Search For Lost Quake Pets

[samoyedman]

http://www.smh.com.au/environment/animals/...0224-1b6kk.html

Cats are hiding scared in safe places after the Christchurch earthquake, lost dogs are desperately seeking human affection, while their devastated owners take to the internet to find them.

That's the view of Kim Buchanan, the founder of petsonthenet.co.nz, New Zealand's national database for lost and found animals.

She said about 60 or 70 pets had been reported lost since the 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck on Tuesday, but she expects many more pet owners to get in contact, as communications are re-established.

The loss of a beloved pet has the potential to compound an already difficult situation for earthquake survivors, Ms Buchanan said.

"One lady told me that she had people missing, she's only just found her brother this morning, and on top of all that their pet was missing.

"It's just so awfully sad and I'm worrying too about the pets for whom no one will ever come home; they will never come home, and I find that really sad."

She said dogs and cats reacted very differently to frightening situations.

"[Cats] tend to just go to ground, some come home straight away, but it means it could be a few days before cats pop their heads back up; they go to a safe place, whereas dogs tend to run away.

"They just run around and find a human."

Pet owners in the city are also looking for their animals by more traditional means, she said.

"A lot of people are doing the right thing just beating the streets, they're out there knocking on doors, they're putting posters up.

"Those methods are working well, so there's all these wonderful technical ways, but at the end of the day it's talking to people, getting the word out, walking the streets."

Ms Buchanan said that even sightings of pets or the discovery of dead animals should be reported to the website for the information of pet owners.

The RNZSPCA is directing anyone concerned about a pet, or who has found an animal, to visit the free community website.

Bob Kerridge, the national president of the RNZSPCA, said a rescue team was established in the city to treat hurt pets, find homes for lost or abandoned animals and to provide food and and veterinary assistance.

Staff and animals at the Canterbury shelter were all OK and it is up and running, and Mr Kerridge was hoping a dedicated rescue helpline could be set up.

No official figures are yet available on how many animals have been injured or lost.

Some animals at the Orana Wildlife Park, about 30 kilometres from the epicentre of the earthquake, were also visibly distressed, particularly the giraffes.

"Some of them ran around a little bit, but, once the earthquake was over, they spent the rest of the day staring at the house," the park's animal collection manager Ian Adams said.

They stood with their necks erect for the rest of the day and refused to eat during a public feeding in the afternoon, but later accepted pellets from keepers, he said.

The black and white ruffled and ringtailed lemurs and spider monkeys all let out distress calls, while the tigers, lions and cheetahs stayed calm in their enclosures.

"All of the big cats were just sleeping and cruising around."

A spokesman for Federated Farmers of New Zealand said there were no reports of injured livestock and most farmers still had access to power and water.