'Don't abandon us'
In the wake of a devastating earthquake, Best Friends is sending a team to Peru to determine how we can help the injured, hungry and homeless animals there.
(Click image to donate) A Best Friends team arrives in Peru today to assess the needs of displaced animals in the desperate aftermath of an earthquake that killed more than 500 people, injured hundreds more and left thousands homeless and hungry.
The three-member team will spend a week traveling to the hardest-hit areas to evaluate conditions and document the immediate and long-term needs for rescuing the animals, providing veterinary care, medicines, equipment and shelter.
Back at the sanctuary in Utah, Best Friends will review the assessment to determine how we can most effectively support the efforts of local organizations to ensure the safety and well-being of the animals.
"The whole situation there is very serious, and we want to get on the ground there as quickly as possible to see how we can help,” said Best Friends president Michael Mountain.
Reuters reported that more than 3,500 pets have been affected by the powerful earthquake, which struck August 15. Many are malnourished and suffering from fractured femurs, tibias, and skulls, according to a story on the news agency’s Latin American web site. “These animals are suffering greatly and they also need our help,” said veterinarian Francisco Cavero.
In addition, unconfirmed reports say that starving residents have been eating feral cats and perhaps their own companion cats. “We were surprised that when we inspected [the city of Pisco] we only found kittens and no adult cats,” said Shari Artadis, who is working alongside the Canadian Animal Assistance Team. CAAT is a group of veterinarians and vet techs providing medical care and humane education for needy animals worldwide.
Some survivors, driven by fear of the animals or by the thought they are competing with them for scarce food supplies, have talked about poisoning or shooting pets who are running loose.
Ms. Artadis and Celeste Mendoza, of the Peruvian Association for the Protection of Animals, will meet the Best Friends contingent when it arrives in Lima, according to Rich Crook, rapid response manager and team leader. He is accompanied by Aldo Wilson, a licensed Peruvian veterinarian who now works at the sanctuary, and photographer Molly Wald.
Ms. Mendoza has been working with the government to coordinate rescue work. Her group issued this statement in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake:
(Click image at right to donate) “The Ministry of Health has requested help for animals dying of hunger and thirst in the south. Many of them have been abandoned by their owners, stuck or trapped in the rubble. We need balanced food for dogs and cats, but the most important donation is financial, as we have to rent transportation to deliver donations and rescue workers to the disaster zones. Money is also needed to purchase medications, as there are many animal accident victims. Nobody is helping these animals, as they are not a priority. Don’t abandon us. We need your collaboration. The most humble can save a life.”
She and Ms. Artadis will take the Best Friends team to the hardest-hit areas – Pisco in particular – where they are tentatively scheduled to meet with the district Minister of Health, who will escort them through the devastation so that they can conduct the assessment.
Rich said he expects the team to return to the U.S. on September 15.
In addition to the Peruvian Association for the Protection of Animals and CAAT, other groups first on the scene were the Humanitarian Association for Animal Welfare and the Amazon Community Animal Rescue, Education & Safety, both based in Peru, as well as Animal Rescue New Orleans.
Currently, Best Friends is directly involved in active rescue efforts at the FLOCK cat sanctuary outside of Las Vegas and the Pets Alive shelter in Middletown, N.Y.
Written by Michael Rinker
Photos by cdellaflora@flickr.com