Thank you for your concern about the animals affected by the disasters in Japan and our role in assisting them. How is this your opportunity to help right now? We know from experience that numerous animals are affected by this type of disaster, so we also know there is a need for financial and other resources to help those animals. Initiating the fundraising prior to the specific needs of the animals, shelters and communities being identified saves time and possibly lives. It will enable us to apply those funds immediately to the efforts to help animals in Japan, as soon as reputable organizations are officially invited in, appropriate local Japanese partners are identified, and specific plans are implemented to help the animals.
Why aren’t we in Japan right now? Due to the safety risks and the primary focus on saving people’s lives, the Japanese government has not yet allowed even Japanese organizations to begin large-scale animal rescue operations. However, discussions are currently ongoing between our international partner organizations and the appropriate governmental agencies to obtain invitations to deploy to the stricken areas with animal rescue teams. It is the policy of American Humane Association and other legitimate animal welfare organizations to not deploy without a formal invitation from the responsible government/agency. This policy is for the safety of the people who risk their lives to save people and animals in disaster situations, as well as for the safety of the human victims who are still awaiting help from rescuers. American Humane Association’s Red Star Animal Emergency Services teams are ready to deploy and have been on stand-by since the disaster occurred. They were in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake, and have extensive “boots on the ground” experience with this type of global relief effort.
Regarding the donations that are being received by American Humane Association, I can assure you that 100 percent of the donations received for Japan animal relief will go to helping the animal victims in Japan. That means American Humane Association will not even take a portion of donations to cover our actual administrative costs. Every single dollar raised goes to the animals in Japan. In the event that we are not able to deploy our Red Star Animal Emergency Services team to Japan to assist the animals directly, we will grant the funds we receive to the appropriate agencies that are providing animal emergency relief services in Japan.
American Humane Association’s Red Star Animal Emergency Services has been providing emergency relief for animals in disasters and other emergencies since 1916, including locations overseas. When the disaster in Japan occurred, we immediately began inquiring into how the animal victims could be helped. Our fundraising effort is a critical step in preparing to provide the vital support that Japan’s animal victims so desperately need. We share your sense of urgency, and are heartbroken over the tragedy. Thank you for your help and for your generous contributions in this time of need.
People in Japan are suffering -- and so are their animals.
You’ve heard the news reports. This morning an 8.9-magnitude earthquake and a powerful tsunami hit Japan. Hundreds have died, and more are missing or displaced.
We don’t yet know how many lives this disaster will affect, but we all know we want to help.
At American Humane Association, our thoughts and prayers are with the individuals, both human and animal, who are affected by this tragedy. Our Red Star Animal Emergency Services™ team -- which has a nearly century-long legacy of animal relief -- is closely monitoring the situation, and is reaching out to our international partners in an effort to provide a joint response to this global emergency.
We have set up a relief fund to help animal victims of this tragedy and other disasters. Your donation will help to provide shelter and care for the animals caught in this catastrophic event.
American Humane is part of the Animal Relief Coalition for Haiti (ARCH), a coalition of professional animal welfare organizations formed to provide emergency response services for animals affected by the tragic earthquake. American Humane has provided significant funding to ARCH, which is led by the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). Currently, our international coalition is preparing a mobile animal clinic and staff to perform outreach work in Haiti, with training provided by ARCH. Our coalition also will be assessing and assisting with the needs of animals belonging to people displaced by the disaster, as they move into temporary camps. Plans include providing food and clean water, as well as vaccinating companion animals against rabies.
Donate now to support our efforts to help animals in Haiti and future disasters.
Feb. 12 Update
Hundreds of Animals Treated
Approximately 20 ARCH team members have been in Haiti conducting assessment and rescue/relief work. As of early February, the coalition had treated more than 1,300 animals, including nearly 400 dogs and cats, with cases ranging from malnutrition, mange, fleas, ticks and worms, to tumor removals, wound sutures and other treatments. In the first stage of response, a top priority also was to visit the tent cities, where thousands of people and animals had been surviving with very few resources. The team has now also gone to more-rural areas and treated hundreds of farm animals, including goats, sheep, pigs and cows. Livestock received anthrax vaccine, all dogs and cats were given rabies vaccines. Animals received primary health care plus de-worming and vitamins. The coalition plans to remain in Haiti for an extended duration and work with the government to ensure that all ARCH funds are used appropriately.
Tracy Reis, American Humane’s Animal Emergency Services program manager, had been in Haiti for a week, tending to animals with the ARCH team. On Feb. 3, she completed her assignment there and traveled back to the U.S., heading directly to Marshall County, Miss., where she took part in a puppy mill seizure and the sheltering and transport of 95 rescued dogs. After the last dog was put on a plane bound for the ASPCA in New York and, ultimately, to a new home, Tracy finally returned home herself, for some well-deserved rest.
Update Reports
In the first weeks after our emergency response began, Debrah Schnackenberg, American Humane’s vice president of the Animal Protection Division and director of Animal Emergency Services, provided frequent updates on American Humane’s and ARCH’s efforts to help animals in Haiti.
Feb. 2
Outreach Work to Treat Animals Continues
An update on Dik the dog from yesterday’s blog: The good news is that the ARCH team and one of our local partner veterinarians made a visit back to Dik’s new home yesterday morning to give him a thorough veterinary exam and treat him. It’s clear that Dik took a battering in the collapse of his home -- he has back injuries, but they don’t appear to be severe. The exam showed how tender and sore he remains now, even weeks later. He received anti-inflammatory medication along with the other medical care the team has been delivering, and the report is that they think Dik will do well from here on out. What good news for a dog that has been through a lot!
Finishing Dik’s exam, the team headed out to revisit several of the tent cities where they had made appointments to meet the locals and provide veterinary care for their animals. In each location, people showed up seeking vaccinations, antibiotics, flea dusts and other medical care for their dogs, cats and assorted livestock. This effort has been so successful that the team on the ground and the new ARCH team members who are rotating in this week will continue this outreach work.
This short message from Tracy in Haiti came in to my email today, and I wanted to share it with all of you:
“We just treated a dog that was displaced [from her owner] by the quake, and another man is caring for her. He told us that when she looked at him, he knew she missed her owners. He [said he] felt bad because she was sad. He was taking good care of her, and what a wonderful heart he has [for her]. Had to swallow really hard when he told us that.”
We know that dogs in Haiti aren’t regarded as pets in quite the same way that most people regard them here in the States. It’s a different culture, and differences are to be expected. But the stories I continue to hear from Tracy and the ARCH team on the ground are of large groups of people showing up day after day, taking the trouble to bring the animals they have with them to receive the veterinary and first-aid care the team is making available to them. There are a lot of people in those tent cities who have lost everything -- but they still have animals with them and they are making efforts to ensure that they receive care. It’s these stories that make my day because it speaks as much about the resilience of the people as it does about their concern for animal care. They are survivors, all of them.
Feb. 1
Treating More Animals; Two Dogs’ Stories
It was an extremely busy weekend for Tracy and the ARCH team on the ground in Port-au-Prince. Friday morning was occupied with a meeting with a top official from the Haitian Ministry of Environment, and then Tracy and staff from IFAW and ASPCA deployed into some of the previously identified “high need” areas of the city. On a daily basis, the team has been assisting about 50 dogs a day, and some smaller numbers of cats and livestock, with antibiotics, vaccinations, flea baths and nutritional supplements. Tracy advised me last night that yesterday they had treated 44 dogs, 13 cats and 7 pigs and did a field suture on a dog that had been injured in a dogfight.
In the past couple of days, the team has been admitted into the tent cities where earthquake refugees are taking shelter until the threat of aftershocks subsides and they can begin the task of rebuilding. Admittance to the tent cities has required special permission, so we were glad we could get this accomplished at last. Yesterday morning was spent in one of the tent cities, where the team also worked on Saturday to continue vaccinating and providing field veterinary care for the animals there. While there, the team watched as the displaced locals scrambled to keep a food truck from leaving their area by climbing on the back of the moving truck. The desperation of the people in these camps is heartbreaking. Nevertheless, they are bringing their animals to the team every day for aid and assistance, and they are appreciative of our efforts.
But amid the sadness of the daily desperation of the people is the hopeful story of a dog named Dik. At the time of the earthquake, Dik was inside a building with a 7-year-old boy. Both were buried under rubble when the building collapsed. Rescuers worked hard to rescue both the boy and the dog. Sadly, the boy did not live. Dik the dog was also pulled free -- alive but injured. The ARCH team came across Dik on Saturday and learned about his story, and they have been working since then to bring a veterinarian to his location, so he can receive a full exam and care for his injuries. They hope to get Dik together with a local veterinarian today.
Finally, a “good news” story to share today. When a small, flea-ridden stray pup was found in a pile of roadside rubble, the team spent some time asking around to find out if he had an owner. Soon they discovered that a family in the nearby village claimed him as their own. The team treated the little guy for a leg injury, gave him a full vaccination and health regimen, and sent him home better off for the encounter. A good-news way to end a weekend’s worth of very hard work!
Jan. 29
American Humane Responder Begins Locating and Treating Animals in Haiti
Tracy Reis, American Humane’s Animal Emergency Services program manager, arrived in Santo Domingo late on Wednesday night, where she grabbed a quick two hours of sleep. By 6:29 a.m. on Thursday, she had already boarded a plane to Port-au-Prince with the rest of the ARCH team.
After landing, the team members located their living quarters in the United Nations compound and then headed out in the animal control trucks that our Dominican Republic partner, Sociedad Dominicana para la Prevención de Crueldad a los Animales (SODOPRECA), had brought along to reassess targeted areas of the city and locate animals in need. That was an all-day mission. Locals on the ground explained that what used to take an hour of travel now takes between four to six hours due to the devastation and the large number of people who are still finding refuge during the day in the streets.
Here at American Humane headquarters we remain concerned for both the health and future of everyone in Haiti -- people and animals alike. In an email I received from Tracy, she noted:
"We toured most of Port-au-Prince today, including the downtown area. The devastation is really unbelievable. I've never seen anything like it. There are large groups of people hanging in the streets and around the rubble that was once their homes. Some have a vacant look of shock on their faces, while others seem to have higher spirits. There are quite a few people selling food and goods along the streets.
We saw many young children laughing and smiling for us as we took photos. Perhaps they were just thankfully unaware of the true tragedy around them. We also had a few adults smile at us. It made me feel better that at least for that brief moment, they could just relax.
