Dogs have been used for science in NZ in a variety of ways, including both non-harmful and cruel/invasive methods.

We've discovered evidence of dogs in NZ being used to:

• Test insecticides, pesticides and other toxins.
• Try and model human disease and other human conditions. 
• Measure the safety of food and ingredients. 
• Test what pain relief is most effective. 
• Research disease detection.
• Research nutrition and how it affects biological functions and food preferences.
• Test the effectiveness of new, possible treatments for skin infections.
• Research performance, nutrition and underlying causes of disease in working dogs. These animals are seen as a vital part of the animal agriculture sector (in 2009, there were 150,000 working dogs in NZ).
• Research fitness and training regimes in police dogs. Police dogs have also been used to train dog handlers. 
• Teach vet and vet nurse students basic concepts like animal handling and basic clinical/husbandry skills. Dog cadavers are also used to teach vet students, and some dogs already scheduled to be euthanised by council pounds, are euthanised by vet and vet nurse students as part of their training.

Places that use dogs for science in NZ include private companies, universities, and polytechnics.

Dogs used for science in NZ are sourced from breeding facilities, farms, city council pounds and other public sources.*

*According to the Ministry for Primary Industries, public sources include: Public donations, animals obtained from a pound, a pet shop or other public sources. This includes companion animals who are used for the duration of the exercise (e.g. veterinary nurse training).

Discover real-life examples of how dogs have been used in NZ below!