#PDTurns5: Birthday Paws and Pet Parents

Pet parents across Aotearoa joined our #PDTurns5 birthday celebration, sharing bday stories and snaps that prove pets are whānau.

A cat and a dog wearing party hats sit beside a large, decorated birthday cake with one candle on top, ready to celebrate PDTurns5 with their Pet Parents in true Birthday Paws style.

When PD turned five in August, we didn’t just blow out candles – we kicked off a birthday competition to see how our community celebrates their pets. And wow, did you deliver.

Across social media, pet parents from all over Aotearoa filled our feeds with party hats, cheeky grins and birthday vibes galore. From puppies dressed to impress to cats striking their best runway poses, your #PDTurns5 entries proved once again why this community is the best.

In this article

Fur-tastic pet birthday entries that stole the show

All those birthday shenanigans reminded us of what it’s really about: celebrating pets as part of our whānau.

That’s why we’re so passionate about providing Soft Landings for pet parents across New Zealand. If you’re new here and curious about what that means, you can explore our plans below.

What would your pet say at their birthday pawty?

Turns out, if pets could grab the mic, they’d have plenty to say – at least according to their humans. Here’s a taste of the speeches we reckon would have brought the house down:

Some parents imagined pure comedy gold, like the pets who promised that all toys would be destroyed within five seconds flat. Others cut straight to the chase, like the cat who would simply declare, “No time for speeches, where’s the food?”

Not every imagined speech was chaos, though. Some revealed a softer side: one pup “admitting” that while he might look tough, he carries his toys like they’re his babies. And of course, food took centre stage – from chants of “food, food, food, oh wait – more food” to grateful nods about new toys and playtime with their humans.

And then there were the introverts of the furmily. One cat parent pictured their feline hiding under the table until the coast was clear – but not without reminding everyone to leave the presents behind.

Let’s see that pawty face

From fluffy divas sprawled across CD collections to birthday pups posing proudly with cakes bigger than their heads, every snap told a story of love, personality, and sometimes… a little bit of birthday chaos.

Choosing winners is tough, but choosing favourites was impossible.

Here are a handful of the photos that completely stole our hearts…

Cake, cuddles and chaos

We loved seeing how you celebrate your pets’ big days. Some of our favourite ideas included:

And one honest confession:

“Okay, between you and me, we don’t celebrate her birthday… she already thinks she’s the cat’s pyjamas! But she’s an SPCA rescue and we don’t know her real birthday, so we just spoil her randomly when we can.”

DJ booths and dance floors

One of our favourite parts?
Seeing the songs you imagined your pets would spin if they got behind the decks at their own birthday party. Some of the answers were paws-down brilliant:
Of course, a few official winners took home the prizes – and they were so well deserved. But honestly, we felt like the real winners because we got to know you and your pets better.

If we’ve put you in the mood to plan your pet’s big day, here’s some birthday inspo to get you started. From fun ways to spoil your furball to tips for keeping them safe when it’s pawty time, here are a few reads to spark ideas:

Not sure how many candles should go on your pet’s cake? If you’re not too sure about your dog’s exact age, our Dog Age Calculator can help you work it out in human years – handy for planning that pawty (or just satisfying your curiosity).

Wrapping up with pet insurance

Seeing your pets through your eyes reminded us exactly why PD exists: to provide Soft Landings and celebrate every member of your fur family.

And because every day with them matters, we’re here to help you protect those moments too.

For five years (and many more to come), our pet insurance plans have helped reduce the cost of unexpected vet visits. With us, you’ll get protection that puts your pup or kitten first, without costing you an arm and a paw.

And right now, you can fetch yourself 1 MONTH FREE* pet insurance when you buy a policy!

Click below and get a quote.