So far, this deployment has gone well with no major issues. There are certainly more hoops and red tape to go through versus deploying state-side, but being surrounded by my friends from IFAW and the ASPCA has been great.”
This morning, with plan-in-hand, Tracy and the team headed out to provide antibiotics and field veterinary care to many of the animals they located yesterday. At 5:00 p.m. (Haiti local time) today, Tracy emailed me to let me know that so far they had treated 29 dogs and five cats -- and that the team was still hard at work.
Jan. 26
American Humane Responder Heads to Haiti
Our meetings with officials from the Haitian government, the U.N. and other international agencies have gone very well, and we’re eager to get moving with the work we have in front of us in Haiti. Most of the members of the ARCH team have returned to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, to focus on pulling together the supplies that are going to be needed in Haiti for animal relief. The team will also be working on assessing needs in the areas beyond Port-au-Prince. We have a lot of work ahead of us!
Breaking news of the day: Late last night I received an urgent request from ARCH command staff asking that I send Tracy Reis, our Animal Emergency Services program manager, to Haiti as soon as possible to begin the work of implementing a feeding program for the community dogs and to assist with immediate veterinary aid to animals. That effort will be conducted in cooperation with the Haitian government and, in particular, with the Ministry of Environment.
Tracy is packing for the trip as I write this. Going into Haiti right now requires a responder to be entirely self-contained. She has to carry all of her own food to last for more than a week, a water purification system, personal items, small equipment and other necessary pieces of gear. She’s been getting ready for this for days -- waiting for this call to come. Passport ready? Booster shots? You bet. As you can imagine, it’s an intense effort to get ready to go on an international response on very short notice. She will be on a plane early tomorrow for Santo Domingo, where she’ll meet up with a small team of other senior staff members from our coalition partners. They all expect to be in Port-au-Prince on Thursday morning. They’ll join up with the coalition members already there to begin coordinated operations on the ground. Tracy expects to be in Haiti for about a week, setting up these initial programs and laying the groundwork for the larger and longer-term efforts ahead of us.
I’ll share more with you as soon as I know more. Thank you all for your wonderful help in getting the information out on the ARCH coalition and our important work in Haiti. Please join me in wishing Tracy and the other responders Godspeed and safety in their travels.
Jan. 24
On the Ground in Haiti
It was a busy weekend! The ARCH team arrived in Port-au-Prince on Saturday and spent the day meeting with authorities and local animal welfare agencies. Today, the ARCH team met with Jean Marie Claude Germain, Haiti’s Minister of Environment. The discussion with the minister opened the door for ARCH members to begin focused missions of vaccinating street dogs and assisting with the care of livestock in the earthquake-ravaged regions. ARCH’s first task may be a round-up of street dogs, with the goal of feeding them and vaccinating them against rabies.
But a huge priority for ARCH will be maintaining veterinary care for livestock. Families in Haiti will depend more than ever on their backyard farms for food, milk, sale and survival. The coalition plans to distribute food to farmers to help sustain them until they get back on their feet.
Both of these efforts will help in protecting the lives and reducing the suffering of both the people and the animals of Haiti. In the meantime, the ARCH team members on the ground have begun an assessment of the state of the health, well-being and needs of the animals.
I saw a news article over the weekend where my good friend, Dr. Heather Case of the American Veterinary Medical Association and a member of the ARCH coalition, was quoted: “It’s public health, it’s animal welfare, and it’s what we need to do following a disaster.” Thank you Heather, you couldn’t be more right.
I’m pleased to report that the coalition has now raised about $140,000 in donations to support the animal disaster response in Haiti -- but the experts on the ground estimate that much more will be needed -- I think we all realize that this will be a very long effort if it is to make a difference. Please help us in our efforts to assist the people and the animals of Haiti.
Thank you all for your donations and the amazing and supportive emails, Facebook comments and tweets we’ve been receiving. Please keep them coming! And please let others know about ARCH and our mission to assist Haiti. We’ll keep you updated as it progresses over the next few days and weeks.
Wed Mar 16 17:15:54 +0000 2011 by LTel:notes: 3/11/11 FROM THE SITE:
People in Japan are suffering -- and so are their animals.
You’ve heard the news reports. This morning an 8.9-magnitude earthquake and a powerful tsunami hit Japan. Hundreds have died, and more are missing or displaced.
We don’t yet know how many lives this disaster will affect, but we all know we want to help.
At American Humane Association, our thoughts and prayers are with the individuals, both human and animal, who are affected by this tragedy. Our Red Star Animal Emergency Services™ team -- which has a nearly century-long legacy of animal relief -- is closely monitoring the situation, and is reaching out to our international partners in an effort to provide a joint response to this global emergency.
What can you do to help?
We have set up a relief fund to help animal victims of this tragedy and other disasters. Your donation will help to provide shelter and care for the animals caught in this catastrophic event.
----------------------------------
FROM THE WEBSITE:
Haiti Earthquake Response
The devastating earthquake in Haiti brought tragedy to the region, and our thoughts and prayers are with all those who have been affected. As scores of relief agencies and government resources have already mobilized to help the people caught in the situation, American Humane and other groups are turning attention to the animals that are suffering as well.
American Humane is part of the Animal Relief Coalition for Haiti (ARCH), a coalition of professional animal welfare organizations formed to provide emergency response services for animals affected by the tragic earthquake. American Humane has provided significant funding to ARCH, which is led by the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). Currently, our international coalition is preparing a mobile animal clinic and staff to perform outreach work in Haiti, with training provided by ARCH. Our coalition also will be assessing and assisting with the needs of animals belonging to people displaced by the disaster, as they move into temporary camps. Plans include providing food and clean water, as well as vaccinating companion animals against rabies.
Donate now to support our efforts to help animals in Haiti and future disasters.
Updated Reports
Debrah Schnackenberg, American Humane’s vice president of the Animal Protection Division and director of Animal Emergency Services, is providing updates on American Humane’s and ARCH’s efforts to help animals in Haiti.
--------------------------------------
Feb. 12 Update
Hundreds of Animals Treated
Approximately 20 ARCH team members have been in Haiti conducting assessment and rescue/relief work. As of early February, the coalition had treated more than 1,300 animals, including nearly 400 dogs and cats, with cases ranging from malnutrition, mange, fleas, ticks and worms, to tumor removals, wound sutures and other treatments. In the first stage of response, a top priority also was to visit the tent cities, where thousands of people and animals had been surviving with very few resources. The team has now also gone to more-rural areas and treated hundreds of farm animals, including goats, sheep, pigs and cows. Livestock received anthrax vaccine, all dogs and cats were given rabies vaccines. Animals received primary health care plus de-worming and vitamins. The coalition plans to remain in Haiti for an extended duration and work with the government to ensure that all ARCH funds are used appropriately.
Tracy Reis, American Humane’s Animal Emergency Services program manager, had been in Haiti for a week, tending to animals with the ARCH team. On Feb. 3, she completed her assignment there and traveled back to the U.S., heading directly to Marshall County, Miss., where she took part in a puppy mill seizure and the sheltering and transport of 95 rescued dogs. After the last dog was put on a plane bound for the ASPCA in New York and, ultimately, to a new home, Tracy finally returned home herself, for some well-deserved rest.
Update Reports
In the first weeks after our emergency response began, Debrah Schnackenberg, American Humane’s vice president of the Animal Protection Division and director of Animal Emergency Services, provided frequent updates on American Humane’s and ARCH’s efforts to help animals in Haiti.
------------------------------------
Feb. 2
Outreach Work to Treat Animals Continues
An update on Dik the dog from yesterday’s blog: The good news is that the ARCH team and one of our local partner veterinarians made a visit back to Dik’s new home yesterday morning to give him a thorough veterinary exam and treat him. It’s clear that Dik took a battering in the collapse of his home -- he has back injuries, but they don’t appear to be severe. The exam showed how tender and sore he remains now, even weeks later. He received anti-inflammatory medication along with the other medical care the team has been delivering, and the report is that they think Dik will do well from here on out. What good news for a dog that has been through a lot!
Finishing Dik’s exam, the team headed out to revisit several of the tent cities where they had made appointments to meet the locals and provide veterinary care for their animals. In each location, people showed up seeking vaccinations, antibiotics, flea dusts and other medical care for their dogs, cats and assorted livestock. This effort has been so successful that the team on the ground and the new ARCH team members who are rotating in this week will continue this outreach work.
This short message from Tracy in Haiti came in to my email today, and I wanted to share it with all of you:
“We just treated a dog that was displaced [from her owner] by the quake, and another man is caring for her. He told us that when she looked at him, he knew she missed her owners. He [said he] felt bad because she was sad. He was taking good care of her, and what a wonderful heart he has [for her]. Had to swallow really hard when he told us that.”
We know that dogs in Haiti aren’t regarded as pets in quite the same way that most people regard them here in the States. It’s a different culture, and differences are to be expected. But the stories I continue to hear from Tracy and the ARCH team on the ground are of large groups of people showing up day after day, taking the trouble to bring the animals they have with them to receive the veterinary and first-aid care the team is making available to them. There are a lot of people in those tent cities who have lost everything -- but they still have animals with them and they are making efforts to ensure that they receive care. It’s these stories that make my day because it speaks as much about the resilience of the people as it does about their concern for animal care. They are survivors, all of them.
----------------------------------
Feb. 1
Treating More Animals; Two Dogs’ Stories
It was an extremely busy weekend for Tracy and the ARCH team on the ground in Port-au-Prince. Friday morning was occupied with a meeting with a top official from the Haitian Ministry of Environment, and then Tracy and staff from IFAW and ASPCA deployed into some of the previously identified “high need” areas of the city. On a daily basis, the team has been assisting about 50 dogs a day, and some smaller numbers of cats and livestock, with antibiotics, vaccinations, flea baths and nutritional supplements. Tracy advised me last night that yesterday they had treated 44 dogs, 13 cats and 7 pigs and did a field suture on a dog that had been injured in a dogfight.
In the past couple of days, the team has been admitted into the tent cities where earthquake refugees are taking shelter until the threat of aftershocks subsides and they can begin the task of rebuilding. Admittance to the tent cities has required special permission, so we were glad we could get this accomplished at last. Yesterday morning was spent in one of the tent cities, where the team also worked on Saturday to continue vaccinating and providing field veterinary care for the animals there. While there, the team watched as the displaced locals scrambled to keep a food truck from leaving their area by climbing on the back of the moving truck. The desperation of the people in these camps is heartbreaking. Nevertheless, they are bringing their animals to the team every day for aid and assistance, and they are appreciative of our efforts.
