Hundreds of animals in northern Venezuela, living with their families in temporary displacement camps, are receiving vital veterinary treatment and care in the aftermath of the devastating earthquakes there. A disaster relief team from animal protection organization Humane World for Animals has helped treat more than 350 animals so far, mainly dogs and cats but also turtles, rabbits and birds. The organization is operating pop-up clinics within the four main displacement camps managed by the UN’s International Organization for Migration, integrating animal aid into the wider humanitarian response.
Humane World for Animals responders from Mexico, Costa Rica, and the US are providing care for animals at emergency camps such as the Polideportivo Stadium and the César Nieves Baseball Stadium in La Guaira, which together are housing more than 3,000 people, as well as at other formal and informal displacement sites where intake is ongoing. A field team is also operating from an out-of-service fast-food restaurant which has become a hub for community veterinary care since the disaster.
With people and animals living in close quarters in crowded displacement camps, providing animals with vaccinations, deworming and other preventive care is a primary focus to protect animal and community health. Veterinary teams are also treating a range of conditions, including skin and ear issues, wounds, fractures and other injuries.
Felipe Marquez, Humane World for Animals’ disaster response manager for Latin America, who is leading the deployment, said: “Most of the animals we are treating are being brought in by their families, although we are still seeing unclaimed animals found and brought to the clinics. It’s impossible to say whether the injuries and fracture cases we’re seeing were directly caused by the earthquakes or by subsequent vehicle accidents or something else, but every animal brought in is receiving care. We are also seeing more families bringing their animals back to the camps for treatment now that they know our veterinary team is here to help. These people have lost so much in these earthquakes, but it’s clear to see what huge comfort it brings them to know that their beloved animal companions are safe and looked after.”
Humane World for Animals responds to disasters around the world to assist animals and communities in need. Our team works to reduce animal suffering and foster community resilience before, during and after disasters. For example, we’ve stepped in to help animals affected by volcanic eruptions in Guatemala; earthquakes in Nepal, Ecuador, Mexico and Türkiye; deadly storms in India, Haiti, Costa Rica, South Africa, Mozambique and the United States; and wildfires in Australia and Chile; as well as helping refugees and their pets fleeing the war in Ukraine. We also invest in long-term preparedness, mitigation and recovery to better empower communities before disasters strike.
Download photos and b-roll of our Venezuela disaster response HERE
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Media interested to meet up with or interview our team about our emergency response efforts, contact Wendy Higgins, director of international media: whiggins@humaneworld.org