Hundreds of terrified animals have been affected by the Canterbury earthquake, and the SPCA is warning pet owners not to panic.
The magnitude 7.1 earthquake hit at 4.35am yesterday, causing billions of dollars of building and infrastructure damage, and cutting water and power.
Geoff Sutton, centre manager at the Canterbury SPCA, said they had received a number of calls today, which were escalating.
"The reason we're getting an increase is because yesterday we weren't able to take those calls. We've brought staff back on today who are now in a position to try and help and start the next phase."
Two staff had been flat out taking calls since 10am.
"Lost and found wasn't our priority yesterday. Today and from here on, it starts to become that," Mr Sutton said.
"The important thing is we are asking people not to panic 24 hours or 48 hours after a pet goes missing as it may well come home.
"Whilst we acknowledge fully that animals are part of the family and there is a lot of emotion involved with trying to find them, the reality is that they may come home again."
It was impossible for the SPCA to be out on the street looking for lost pets.
"It would be fruitless and costly, and would have little effect. Clearly the best people to do that are the owners who are already in the neighbourhood where their pets are missing.
"We don't have the resources to be out looking for lost animals. We can log the loss, once it's deemed appropriate to do so, and log the found animals, and use a computer to match them up using Track-A-Pet," Mr Sutton said.
Those people forced to evacuate with animals (cats and dogs) should first take them to Christchurch City Council Animal Control, in Bromley, before they went to the welfare centre.
Cats should be contained in a cage and dogs on a lead. Animal Control will then log the details and care for them or arrange for their care.
Stray dogs should be reported to Christchurch City Council Animal Control, and anyone who found a stray cat, provided it was not injured, should leave it alone and not feed it.
If the cat is still around in a few days it should be taken to the SPCA in Hornby. Emergency animal welfare incidents can be reported on 03 366 3886.
Anyone who had lost an animal for more than 24 hours should call SPCA Track-A-Pet on 0900 56 787.
NZPA