But amid the sadness of the daily desperation of the people is the hopeful story of a dog named Dik. At the time of the earthquake, Dik was inside a building with a 7-year-old boy. Both were buried under rubble when the building collapsed. Rescuers worked hard to rescue both the boy and the dog. Sadly, the boy did not live. Dik the dog was also pulled free -- alive but injured. The ARCH team came across Dik on Saturday and learned about his story, and they have been working since then to bring a veterinarian to his location, so he can receive a full exam and care for his injuries. They hope to get Dik together with a local veterinarian today.
Finally, a “good news” story to share today. When a small, flea-ridden stray pup was found in a pile of roadside rubble, the team spent some time asking around to find out if he had an owner. Soon they discovered that a family in the nearby village claimed him as their own. The team treated the little guy for a leg injury, gave him a full vaccination and health regimen, and sent him home better off for the encounter. A good-news way to end a weekend’s worth of very hard work!
--------------------------------------
Jan. 29
American Humane Responder Begins Locating and Treating Animals in Haiti
Tracy Reis, American Humane’s Animal Emergency Services program manager, arrived in Santo Domingo late on Wednesday night, where she grabbed a quick two hours of sleep. By 6:29 a.m. on Thursday, she had already boarded a plane to Port-au-Prince with the rest of the ARCH team.
After landing, the team members located their living quarters in the United Nations compound and then headed out in the animal control trucks that our Dominican Republic partner, Sociedad Dominicana para la Prevención de Crueldad a los Animales (SODOPRECA), had brought along to reassess targeted areas of the city and locate animals in need. That was an all-day mission. Locals on the ground explained that what used to take an hour of travel now takes between four to six hours due to the devastation and the large number of people who are still finding refuge during the day in the streets.
Here at American Humane headquarters we remain concerned for both the health and future of everyone in Haiti -- people and animals alike. In an email I received from Tracy, she noted:
"We toured most of Port-au-Prince today, including the downtown area. The devastation is really unbelievable. I've never seen anything like it. There are large groups of people hanging in the streets and around the rubble that was once their homes. Some have a vacant look of shock on their faces, while others seem to have higher spirits. There are quite a few people selling food and goods along the streets.
We saw many young children laughing and smiling for us as we took photos. Perhaps they were just thankfully unaware of the true tragedy around them. We also had a few adults smile at us. It made me feel better that at least for that brief moment, they could just relax.
So far, this deployment has gone well with no major issues. There are certainly more hoops and red tape to go through versus deploying state-side, but being surrounded by my friends from IFAW and the ASPCA has been great.”
This morning, with plan-in-hand, Tracy and the team headed out to provide antibiotics and field veterinary care to many of the animals they located yesterday. At 5:00 p.m. (Haiti local time) today, Tracy emailed me to let me know that so far they had treated 29 dogs and five cats -- and that the team was still hard at work.
--------------------------------------
Jan. 26
American Humane Responder Heads to Haiti
Our meetings with officials from the Haitian government, the U.N. and other international agencies have gone very well, and we’re eager to get moving with the work we have in front of us in Haiti. Most of the members of the ARCH team have returned to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, to focus on pulling together the supplies that are going to be needed in Haiti for animal relief. The team will also be working on assessing needs in the areas beyond Port-au-Prince. We have a lot of work ahead of us!
Breaking news of the day: Late last night I received an urgent request from ARCH command staff asking that I send Tracy Reis, our Animal Emergency Services program manager, to Haiti as soon as possible to begin the work of implementing a feeding program for the community dogs and to assist with immediate veterinary aid to animals. That effort will be conducted in cooperation with the Haitian government and, in particular, with the Ministry of Environment.
Tracy is packing for the trip as I write this. Going into Haiti right now requires a responder to be entirely self-contained. She has to carry all of her own food to last for more than a week, a water purification system, personal items, small equipment and other necessary pieces of gear. She’s been getting ready for this for days -- waiting for this call to come. Passport ready? Booster shots? You bet. As you can imagine, it’s an intense effort to get ready to go on an international response on very short notice. She will be on a plane early tomorrow for Santo Domingo, where she’ll meet up with a small team of other senior staff members from our coalition partners. They all expect to be in Port-au-Prince on Thursday morning. They’ll join up with the coalition members already there to begin coordinated operations on the ground. Tracy expects to be in Haiti for about a week, setting up these initial programs and laying the groundwork for the larger and longer-term efforts ahead of us.
I’ll share more with you as soon as I know more. Thank you all for your wonderful help in getting the information out on the ARCH coalition and our important work in Haiti. Please join me in wishing Tracy and the other responders Godspeed and safety in their travels.
--------------------------------------
Jan. 24
On the Ground in Haiti
It was a busy weekend! The ARCH team arrived in Port-au-Prince on Saturday and spent the day meeting with authorities and local animal welfare agencies. Today, the ARCH team met with Jean Marie Claude Germain, Haiti’s Minister of Environment. The discussion with the minister opened the door for ARCH members to begin focused missions of vaccinating street dogs and assisting with the care of livestock in the earthquake-ravaged regions. ARCH’s first task may be a round-up of street dogs, with the goal of feeding them and vaccinating them against rabies.
But a huge priority for ARCH will be maintaining veterinary care for livestock. Families in Haiti will depend more than ever on their backyard farms for food, milk, sale and survival. The coalition plans to distribute food to farmers to help sustain them until they get back on their feet.
Both of these efforts will help in protecting the lives and reducing the suffering of both the people and the animals of Haiti. In the meantime, the ARCH team members on the ground have begun an assessment of the state of the health, well-being and needs of the animals.
I saw a news article over the weekend where my good friend, Dr. Heather Case of the American Veterinary Medical Association and a member of the ARCH coalition, was quoted: “It’s public health, it’s animal welfare, and it’s what we need to do following a disaster.” Thank you Heather, you couldn’t be more right.
I’m pleased to report that the coalition has now raised about $140,000 in donations to support the animal disaster response in Haiti -- but the experts on the ground estimate that much more will be needed -- I think we all realize that this will be a very long effort if it is to make a difference. Please help us in our efforts to assist the people and the animals of Haiti.
Thank you all for your donations and the amazing and supportive emails, Facebook comments and tweets we’ve been receiving. Please keep them coming! And please let others know about ARCH and our mission to assist Haiti. We’ll keep you updated as it progresses over the next few days and weeks.
-> 3/16/11 Update from the site:
Thank you for your concern about the animals affected by the disasters in Japan and our role in assisting them. How is this your opportunity to help right now? We know from experience that numerous animals are affected by this type of disaster, so we also know there is a need for financial and other resources to help those animals. Initiating the fundraising prior to the specific needs of the animals, shelters and communities being identified saves time and possibly lives. It will enable us to apply those funds immediately to the efforts to help animals in Japan, as soon as reputable organizations are officially invited in, appropriate local Japanese partners are identified, and specific plans are implemented to help the animals.
Why aren’t we in Japan right now? Due to the safety risks and the primary focus on saving people’s lives, the Japanese government has not yet allowed even Japanese organizations to begin large-scale animal rescue operations. However, discussions are currently ongoing between our international partner organizations and the appropriate governmental agencies to obtain invitations to deploy to the stricken areas with animal rescue teams. It is the policy of American Humane Association and other legitimate animal welfare organizations to not deploy without a formal invitation from the responsible government/agency. This policy is for the safety of the people who risk their lives to save people and animals in disaster situations, as well as for the safety of the human victims who are still awaiting help from rescuers. American Humane Association’s Red Star Animal Emergency Services teams are ready to deploy and have been on stand-by since the disaster occurred. They were in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake, and have extensive “boots on the ground” experience with this type of global relief effort.
Regarding the donations that are being received by American Humane Association, I can assure you that 100 percent of the donations received for Japan animal relief will go to helping the animal victims in Japan. That means American Humane Association will not even take a portion of donations to cover our actual administrative costs. Every single dollar raised goes to the animals in Japan. In the event that we are not able to deploy our Red Star Animal Emergency Services team to Japan to assist the animals directly, we will grant the funds we receive to the appropriate agencies that are providing animal emergency relief services in Japan.
American Humane Association’s Red Star Animal Emergency Services has been providing emergency relief for animals in disasters and other emergencies since 1916, including locations overseas. When the disaster in Japan occurred, we immediately began inquiring into how the animal victims could be helped. Our fundraising effort is a critical step in preparing to provide the vital support that Japan’s animal victims so desperately need. We share your sense of urgency, and are heartbroken over the tragedy. Thank you for your help and for your generous contributions in this time of need.
================================
3/11/11 FROM THE SITE:
People in Japan are suffering -- and so are their animals.
You’ve heard the news reports. This morning an 8.9-magnitude earthquake and a powerful tsunami hit Japan. Hundreds have died, and more are missing or displaced.
We don’t yet know how many lives this disaster will affect, but we all know we want to help.
At American Humane Association, our thoughts and prayers are with the individuals, both human and animal, who are affected by this tragedy. Our Red Star Animal Emergency Services™ team -- which has a nearly century-long legacy of animal relief -- is closely monitoring the situation, and is reaching out to our international partners in an effort to provide a joint response to this global emergency.
What can you do to help?
We have set up a relief fund to help animal victims of this tragedy and other disasters. Your donation will help to provide shelter and care for the animals caught in this catastrophic event.
----------------------------------
FROM THE WEBSITE:
Haiti Earthquake Response
The devastating earthquake in Haiti brought tragedy to the region, and our thoughts and prayers are with all those who have been affected. As scores of relief agencies and government resources have already mobilized to help the people caught in the situation, American Humane and other groups are turning attention to the animals that are suffering as well.
American Humane is part of the Animal Relief Coalition for Haiti (ARCH), a coalition of professional animal welfare organizations formed to provide emergency response services for animals affected by the tragic earthquake. American Humane has provided significant funding to ARCH, which is led by the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). Currently, our international coalition is preparing a mobile animal clinic and staff to perform outreach work in Haiti, with training provided by ARCH. Our coalition also will be assessing and assisting with the needs of animals belonging to people displaced by the disaster, as they move into temporary camps. Plans include providing food and clean water, as well as vaccinating companion animals against rabies.
Donate now to support our efforts to help animals in Haiti and future disasters.
Updated Reports
Debrah Schnackenberg, American Humane’s vice president of the Animal Protection Division and director of Animal Emergency Services, is providing updates on American Humane’s and ARCH’s efforts to help animals in Haiti.
