Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Let's not forget the animals in Haiti, too!

I was watching the evening news about Haiti and about how slow help has been for this disaster struck country.
Immediately, in my mind, I envisioned all the dogs and cats in Louisiana that were left and stranded by the Hurricane.  No one is talking about what is happening to the animals of Haiti.  Are they being eaten?  Where are they? 

I received another email from the same veterinarian about this exact subject and I am including it here:
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This is an article from the ASPCA's site-
Many have you have written and asked about
helping animals in Haiti.

--------------------------
Helping Animals in Haiti
--------------------------

With hearts and minds focused squarely on the devastating
earthquake that occurred in Haiti on January 12, the ASPCA
extends its full support to those organizations providing
humanitarian relief in the ravaged island nation. Soon, the
animal victims of this disaster will need help, too--that's
why the ASPCA has joined the Animal Relief Coalition for Haiti
(ARCH).

ARCH was created to address the needs of animals in Haiti in
this time of crisis. The coalition is headed by the International
Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and the World Society for the
Protection of Animals (WSPA), and in addition to the ASPCA,
consists of a number of animal welfare groups including American
Humane, Best Friends, the Humane Society of the United States
and Humane Society International.

The ASPCA has joined ARCH with the belief that partnering across
organizations is the most effective way to address the serious
and enormous problems facing animals in Haiti. There are an
estimated 5 million head of livestock in the country (mostly goats),
 a large stray dog population, and an untold number of companion
animals and native wildlife all adversely affected by the earthquake.

Currently, a team of experts in animal emergency response is staging
 in the Dominican Republic waiting to get into Haiti to begin work.
IFAW and WSPA have also begun to stock a mobile clinic with
vaccines, antibiotics, bandages, food and other supplies in
anticipation of bringing direct aid to animals.

The ASPCA has committed to providing logistical support to the
disaster responders from the U.S. In addition, the ASPCA stands
ready to deploy highly skilled and specially trained members of
our own Field Investigations and Response Team to the area.

As part of ARCH, the ASPCA urges you to donate directly towards
the animal welfare Haitian relief efforts by visiting IFAW or
WSPA. If you would like to contribute to these efforts, please
donate here:


https://www.wspa-usa.org/pages/3095_haiti_disaster_appeal_1_10_general.cfm

or here:

https://www.ifaw.org/ifaw_international/donate_now/haiti_earthquake.php#x




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I know that helping animals takes a back seat to helping children and people, but let us just no forget to give aid for animals.  They, too, have been devastated by this tragedy and deserve our help.

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