Aid for Haiti's Pets and Animals

(Animal Radio - Los Angeles Jan 28, 2010) Humanitarian aid continues to pour into the earthquake ravaged city of Port-au-Prince, Haiti and now animal protection organizations are joining in the relief effort. 

The first shipment of veterinary assistance landed in the Haitian capital this week from the Dominican Republic. 

A group of animal rescue organizations have formed ARCH - Animal Relief Coalition for Haiti.

One group, 'In Defense of Animals' Executive Director, Anand Ramanathan, said, “Many of the animals in Haiti were already in poor shape before the earthquake hit...our approach is twofold, deliver immediate relief to animals and ensure lasting progress in Haitian animal welfare.”  

With a dog population estimated at half a million, only 100,000 Haitian dogs have been vaccinated against rabies.  The island nation’s government lacks sufficient vaccines and medicine to protect farm animals against cholera or anthrax.  

Haiti’s Minister of Animal Production said, “We are now at high risk of disease, which is why it is so important to start a vaccination campaign as soon as possible.”   Plans for members of ARCH go beyond dealing with the tragedy in Port-au-Prince, they plan on setting up veterinary aid for animals in cooperation with the local government. 

Haitian’s Minister of Environment, Jean Marie Claude Germain, said, “We had not considered including animals in the plans we’re working up now, but after meeting the ARCH team, we can see that it would be good to do so.”

ARCH is led by the International Fund for Animal Welfare and the World Society for the Protection of Animals in partnership with over a dozen other animal protection organizations.

 

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