--------------------------------------
Feb. 12 Update
Hundreds of Animals Treated
Approximately 20 ARCH team members have been in Haiti conducting assessment and rescue/relief work. As of early February, the coalition had treated more than 1,300 animals, including nearly 400 dogs and cats, with cases ranging from malnutrition, mange, fleas, ticks and worms, to tumor removals, wound sutures and other treatments. In the first stage of response, a top priority also was to visit the tent cities, where thousands of people and animals had been surviving with very few resources. The team has now also gone to more-rural areas and treated hundreds of farm animals, including goats, sheep, pigs and cows. Livestock received anthrax vaccine, all dogs and cats were given rabies vaccines. Animals received primary health care plus de-worming and vitamins. The coalition plans to remain in Haiti for an extended duration and work with the government to ensure that all ARCH funds are used appropriately.
Tracy Reis, American Humane’s Animal Emergency Services program manager, had been in Haiti for a week, tending to animals with the ARCH team. On Feb. 3, she completed her assignment there and traveled back to the U.S., heading directly to Marshall County, Miss., where she took part in a puppy mill seizure and the sheltering and transport of 95 rescued dogs. After the last dog was put on a plane bound for the ASPCA in New York and, ultimately, to a new home, Tracy finally returned home herself, for some well-deserved rest.
Update Reports
In the first weeks after our emergency response began, Debrah Schnackenberg, American Humane’s vice president of the Animal Protection Division and director of Animal Emergency Services, provided frequent updates on American Humane’s and ARCH’s efforts to help animals in Haiti.
------------------------------------
Feb. 2
Outreach Work to Treat Animals Continues
An update on Dik the dog from yesterday’s blog: The good news is that the ARCH team and one of our local partner veterinarians made a visit back to Dik’s new home yesterday morning to give him a thorough veterinary exam and treat him. It’s clear that Dik took a battering in the collapse of his home -- he has back injuries, but they don’t appear to be severe. The exam showed how tender and sore he remains now, even weeks later. He received anti-inflammatory medication along with the other medical care the team has been delivering, and the report is that they think Dik will do well from here on out. What good news for a dog that has been through a lot!
Finishing Dik’s exam, the team headed out to revisit several of the tent cities where they had made appointments to meet the locals and provide veterinary care for their animals. In each location, people showed up seeking vaccinations, antibiotics, flea dusts and other medical care for their dogs, cats and assorted livestock. This effort has been so successful that the team on the ground and the new ARCH team members who are rotating in this week will continue this outreach work.
This short message from Tracy in Haiti came in to my email today, and I wanted to share it with all of you:
“We just treated a dog that was displaced [from her owner] by the quake, and another man is caring for her. He told us that when she looked at him, he knew she missed her owners. He [said he] felt bad because she was sad. He was taking good care of her, and what a wonderful heart he has [for her]. Had to swallow really hard when he told us that.”
We know that dogs in Haiti aren’t regarded as pets in quite the same way that most people regard them here in the States. It’s a different culture, and differences are to be expected. But the stories I continue to hear from Tracy and the ARCH team on the ground are of large groups of people showing up day after day, taking the trouble to bring the animals they have with them to receive the veterinary and first-aid care the team is making available to them. There are a lot of people in those tent cities who have lost everything -- but they still have animals with them and they are making efforts to ensure that they receive care. It’s these stories that make my day because it speaks as much about the resilience of the people as it does about their concern for animal care. They are survivors, all of them.
----------------------------------
Feb. 1
Treating More Animals; Two Dogs’ Stories
It was an extremely busy weekend for Tracy and the ARCH team on the ground in Port-au-Prince. Friday morning was occupied with a meeting with a top official from the Haitian Ministry of Environment, and then Tracy and staff from IFAW and ASPCA deployed into some of the previously identified “high need” areas of the city. On a daily basis, the team has been assisting about 50 dogs a day, and some smaller numbers of cats and livestock, with antibiotics, vaccinations, flea baths and nutritional supplements. Tracy advised me last night that yesterday they had treated 44 dogs, 13 cats and 7 pigs and did a field suture on a dog that had been injured in a dogfight.
In the past couple of days, the team has been admitted into the tent cities where earthquake refugees are taking shelter until the threat of aftershocks subsides and they can begin the task of rebuilding. Admittance to the tent cities has required special permission, so we were glad we could get this accomplished at last. Yesterday morning was spent in one of the tent cities, where the team also worked on Saturday to continue vaccinating and providing field veterinary care for the animals there. While there, the team watched as the displaced locals scrambled to keep a food truck from leaving their area by climbing on the back of the moving truck. The desperation of the people in these camps is heartbreaking. Nevertheless, they are bringing their animals to the team every day for aid and assistance, and they are appreciative of our efforts.
But amid the sadness of the daily desperation of the people is the hopeful story of a dog named Dik. At the time of the earthquake, Dik was inside a building with a 7-year-old boy. Both were buried under rubble when the building collapsed. Rescuers worked hard to rescue both the boy and the dog. Sadly, the boy did not live. Dik the dog was also pulled free -- alive but injured. The ARCH team came across Dik on Saturday and learned about his story, and they have been working since then to bring a veterinarian to his location, so he can receive a full exam and care for his injuries. They hope to get Dik together with a local veterinarian today.
Finally, a “good news” story to share today. When a small, flea-ridden stray pup was found in a pile of roadside rubble, the team spent some time asking around to find out if he had an owner. Soon they discovered that a family in the nearby village claimed him as their own. The team treated the little guy for a leg injury, gave him a full vaccination and health regimen, and sent him home better off for the encounter. A good-news way to end a weekend’s worth of very hard work!
--------------------------------------
Jan. 29
American Humane Responder Begins Locating and Treating Animals in Haiti
Tracy Reis, American Humane’s Animal Emergency Services program manager, arrived in Santo Domingo late on Wednesday night, where she grabbed a quick two hours of sleep. By 6:29 a.m. on Thursday, she had already boarded a plane to Port-au-Prince with the rest of the ARCH team.
After landing, the team members located their living quarters in the United Nations compound and then headed out in the animal control trucks that our Dominican Republic partner, Sociedad Dominicana para la Prevención de Crueldad a los Animales (SODOPRECA), had brought along to reassess targeted areas of the city and locate animals in need. That was an all-day mission. Locals on the ground explained that what used to take an hour of travel now takes between four to six hours due to the devastation and the large number of people who are still finding refuge during the day in the streets.
Here at American Humane headquarters we remain concerned for both the health and future of everyone in Haiti -- people and animals alike. In an email I received from Tracy, she noted:
"We toured most of Port-au-Prince today, including the downtown area. The devastation is really unbelievable. I've never seen anything like it. There are large groups of people hanging in the streets and around the rubble that was once their homes. Some have a vacant look of shock on their faces, while others seem to have higher spirits. There are quite a few people selling food and goods along the streets.
We saw many young children laughing and smiling for us as we took photos. Perhaps they were just thankfully unaware of the true tragedy around them. We also had a few adults smile at us. It made me feel better that at least for that brief moment, they could just relax.
So far, this deployment has gone well with no major issues. There are certainly more hoops and red tape to go through versus deploying state-side, but being surrounded by my friends from IFAW and the ASPCA has been great.”
This morning, with plan-in-hand, Tracy and the team headed out to provide antibiotics and field veterinary care to many of the animals they located yesterday. At 5:00 p.m. (Haiti local time) today, Tracy emailed me to let me know that so far they had treated 29 dogs and five cats -- and that the team was still hard at work.
--------------------------------------
Jan. 26
American Humane Responder Heads to Haiti
Our meetings with officials from the Haitian government, the U.N. and other international agencies have gone very well, and we’re eager to get moving with the work we have in front of us in Haiti. Most of the members of the ARCH team have returned to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, to focus on pulling together the supplies that are going to be needed in Haiti for animal relief. The team will also be working on assessing needs in the areas beyond Port-au-Prince. We have a lot of work ahead of us!
Breaking news of the day: Late last night I received an urgent request from ARCH command staff asking that I send Tracy Reis, our Animal Emergency Services program manager, to Haiti as soon as possible to begin the work of implementing a feeding program for the community dogs and to assist with immediate veterinary aid to animals. That effort will be conducted in cooperation with the Haitian government and, in particular, with the Ministry of Environment.
Tracy is packing for the trip as I write this. Going into Haiti right now requires a responder to be entirely self-contained. She has to carry all of her own food to last for more than a week, a water purification system, personal items, small equipment and other necessary pieces of gear. She’s been getting ready for this for days -- waiting for this call to come. Passport ready? Booster shots? You bet. As you can imagine, it’s an intense effort to get ready to go on an international response on very short notice. She will be on a plane early tomorrow for Santo Domingo, where she’ll meet up with a small team of other senior staff members from our coalition partners. They all expect to be in Port-au-Prince on Thursday morning. They’ll join up with the coalition members already there to begin coordinated operations on the ground. Tracy expects to be in Haiti for about a week, setting up these initial programs and laying the groundwork for the larger and longer-term efforts ahead of us.
I’ll share more with you as soon as I know more. Thank you all for your wonderful help in getting the information out on the ARCH coalition and our important work in Haiti. Please join me in wishing Tracy and the other responders Godspeed and safety in their travels.
--------------------------------------
Jan. 24
On the Ground in Haiti
It was a busy weekend! The ARCH team arrived in Port-au-Prince on Saturday and spent the day meeting with authorities and local animal welfare agencies. Today, the ARCH team met with Jean Marie Claude Germain, Haiti’s Minister of Environment. The discussion with the minister opened the door for ARCH members to begin focused missions of vaccinating street dogs and assisting with the care of livestock in the earthquake-ravaged regions. ARCH’s first task may be a round-up of street dogs, with the goal of feeding them and vaccinating them against rabies.
But a huge priority for ARCH will be maintaining veterinary care for livestock. Families in Haiti will depend more than ever on their backyard farms for food, milk, sale and survival. The coalition plans to distribute food to farmers to help sustain them until they get back on their feet.
Both of these efforts will help in protecting the lives and reducing the suffering of both the people and the animals of Haiti. In the meantime, the ARCH team members on the ground have begun an assessment of the state of the health, well-being and needs of the animals.
I saw a news article over the weekend where my good friend, Dr. Heather Case of the American Veterinary Medical Association and a member of the ARCH coalition, was quoted: “It’s public health, it’s animal welfare, and it’s what we need to do following a disaster.” Thank you Heather, you couldn’t be more right.
