Chinchilla News

Students at Marshall Elementary School got a special visit on Tuesday, June 4, when a petting zoo from Animal Encounters was placed temporarily on their front lawn.

We have the world's largest dog and cat populations, and pets outnumber people by 28 million.

The pet boarding facility is the biggest of its kind in the South Island and owner Tim Harrison said the lodge had experienced a spike in demand of about 50 per cent since the earthquakes.

PETS OR PESTS: Long time chinchilla owner Tania Brooks with two of her three chinchillas, which she has permits for.

The background photo on the phones of Kimberly Nelson and Mark Johnson is their "little blue girl.'

Cuddly though they may appear, Chinchillas are considered an unwelcome pest in Southland and can't be kept as pets or for breeding in our region without a permit.

A new, homegrown veterinary clinic is coming to Cedar Grove. Local veterinarian Dr. David Wellington is the principal figure behind the Well Pet Animal Hospital, a full-service state-of-the-art facility expected to open its doors this summer to serve the needs of township pets.

While they don't live as long as their cat and canine counterparts, guinea pigs, rats and chinchillas can all make for fun family companions.