Now that we are settled in Palmy, our next priority was to adopt a dog. And we found a perfect little New Zealand puppy. Meet Poppy – an 8-week-old Pomeranian x Cavalier King Charles Spaniel mix. She weighs just 1.1 kg (2.4 lbs) and was the smallest in the litter. We love an underdog. Adorably, she has one blue eye and one brown eye. And we love her black and grey coat.
Most of you know, we lost our beloved Ruthie in May of 2024. It took a very long time to get over the loss and we still miss her so very much. Her urn even made the journey to New Zealand. But life is just so much better with a pup!
Instead of adopting another dog in Mississippi, we decided to wait until we moved. It is very difficult and expensive to bring a dog to New Zealand. They have a strict quarantine protocol to try to control what comes into the island country.
Dog ownership is a bit different in New Zealand. We are required to register Poppy with the city council and renew the registration yearly. The law does not require that dogs be de-sexed, but it is highly encouraged and the council charges a higher registration fee for “entire dogs.” Also, microchips are mandatory.
Because she is new to us, we took Poppy to the local veterinarian to get a check-up and more information on vaccinations, de-wormers, etc. Surprise – there is no rabies in New Zealand, so no need for that vaccine. The vet checked Poppy out and answered all of our very-American questions. They were so kind and did not even charge for the visit. The vet advised to just “pop in” next week and they can weigh her and see if she needs a de-wormer tablet. Oh, and the tablets are free!
People here genuinely care about dogs. There are several dog parks in the city – even some with agility equipment to test her skills! Dogs are welcome in stores, restaurants, and are generally well-behaved. We can’t wait for Poppy to get a little older and start joining us on outings.
So for now, we get to enjoy snuggles and puppy breath. We are so happy to have a dog again. Dogs really do make everything better. And now one member of our family is a born Kiwi!
I love this so much. If I was there I’d dog sit while y’all travel. She’s precious! I know she will be spoiled rotten, as she should be! ❤️
That’s one adorable puppy! I’ve been thinking about yall and how both of yall was fairing over there. I miss you both and congratulations to the new family member!!!! She’s adorable!