I’m pleased to report that the coalition has now raised about $140,000 in donations to support the animal disaster response in Haiti -- but the experts on the ground estimate that much more will be needed -- I think we all realize that this will be a very long effort if it is to make a difference. Please help us in our efforts to assist the people and the animals of Haiti.
Thank you all for your donations and the amazing and supportive emails, Facebook comments and tweets we’ve been receiving. Please keep them coming! And please let others know about ARCH and our mission to assist Haiti. We’ll keep you updated as it progresses over the next few days and weeks.
(show/hide changes)Sat Mar 12 05:47:28 +0000 2011 by LTel:name: American Humane Society - Red Star Animal Emergency Services - 2010 Haiti Earthquake -> American Humane Society - Red Star Animal Emergency Services (2011 Japan Earthquake/Tsunami)
notes: FROM THE WEBSITE:
Haiti Earthquake Response
The devastating earthquake in Haiti brought tragedy to the region, and our thoughts and prayers are with all those who have been affected. As scores of relief agencies and government resources have already mobilized to help the people caught in the situation, American Humane and other groups are turning attention to the animals that are suffering as well.
American Humane is part of the Animal Relief Coalition for Haiti (ARCH), a coalition of professional animal welfare organizations formed to provide emergency response services for animals affected by the tragic earthquake. American Humane has provided significant funding to ARCH, which is led by the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). Currently, our international coalition is preparing a mobile animal clinic and staff to perform outreach work in Haiti, with training provided by ARCH. Our coalition also will be assessing and assisting with the needs of animals belonging to people displaced by the disaster, as they move into temporary camps. Plans include providing food and clean water, as well as vaccinating companion animals against rabies.
Donate now to support our efforts to help animals in Haiti and future disasters.
Updated Reports
Debrah Schnackenberg, American Humane’s vice president of the Animal Protection Division and director of Animal Emergency Services, is providing updates on American Humane’s and ARCH’s efforts to help animals in Haiti.
--------------------------------------
Feb. 12 Update
Hundreds of Animals Treated
Approximately 20 ARCH team members have been in Haiti conducting assessment and rescue/relief work. As of early February, the coalition had treated more than 1,300 animals, including nearly 400 dogs and cats, with cases ranging from malnutrition, mange, fleas, ticks and worms, to tumor removals, wound sutures and other treatments. In the first stage of response, a top priority also was to visit the tent cities, where thousands of people and animals had been surviving with very few resources. The team has now also gone to more-rural areas and treated hundreds of farm animals, including goats, sheep, pigs and cows. Livestock received anthrax vaccine, all dogs and cats were given rabies vaccines. Animals received primary health care plus de-worming and vitamins. The coalition plans to remain in Haiti for an extended duration and work with the government to ensure that all ARCH funds are used appropriately.
Tracy Reis, American Humane’s Animal Emergency Services program manager, had been in Haiti for a week, tending to animals with the ARCH team. On Feb. 3, she completed her assignment there and traveled back to the U.S., heading directly to Marshall County, Miss., where she took part in a puppy mill seizure and the sheltering and transport of 95 rescued dogs. After the last dog was put on a plane bound for the ASPCA in New York and, ultimately, to a new home, Tracy finally returned home herself, for some well-deserved rest.
Update Reports
In the first weeks after our emergency response began, Debrah Schnackenberg, American Humane’s vice president of the Animal Protection Division and director of Animal Emergency Services, provided frequent updates on American Humane’s and ARCH’s efforts to help animals in Haiti.
------------------------------------
Feb. 2
Outreach Work to Treat Animals Continues
An update on Dik the dog from yesterday’s blog: The good news is that the ARCH team and one of our local partner veterinarians made a visit back to Dik’s new home yesterday morning to give him a thorough veterinary exam and treat him. It’s clear that Dik took a battering in the collapse of his home -- he has back injuries, but they don’t appear to be severe. The exam showed how tender and sore he remains now, even weeks later. He received anti-inflammatory medication along with the other medical care the team has been delivering, and the report is that they think Dik will do well from here on out. What good news for a dog that has been through a lot!
Finishing Dik’s exam, the team headed out to revisit several of the tent cities where they had made appointments to meet the locals and provide veterinary care for their animals. In each location, people showed up seeking vaccinations, antibiotics, flea dusts and other medical care for their dogs, cats and assorted livestock. This effort has been so successful that the team on the ground and the new ARCH team members who are rotating in this week will continue this outreach work.
This short message from Tracy in Haiti came in to my email today, and I wanted to share it with all of you:
“We just treated a dog that was displaced [from her owner] by the quake, and another man is caring for her. He told us that when she looked at him, he knew she missed her owners. He [said he] felt bad because she was sad. He was taking good care of her, and what a wonderful heart he has [for her]. Had to swallow really hard when he told us that.”
We know that dogs in Haiti aren’t regarded as pets in quite the same way that most people regard them here in the States. It’s a different culture, and differences are to be expected. But the stories I continue to hear from Tracy and the ARCH team on the ground are of large groups of people showing up day after day, taking the trouble to bring the animals they have with them to receive the veterinary and first-aid care the team is making available to them. There are a lot of people in those tent cities who have lost everything -- but they still have animals with them and they are making efforts to ensure that they receive care. It’s these stories that make my day because it speaks as much about the resilience of the people as it does about their concern for animal care. They are survivors, all of them.
----------------------------------
Feb. 1
Treating More Animals; Two Dogs’ Stories
It was an extremely busy weekend for Tracy and the ARCH team on the ground in Port-au-Prince. Friday morning was occupied with a meeting with a top official from the Haitian Ministry of Environment, and then Tracy and staff from IFAW and ASPCA deployed into some of the previously identified “high need” areas of the city. On a daily basis, the team has been assisting about 50 dogs a day, and some smaller numbers of cats and livestock, with antibiotics, vaccinations, flea baths and nutritional supplements. Tracy advised me last night that yesterday they had treated 44 dogs, 13 cats and 7 pigs and did a field suture on a dog that had been injured in a dogfight.
In the past couple of days, the team has been admitted into the tent cities where earthquake refugees are taking shelter until the threat of aftershocks subsides and they can begin the task of rebuilding. Admittance to the tent cities has required special permission, so we were glad we could get this accomplished at last. Yesterday morning was spent in one of the tent cities, where the team also worked on Saturday to continue vaccinating and providing field veterinary care for the animals there. While there, the team watched as the displaced locals scrambled to keep a food truck from leaving their area by climbing on the back of the moving truck. The desperation of the people in these camps is heartbreaking. Nevertheless, they are bringing their animals to the team every day for aid and assistance, and they are appreciative of our efforts.
But amid the sadness of the daily desperation of the people is the hopeful story of a dog named Dik. At the time of the earthquake, Dik was inside a building with a 7-year-old boy. Both were buried under rubble when the building collapsed. Rescuers worked hard to rescue both the boy and the dog. Sadly, the boy did not live. Dik the dog was also pulled free -- alive but injured. The ARCH team came across Dik on Saturday and learned about his story, and they have been working since then to bring a veterinarian to his location, so he can receive a full exam and care for his injuries. They hope to get Dik together with a local veterinarian today.
Finally, a “good news” story to share today. When a small, flea-ridden stray pup was found in a pile of roadside rubble, the team spent some time asking around to find out if he had an owner. Soon they discovered that a family in the nearby village claimed him as their own. The team treated the little guy for a leg injury, gave him a full vaccination and health regimen, and sent him home better off for the encounter. A good-news way to end a weekend’s worth of very hard work!
--------------------------------------
Jan. 29
American Humane Responder Begins Locating and Treating Animals in Haiti
Tracy Reis, American Humane’s Animal Emergency Services program manager, arrived in Santo Domingo late on Wednesday night, where she grabbed a quick two hours of sleep. By 6:29 a.m. on Thursday, she had already boarded a plane to Port-au-Prince with the rest of the ARCH team.
After landing, the team members located their living quarters in the United Nations compound and then headed out in the animal control trucks that our Dominican Republic partner, Sociedad Dominicana para la Prevención de Crueldad a los Animales (SODOPRECA), had brought along to reassess targeted areas of the city and locate animals in need. That was an all-day mission. Locals on the ground explained that what used to take an hour of travel now takes between four to six hours due to the devastation and the large number of people who are still finding refuge during the day in the streets.
Here at American Humane headquarters we remain concerned for both the health and future of everyone in Haiti -- people and animals alike. In an email I received from Tracy, she noted:
"We toured most of Port-au-Prince today, including the downtown area. The devastation is really unbelievable. I've never seen anything like it. There are large groups of people hanging in the streets and around the rubble that was once their homes. Some have a vacant look of shock on their faces, while others seem to have higher spirits. There are quite a few people selling food and goods along the streets.
We saw many young children laughing and smiling for us as we took photos. Perhaps they were just thankfully unaware of the true tragedy around them. We also had a few adults smile at us. It made me feel better that at least for that brief moment, they could just relax.
So far, this deployment has gone well with no major issues. There are certainly more hoops and red tape to go through versus deploying state-side, but being surrounded by my friends from IFAW and the ASPCA has been great.”
This morning, with plan-in-hand, Tracy and the team headed out to provide antibiotics and field veterinary care to many of the animals they located yesterday. At 5:00 p.m. (Haiti local time) today, Tracy emailed me to let me know that so far they had treated 29 dogs and five cats -- and that the team was still hard at work.
--------------------------------------
Jan. 26
American Humane Responder Heads to Haiti
Our meetings with officials from the Haitian government, the U.N. and other international agencies have gone very well, and we’re eager to get moving with the work we have in front of us in Haiti. Most of the members of the ARCH team have returned to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, to focus on pulling together the supplies that are going to be needed in Haiti for animal relief. The team will also be working on assessing needs in the areas beyond Port-au-Prince. We have a lot of work ahead of us!
Breaking news of the day: Late last night I received an urgent request from ARCH command staff asking that I send Tracy Reis, our Animal Emergency Services program manager, to Haiti as soon as possible to begin the work of implementing a feeding program for the community dogs and to assist with immediate veterinary aid to animals. That effort will be conducted in cooperation with the Haitian government and, in particular, with the Ministry of Environment.
