginger dreadlocks and seems fearless. After an encounter with the ginger haired boy he decides he does not want to live in the dark and scare people any more, he wants adventures and fun in the sun. So he sets off to find the perfect home. He has many adventures along the way, including coming face to face with Banjo the Jack Russell and the chooks in the chook house. He has lots of ‘oh nooo” moments until eventually he arrives to the place he thinks will be the perfect home ... but will it be? • two additional pet ins pections of the prope rty are conducted each year (this is on top of the regular three-monthly prope rty inspections) • all tenants are stron gly recommended to have contents insurance, and provide annual po licy renewal information. Paw Justice has zero tolerance for animal abuse. It is dedicated to ensuring animal abuse, neglect and suffering is reduced and/or eradicated through raising public awareness, action, education, and advocacy. They want to see those who commit animal abuse punished appropriately. Paw Justice wants to give you and your pets a voice. WIN! Email [email protected] with Waata in the subject line and include your name and address to be in the draw. Pet Life has one copy of Waata the Weta: Can He Find The Per- fect Home? to give away. Competition closes 31 May 2018, with winners details published in our winter issue.