Christchurch shelters sending pets north

Helping You Help Animals spokeswoman Carolyn Press-Mckenzie and husband Jim Mckenzie. Photo / Sotheany Ream

Overflowing animal shelters in Christchurch are sending traumatised pets north in the hope of finding them new homes.

Since the first earthquake, last September, 47 cats, turtles and roosters have been sent to Wellington's Helping You Help Animals, and a further 21 dogs will join them this week.

All of them are family pets that became homeless or had to be given up because of the earthquakes, said spokeswoman Carolyn Press-McKenzie.

"Either the animal's fallen to pieces or the owner's fallen to pieces, or
both. It's so stressful," she said.

One dog, a German shepherd cross, lost its fur every time there was an aftershock because of anxiety, forcing the owner to send it out of the city.

The animals would be matched with new owners and could be sent anywhere in the North Island, said Press-McKenzie.

- Herald on Sunday