Tracy is packing for the trip as I write this. Going into Haiti right now requires a responder to be entirely self-contained. She has to carry all of her own food to last for more than a week, a water purification system, personal items, small equipment and other necessary pieces of gear. She’s been getting ready for this for days -- waiting for this call to come. Passport ready? Booster shots? You bet. As you can imagine, it’s an intense effort to get ready to go on an international response on very short notice. She will be on a plane early tomorrow for Santo Domingo, where she’ll meet up with a small team of other senior staff members from our coalition partners. They all expect to be in Port-au-Prince on Thursday morning. They’ll join up with the coalition members already there to begin coordinated operations on the ground. Tracy expects to be in Haiti for about a week, setting up these initial programs and laying the groundwork for the larger and longer-term efforts ahead of us.
I’ll share more with you as soon as I know more. Thank you all for your wonderful help in getting the information out on the ARCH coalition and our important work in Haiti. Please join me in wishing Tracy and the other responders Godspeed and safety in their travels.
--------------------------------------
Jan. 24
On the Ground in Haiti
It was a busy weekend! The ARCH team arrived in Port-au-Prince on Saturday and spent the day meeting with authorities and local animal welfare agencies. Today, the ARCH team met with Jean Marie Claude Germain, Haiti’s Minister of Environment. The discussion with the minister opened the door for ARCH members to begin focused missions of vaccinating street dogs and assisting with the care of livestock in the earthquake-ravaged regions. ARCH’s first task may be a round-up of street dogs, with the goal of feeding them and vaccinating them against rabies.
But a huge priority for ARCH will be maintaining veterinary care for livestock. Families in Haiti will depend more than ever on their backyard farms for food, milk, sale and survival. The coalition plans to distribute food to farmers to help sustain them until they get back on their feet.
Both of these efforts will help in protecting the lives and reducing the suffering of both the people and the animals of Haiti. In the meantime, the ARCH team members on the ground have begun an assessment of the state of the health, well-being and needs of the animals.
I saw a news article over the weekend where my good friend, Dr. Heather Case of the American Veterinary Medical Association and a member of the ARCH coalition, was quoted: “It’s public health, it’s animal welfare, and it’s what we need to do following a disaster.” Thank you Heather, you couldn’t be more right.
I’m pleased to report that the coalition has now raised about $140,000 in donations to support the animal disaster response in Haiti -- but the experts on the ground estimate that much more will be needed -- I think we all realize that this will be a very long effort if it is to make a difference. Please help us in our efforts to assist the people and the animals of Haiti.
Thank you all for your donations and the amazing and supportive emails, Facebook comments and tweets we’ve been receiving. Please keep them coming! And please let others know about ARCH and our mission to assist Haiti. We’ll keep you updated as it progresses over the next few days and weeks.
-> 3/11/11 FROM THE SITE:
People in Japan are suffering -- and so are their animals.
You’ve heard the news reports. This morning an 8.9-magnitude earthquake and a powerful tsunami hit Japan. Hundreds have died, and more are missing or displaced.
We don’t yet know how many lives this disaster will affect, but we all know we want to help.
At American Humane Association, our thoughts and prayers are with the individuals, both human and animal, who are affected by this tragedy. Our Red Star Animal Emergency Services™ team -- which has a nearly century-long legacy of animal relief -- is closely monitoring the situation, and is reaching out to our international partners in an effort to provide a joint response to this global emergency.
What can you do to help?
We have set up a relief fund to help animal victims of this tragedy and other disasters. Your donation will help to provide shelter and care for the animals caught in this catastrophic event.
----------------------------------
FROM THE WEBSITE:
Haiti Earthquake Response
The devastating earthquake in Haiti brought tragedy to the region, and our thoughts and prayers are with all those who have been affected. As scores of relief agencies and government resources have already mobilized to help the people caught in the situation, American Humane and other groups are turning attention to the animals that are suffering as well.
American Humane is part of the Animal Relief Coalition for Haiti (ARCH), a coalition of professional animal welfare organizations formed to provide emergency response services for animals affected by the tragic earthquake. American Humane has provided significant funding to ARCH, which is led by the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). Currently, our international coalition is preparing a mobile animal clinic and staff to perform outreach work in Haiti, with training provided by ARCH. Our coalition also will be assessing and assisting with the needs of animals belonging to people displaced by the disaster, as they move into temporary camps. Plans include providing food and clean water, as well as vaccinating companion animals against rabies.
Donate now to support our efforts to help animals in Haiti and future disasters.
Updated Reports
Debrah Schnackenberg, American Humane’s vice president of the Animal Protection Division and director of Animal Emergency Services, is providing updates on American Humane’s and ARCH’s efforts to help animals in Haiti.
--------------------------------------
Feb. 12 Update
Hundreds of Animals Treated
Approximately 20 ARCH team members have been in Haiti conducting assessment and rescue/relief work. As of early February, the coalition had treated more than 1,300 animals, including nearly 400 dogs and cats, with cases ranging from malnutrition, mange, fleas, ticks and worms, to tumor removals, wound sutures and other treatments. In the first stage of response, a top priority also was to visit the tent cities, where thousands of people and animals had been surviving with very few resources. The team has now also gone to more-rural areas and treated hundreds of farm animals, including goats, sheep, pigs and cows. Livestock received anthrax vaccine, all dogs and cats were given rabies vaccines. Animals received primary health care plus de-worming and vitamins. The coalition plans to remain in Haiti for an extended duration and work with the government to ensure that all ARCH funds are used appropriately.
Tracy Reis, American Humane’s Animal Emergency Services program manager, had been in Haiti for a week, tending to animals with the ARCH team. On Feb. 3, she completed her assignment there and traveled back to the U.S., heading directly to Marshall County, Miss., where she took part in a puppy mill seizure and the sheltering and transport of 95 rescued dogs. After the last dog was put on a plane bound for the ASPCA in New York and, ultimately, to a new home, Tracy finally returned home herself, for some well-deserved rest.
Update Reports
In the first weeks after our emergency response began, Debrah Schnackenberg, American Humane’s vice president of the Animal Protection Division and director of Animal Emergency Services, provided frequent updates on American Humane’s and ARCH’s efforts to help animals in Haiti.
------------------------------------
Feb. 2
Outreach Work to Treat Animals Continues
An update on Dik the dog from yesterday’s blog: The good news is that the ARCH team and one of our local partner veterinarians made a visit back to Dik’s new home yesterday morning to give him a thorough veterinary exam and treat him. It’s clear that Dik took a battering in the collapse of his home -- he has back injuries, but they don’t appear to be severe. The exam showed how tender and sore he remains now, even weeks later. He received anti-inflammatory medication along with the other medical care the team has been delivering, and the report is that they think Dik will do well from here on out. What good news for a dog that has been through a lot!
Finishing Dik’s exam, the team headed out to revisit several of the tent cities where they had made appointments to meet the locals and provide veterinary care for their animals. In each location, people showed up seeking vaccinations, antibiotics, flea dusts and other medical care for their dogs, cats and assorted livestock. This effort has been so successful that the team on the ground and the new ARCH team members who are rotating in this week will continue this outreach work.
This short message from Tracy in Haiti came in to my email today, and I wanted to share it with all of you:
“We just treated a dog that was displaced [from her owner] by the quake, and another man is caring for her. He told us that when she looked at him, he knew she missed her owners. He [said he] felt bad because she was sad. He was taking good care of her, and what a wonderful heart he has [for her]. Had to swallow really hard when he told us that.”
We know that dogs in Haiti aren’t regarded as pets in quite the same way that most people regard them here in the States. It’s a different culture, and differences are to be expected. But the stories I continue to hear from Tracy and the ARCH team on the ground are of large groups of people showing up day after day, taking the trouble to bring the animals they have with them to receive the veterinary and first-aid care the team is making available to them. There are a lot of people in those tent cities who have lost everything -- but they still have animals with them and they are making efforts to ensure that they receive care. It’s these stories that make my day because it speaks as much about the resilience of the people as it does about their concern for animal care. They are survivors, all of them.
----------------------------------
Feb. 1
Treating More Animals; Two Dogs’ Stories
It was an extremely busy weekend for Tracy and the ARCH team on the ground in Port-au-Prince. Friday morning was occupied with a meeting with a top official from the Haitian Ministry of Environment, and then Tracy and staff from IFAW and ASPCA deployed into some of the previously identified “high need” areas of the city. On a daily basis, the team has been assisting about 50 dogs a day, and some smaller numbers of cats and livestock, with antibiotics, vaccinations, flea baths and nutritional supplements. Tracy advised me last night that yesterday they had treated 44 dogs, 13 cats and 7 pigs and did a field suture on a dog that had been injured in a dogfight.
In the past couple of days, the team has been admitted into the tent cities where earthquake refugees are taking shelter until the threat of aftershocks subsides and they can begin the task of rebuilding. Admittance to the tent cities has required special permission, so we were glad we could get this accomplished at last. Yesterday morning was spent in one of the tent cities, where the team also worked on Saturday to continue vaccinating and providing field veterinary care for the animals there. While there, the team watched as the displaced locals scrambled to keep a food truck from leaving their area by climbing on the back of the moving truck. The desperation of the people in these camps is heartbreaking. Nevertheless, they are bringing their animals to the team every day for aid and assistance, and they are appreciative of our efforts.
But amid the sadness of the daily desperation of the people is the hopeful story of a dog named Dik. At the time of the earthquake, Dik was inside a building with a 7-year-old boy. Both were buried under rubble when the building collapsed. Rescuers worked hard to rescue both the boy and the dog. Sadly, the boy did not live. Dik the dog was also pulled free -- alive but injured. The ARCH team came across Dik on Saturday and learned about his story, and they have been working since then to bring a veterinarian to his location, so he can receive a full exam and care for his injuries. They hope to get Dik together with a local veterinarian today.
Finally, a “good news” story to share today. When a small, flea-ridden stray pup was found in a pile of roadside rubble, the team spent some time asking around to find out if he had an owner. Soon they discovered that a family in the nearby village claimed him as their own. The team treated the little guy for a leg injury, gave him a full vaccination and health regimen, and sent him home better off for the encounter. A good-news way to end a weekend’s worth of very hard work!
--------------------------------------
Jan. 29
American Humane Responder Begins Locating and Treating Animals in Haiti
Tracy Reis, American Humane’s Animal Emergency Services program manager, arrived in Santo Domingo late on Wednesday night, where she grabbed a quick two hours of sleep. By 6:29 a.m. on Thursday, she had already boarded a plane to Port-au-Prince with the rest of the ARCH team.
