Beware of toxic shellfish on the Northland west coast
A warning has been issued not to collect or eat shellfish caught from the Northland west coast. This applies to the non-commercial (recreational and traditional) taking of shellfish only.
Ingesting shellfish with this toxic algae present will cause a range of symptoms from tingling around your face and hands, to vomiting, paralysis, respiratory failure and in severe cases, death.
Those affected can phone Healthline for advice on 0800 611 116 or seek medical attention immediately, ensuring you keep any remaining shellfish for testing.
The areas affected include Waipapakauri on 90 Mile Beach, south to Pouto Point on the northern head of the Kaipara Harbour as well as Herekino, Whangape and Hokianga Harbours.
The Ministry of Primary Industries are urging residents to spread the word and you can find more information at the link below.
⚠️ DOGS DIE IN HOT CARS. If you love them, don't leave them. ⚠️
It's a message we share time and time again, and this year, we're calling on you to help us spread that message further.
Did you know that calls to SPCA about dogs left inside hot cars made up a whopping 11% of all welfare calls last summer? This is a completely preventable issue, and one which is causing hundreds of dogs (often loved pets) to suffer.
Here are some quick facts to share with the dog owners in your life:
👉 The temperature inside a car can heat to over 50°C in less than 15 minutes.
👉 Parking in the shade and cracking windows does little to help on a warm day. Dogs rely on panting to keep cool, which they can't do in a hot car.
👉 This puts dogs at a high risk of heatstroke - a serious condition for dogs, with a mortality rate between 39%-50%.
👉 It is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act to leave a dog in a hot vehicle if they are showing signs of heat stress. You can be fined, and prosecuted.
SPCA has created downloadable resources to help you spread the message even further. Posters, a flyer, and a social media tile can be downloaded from our website here: www.spca.nz...
We encourage you to use these - and ask your local businesses to display the posters if they can. Flyers can be kept in your car and handed out as needed.
This is a community problem, and one we cannot solve alone. Help us to prevent more tragedies this summer by sharing this post.
On behalf of the animals - thank you ❤️
Worst Xmas ever?
There's a a lot of planning that goes into Christmas day and sometimes things just don't go to plan. But it can be a good thing - a family mishap or hilarious memory that you can laugh about in Christmases to come.
Whether you burnt the dinner or were stranded at an airport...
Share your Christmas mishaps below!