After landing, the team members located their living quarters in the United Nations compound and then headed out in the animal control trucks that our Dominican Republic partner, Sociedad Dominicana para la Prevención de Crueldad a los Animales (SODOPRECA), had brought along to reassess targeted areas of the city and locate animals in need. That was an all-day mission. Locals on the ground explained that what used to take an hour of travel now takes between four to six hours due to the devastation and the large number of people who are still finding refuge during the day in the streets.
Here at American Humane headquarters we remain concerned for both the health and future of everyone in Haiti -- people and animals alike. In an email I received from Tracy, she noted:
"We toured most of Port-au-Prince today, including the downtown area. The devastation is really unbelievable. I've never seen anything like it. There are large groups of people hanging in the streets and around the rubble that was once their homes. Some have a vacant look of shock on their faces, while others seem to have higher spirits. There are quite a few people selling food and goods along the streets.
We saw many young children laughing and smiling for us as we took photos. Perhaps they were just thankfully unaware of the true tragedy around them. We also had a few adults smile at us. It made me feel better that at least for that brief moment, they could just relax.
So far, this deployment has gone well with no major issues. There are certainly more hoops and red tape to go through versus deploying state-side, but being surrounded by my friends from IFAW and the ASPCA has been great.”
This morning, with plan-in-hand, Tracy and the team headed out to provide antibiotics and field veterinary care to many of the animals they located yesterday. At 5:00 p.m. (Haiti local time) today, Tracy emailed me to let me know that so far they had treated 29 dogs and five cats -- and that the team was still hard at work.
--------------------------------------
Jan. 26
American Humane Responder Heads to Haiti
Our meetings with officials from the Haitian government, the U.N. and other international agencies have gone very well, and we’re eager to get moving with the work we have in front of us in Haiti. Most of the members of the ARCH team have returned to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, to focus on pulling together the supplies that are going to be needed in Haiti for animal relief. The team will also be working on assessing needs in the areas beyond Port-au-Prince. We have a lot of work ahead of us!
Breaking news of the day: Late last night I received an urgent request from ARCH command staff asking that I send Tracy Reis, our Animal Emergency Services program manager, to Haiti as soon as possible to begin the work of implementing a feeding program for the community dogs and to assist with immediate veterinary aid to animals. That effort will be conducted in cooperation with the Haitian government and, in particular, with the Ministry of Environment.
Tracy is packing for the trip as I write this. Going into Haiti right now requires a responder to be entirely self-contained. She has to carry all of her own food to last for more than a week, a water purification system, personal items, small equipment and other necessary pieces of gear. She’s been getting ready for this for days -- waiting for this call to come. Passport ready? Booster shots? You bet. As you can imagine, it’s an intense effort to get ready to go on an international response on very short notice. She will be on a plane early tomorrow for Santo Domingo, where she’ll meet up with a small team of other senior staff members from our coalition partners. They all expect to be in Port-au-Prince on Thursday morning. They’ll join up with the coalition members already there to begin coordinated operations on the ground. Tracy expects to be in Haiti for about a week, setting up these initial programs and laying the groundwork for the larger and longer-term efforts ahead of us.
I’ll share more with you as soon as I know more. Thank you all for your wonderful help in getting the information out on the ARCH coalition and our important work in Haiti. Please join me in wishing Tracy and the other responders Godspeed and safety in their travels.
--------------------------------------
Jan. 24
On the Ground in Haiti
It was a busy weekend! The ARCH team arrived in Port-au-Prince on Saturday and spent the day meeting with authorities and local animal welfare agencies. Today, the ARCH team met with Jean Marie Claude Germain, Haiti’s Minister of Environment. The discussion with the minister opened the door for ARCH members to begin focused missions of vaccinating street dogs and assisting with the care of livestock in the earthquake-ravaged regions. ARCH’s first task may be a round-up of street dogs, with the goal of feeding them and vaccinating them against rabies.
But a huge priority for ARCH will be maintaining veterinary care for livestock. Families in Haiti will depend more than ever on their backyard farms for food, milk, sale and survival. The coalition plans to distribute food to farmers to help sustain them until they get back on their feet.
Both of these efforts will help in protecting the lives and reducing the suffering of both the people and the animals of Haiti. In the meantime, the ARCH team members on the ground have begun an assessment of the state of the health, well-being and needs of the animals.
I saw a news article over the weekend where my good friend, Dr. Heather Case of the American Veterinary Medical Association and a member of the ARCH coalition, was quoted: “It’s public health, it’s animal welfare, and it’s what we need to do following a disaster.” Thank you Heather, you couldn’t be more right.
I’m pleased to report that the coalition has now raised about $140,000 in donations to support the animal disaster response in Haiti -- but the experts on the ground estimate that much more will be needed -- I think we all realize that this will be a very long effort if it is to make a difference. Please help us in our efforts to assist the people and the animals of Haiti.
Thank you all for your donations and the amazing and supportive emails, Facebook comments and tweets we’ve been receiving. Please keep them coming! And please let others know about ARCH and our mission to assist Haiti. We’ll keep you updated as it progresses over the next few days and weeks.
(show/hide changes)Tue Mar 23 16:28:12 +0000 2010 by LTel:added website updates to notes
notes: FROM THE WEBSITE:
Haiti Earthquake Response
The devastating earthquake in Haiti brought tragedy to the region, and our thoughts and prayers are with all those who have been affected. As scores of relief agencies and government resources have already mobilized to help the people caught in the situation, American Humane and other groups are turning attention to the animals that are suffering as well.
American Humane is part of the Animal Relief Coalition for Haiti (ARCH), a coalition of professional animal welfare organizations formed to provide emergency response services for animals affected by the tragic earthquake. American Humane has provided significant funding to ARCH, which is led by the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). Currently, our international coalition is preparing a mobile animal clinic and staff to perform outreach work in Haiti, with training provided by ARCH. Our coalition also will be assessing and assisting with the needs of animals belonging to people displaced by the disaster, as they move into temporary camps. Plans include providing food and clean water, as well as vaccinating companion animals against rabies.
Donate now to support our efforts to help animals in Haiti and future disasters.
Updated Reports
Debrah Schnackenberg, American Humane’s vice president of the Animal Protection Division and director of Animal Emergency Services, is providing updates on American Humane’s and ARCH’s efforts to help animals in Haiti.
--------------------------------------
Jan. 29
American Humane Responder Begins Locating and Treating Animals in Haiti
Tracy Reis, American Humane’s Animal Emergency Services program manager, arrived in Santo Domingo late on Wednesday night, where she grabbed a quick two hours of sleep. By 6:29 a.m. on Thursday, she had already boarded a plane to Port-au-Prince with the rest of the ARCH team.
After landing, the team members located their living quarters in the United Nations compound and then headed out in the animal control trucks that our Dominican Republic partner, Sociedad Dominicana para la Prevención de Crueldad a los Animales (SODOPRECA), had brought along to reassess targeted areas of the city and locate animals in need. That was an all-day mission. Locals on the ground explained that what used to take an hour of travel now takes between four to six hours due to the devastation and the large number of people who are still finding refuge during the day in the streets.
Here at American Humane headquarters we remain concerned for both the health and future of everyone in Haiti -- people and animals alike. In an email I received from Tracy, she noted:
"We toured most of Port-au-Prince today, including the downtown area. The devastation is really unbelievable. I've never seen anything like it. There are large groups of people hanging in the streets and around the rubble that was once their homes. Some have a vacant look of shock on their faces, while others seem to have higher spirits. There are quite a few people selling food and goods along the streets.
We saw many young children laughing and smiling for us as we took photos. Perhaps they were just thankfully unaware of the true tragedy around them. We also had a few adults smile at us. It made me feel better that at least for that brief moment, they could just relax.
So far, this deployment has gone well with no major issues. There are certainly more hoops and red tape to go through versus deploying state-side, but being surrounded by my friends from IFAW and the ASPCA has been great.”
This morning, with plan-in-hand, Tracy and the team headed out to provide antibiotics and field veterinary care to many of the animals they located yesterday. At 5:00 p.m. (Haiti local time) today, Tracy emailed me to let me know that so far they had treated 29 dogs and five cats -- and that the team was still hard at work.
--------------------------------------
Jan. 26
American Humane Responder Heads to Haiti
Our meetings with officials from the Haitian government, the U.N. and other international agencies have gone very well, and we’re eager to get moving with the work we have in front of us in Haiti. Most of the members of the ARCH team have returned to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, to focus on pulling together the supplies that are going to be needed in Haiti for animal relief. The team will also be working on assessing needs in the areas beyond Port-au-Prince. We have a lot of work ahead of us!
Breaking news of the day: Late last night I received an urgent request from ARCH command staff asking that I send Tracy Reis, our Animal Emergency Services program manager, to Haiti as soon as possible to begin the work of implementing a feeding program for the community dogs and to assist with immediate veterinary aid to animals. That effort will be conducted in cooperation with the Haitian government and, in particular, with the Ministry of Environment.
Tracy is packing for the trip as I write this. Going into Haiti right now requires a responder to be entirely self-contained. She has to carry all of her own food to last for more than a week, a water purification system, personal items, small equipment and other necessary pieces of gear. She’s been getting ready for this for days -- waiting for this call to come. Passport ready? Booster shots? You bet. As you can imagine, it’s an intense effort to get ready to go on an international response on very short notice. She will be on a plane early tomorrow for Santo Domingo, where she’ll meet up with a small team of other senior staff members from our coalition partners. They all expect to be in Port-au-Prince on Thursday morning. They’ll join up with the coalition members already there to begin coordinated operations on the ground. Tracy expects to be in Haiti for about a week, setting up these initial programs and laying the groundwork for the larger and longer-term efforts ahead of us.
I’ll share more with you as soon as I know more. Thank you all for your wonderful help in getting the information out on the ARCH coalition and our important work in Haiti. Please join me in wishing Tracy and the other responders Godspeed and safety in their travels.
--------------------------------------
Jan. 24
On the Ground in Haiti
It was a busy weekend! The ARCH team arrived in Port-au-Prince on Saturday and spent the day meeting with authorities and local animal welfare agencies. Today, the ARCH team met with Jean Marie Claude Germain, Haiti’s Minister of Environment. The discussion with the minister opened the door for ARCH members to begin focused missions of vaccinating street dogs and assisting with the care of livestock in the earthquake-ravaged regions. ARCH’s first task may be a round-up of street dogs, with the goal of feeding them and vaccinating them against rabies.
But a huge priority for ARCH will be maintaining veterinary care for livestock. Families in Haiti will depend more than ever on their backyard farms for food, milk, sale and survival. The coalition plans to distribute food to farmers to help sustain them until they get back on their feet.
Both of these efforts will help in protecting the lives and reducing the suffering of both the people and the animals of Haiti. In the meantime, the ARCH team members on the ground have begun an assessment of the state of the health, well-being and needs of the animals.
I saw a news article over the weekend where my good friend, Dr. Heather Case of the American Veterinary Medical Association and a member of the ARCH coalition, was quoted: “It’s public health, it’s animal welfare, and it’s what we need to do following a disaster.” Thank you Heather, you couldn’t be more right.
I’m pleased to report that the coalition has now raised about $140,000 in donations to support the animal disaster response in Haiti -- but the experts on the ground estimate that much more will be needed -- I think we all realize that this will be a very long effort if it is to make a difference. Please help us in our efforts to assist the people and the animals of Haiti.
Thank you all for your donations and the amazing and supportive emails, Facebook comments and tweets we’ve been receiving. Please keep them coming! And please let others know about ARCH and our mission to assist Haiti. We’ll keep you updated as it progresses over the next few days and weeks.
-> FROM THE WEBSITE:
Haiti Earthquake Response
The devastating earthquake in Haiti brought tragedy to the region, and our thoughts and prayers are with all those who have been affected. As scores of relief agencies and government resources have already mobilized to help the people caught in the situation, American Humane and other groups are turning attention to the animals that are suffering as well.
American Humane is part of the Animal Relief Coalition for Haiti (ARCH), a coalition of professional animal welfare organizations formed to provide emergency response services for animals affected by the tragic earthquake. American Humane has provided significant funding to ARCH, which is led by the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). Currently, our international coalition is preparing a mobile animal clinic and staff to perform outreach work in Haiti, with training provided by ARCH. Our coalition also will be assessing and assisting with the needs of animals belonging to people displaced by the disaster, as they move into temporary camps. Plans include providing food and clean water, as well as vaccinating companion animals against rabies.
Donate now to support our efforts to help animals in Haiti and future disasters.
Updated Reports
Debrah Schnackenberg, American Humane’s vice president of the Animal Protection Division and director of Animal Emergency Services, is providing updates on American Humane’s and ARCH’s efforts to help animals in Haiti.
--------------------------------------
Feb. 12 Update
Hundreds of Animals Treated
Approximately 20 ARCH team members have been in Haiti conducting assessment and rescue/relief work. As of early February, the coalition had treated more than 1,300 animals, including nearly 400 dogs and cats, with cases ranging from malnutrition, mange, fleas, ticks and worms, to tumor removals, wound sutures and other treatments. In the first stage of response, a top priority also was to visit the tent cities, where thousands of people and animals had been surviving with very few resources. The team has now also gone to more-rural areas and treated hundreds of farm animals, including goats, sheep, pigs and cows. Livestock received anthrax vaccine, all dogs and cats were given rabies vaccines. Animals received primary health care plus de-worming and vitamins. The coalition plans to remain in Haiti for an extended duration and work with the government to ensure that all ARCH funds are used appropriately.
Tracy Reis, American Humane’s Animal Emergency Services program manager, had been in Haiti for a week, tending to animals with the ARCH team. On Feb. 3, she completed her assignment there and traveled back to the U.S., heading directly to Marshall County, Miss., where she took part in a puppy mill seizure and the sheltering and transport of 95 rescued dogs. After the last dog was put on a plane bound for the ASPCA in New York and, ultimately, to a new home, Tracy finally returned home herself, for some well-deserved rest.
Update Reports
In the first weeks after our emergency response began, Debrah Schnackenberg, American Humane’s vice president of the Animal Protection Division and director of Animal Emergency Services, provided frequent updates on American Humane’s and ARCH’s efforts to help animals in Haiti.
------------------------------------
Feb. 2
Outreach Work to Treat Animals Continues
An update on Dik the dog from yesterday’s blog: The good news is that the ARCH team and one of our local partner veterinarians made a visit back to Dik’s new home yesterday morning to give him a thorough veterinary exam and treat him. It’s clear that Dik took a battering in the collapse of his home -- he has back injuries, but they don’t appear to be severe. The exam showed how tender and sore he remains now, even weeks later. He received anti-inflammatory medication along with the other medical care the team has been delivering, and the report is that they think Dik will do well from here on out. What good news for a dog that has been through a lot!
Finishing Dik’s exam, the team headed out to revisit several of the tent cities where they had made appointments to meet the locals and provide veterinary care for their animals. In each location, people showed up seeking vaccinations, antibiotics, flea dusts and other medical care for their dogs, cats and assorted livestock. This effort has been so successful that the team on the ground and the new ARCH team members who are rotating in this week will continue this outreach work.
This short message from Tracy in Haiti came in to my email today, and I wanted to share it with all of you:
“We just treated a dog that was displaced [from her owner] by the quake, and another man is caring for her. He told us that when she looked at him, he knew she missed her owners. He [said he] felt bad because she was sad. He was taking good care of her, and what a wonderful heart he has [for her]. Had to swallow really hard when he told us that.”
We know that dogs in Haiti aren’t regarded as pets in quite the same way that most people regard them here in the States. It’s a different culture, and differences are to be expected. But the stories I continue to hear from Tracy and the ARCH team on the ground are of large groups of people showing up day after day, taking the trouble to bring the animals they have with them to receive the veterinary and first-aid care the team is making available to them. There are a lot of people in those tent cities who have lost everything -- but they still have animals with them and they are making efforts to ensure that they receive care. It’s these stories that make my day because it speaks as much about the resilience of the people as it does about their concern for animal care. They are survivors, all of them.
----------------------------------
Feb. 1
Treating More Animals; Two Dogs’ Stories
It was an extremely busy weekend for Tracy and the ARCH team on the ground in Port-au-Prince. Friday morning was occupied with a meeting with a top official from the Haitian Ministry of Environment, and then Tracy and staff from IFAW and ASPCA deployed into some of the previously identified “high need” areas of the city. On a daily basis, the team has been assisting about 50 dogs a day, and some smaller numbers of cats and livestock, with antibiotics, vaccinations, flea baths and nutritional supplements. Tracy advised me last night that yesterday they had treated 44 dogs, 13 cats and 7 pigs and did a field suture on a dog that had been injured in a dogfight.
In the past couple of days, the team has been admitted into the tent cities where earthquake refugees are taking shelter until the threat of aftershocks subsides and they can begin the task of rebuilding. Admittance to the tent cities has required special permission, so we were glad we could get this accomplished at last. Yesterday morning was spent in one of the tent cities, where the team also worked on Saturday to continue vaccinating and providing field veterinary care for the animals there. While there, the team watched as the displaced locals scrambled to keep a food truck from leaving their area by climbing on the back of the moving truck. The desperation of the people in these camps is heartbreaking. Nevertheless, they are bringing their animals to the team every day for aid and assistance, and they are appreciative of our efforts.
But amid the sadness of the daily desperation of the people is the hopeful story of a dog named Dik. At the time of the earthquake, Dik was inside a building with a 7-year-old boy. Both were buried under rubble when the building collapsed. Rescuers worked hard to rescue both the boy and the dog. Sadly, the boy did not live. Dik the dog was also pulled free -- alive but injured. The ARCH team came across Dik on Saturday and learned about his story, and they have been working since then to bring a veterinarian to his location, so he can receive a full exam and care for his injuries. They hope to get Dik together with a local veterinarian today.
Finally, a “good news” story to share today. When a small, flea-ridden stray pup was found in a pile of roadside rubble, the team spent some time asking around to find out if he had an owner. Soon they discovered that a family in the nearby village claimed him as their own. The team treated the little guy for a leg injury, gave him a full vaccination and health regimen, and sent him home better off for the encounter. A good-news way to end a weekend’s worth of very hard work!
--------------------------------------
Jan. 29
American Humane Responder Begins Locating and Treating Animals in Haiti
Tracy Reis, American Humane’s Animal Emergency Services program manager, arrived in Santo Domingo late on Wednesday night, where she grabbed a quick two hours of sleep. By 6:29 a.m. on Thursday, she had already boarded a plane to Port-au-Prince with the rest of the ARCH team.
After landing, the team members located their living quarters in the United Nations compound and then headed out in the animal control trucks that our Dominican Republic partner, Sociedad Dominicana para la Prevención de Crueldad a los Animales (SODOPRECA), had brought along to reassess targeted areas of the city and locate animals in need. That was an all-day mission. Locals on the ground explained that what used to take an hour of travel now takes between four to six hours due to the devastation and the large number of people who are still finding refuge during the day in the streets.
Here at American Humane headquarters we remain concerned for both the health and future of everyone in Haiti -- people and animals alike. In an email I received from Tracy, she noted:
"We toured most of Port-au-Prince today, including the downtown area. The devastation is really unbelievable. I've never seen anything like it. There are large groups of people hanging in the streets and around the rubble that was once their homes. Some have a vacant look of shock on their faces, while others seem to have higher spirits. There are quite a few people selling food and goods along the streets.
We saw many young children laughing and smiling for us as we took photos. Perhaps they were just thankfully unaware of the true tragedy around them. We also had a few adults smile at us. It made me feel better that at least for that brief moment, they could just relax.
So far, this deployment has gone well with no major issues. There are certainly more hoops and red tape to go through versus deploying state-side, but being surrounded by my friends from IFAW and the ASPCA has been great.”
This morning, with plan-in-hand, Tracy and the team headed out to provide antibiotics and field veterinary care to many of the animals they located yesterday. At 5:00 p.m. (Haiti local time) today, Tracy emailed me to let me know that so far they had treated 29 dogs and five cats -- and that the team was still hard at work.
--------------------------------------
Jan. 26
American Humane Responder Heads to Haiti
Our meetings with officials from the Haitian government, the U.N. and other international agencies have gone very well, and we’re eager to get moving with the work we have in front of us in Haiti. Most of the members of the ARCH team have returned to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, to focus on pulling together the supplies that are going to be needed in Haiti for animal relief. The team will also be working on assessing needs in the areas beyond Port-au-Prince. We have a lot of work ahead of us!
Breaking news of the day: Late last night I received an urgent request from ARCH command staff asking that I send Tracy Reis, our Animal Emergency Services program manager, to Haiti as soon as possible to begin the work of implementing a feeding program for the community dogs and to assist with immediate veterinary aid to animals. That effort will be conducted in cooperation with the Haitian government and, in particular, with the Ministry of Environment.
Tracy is packing for the trip as I write this. Going into Haiti right now requires a responder to be entirely self-contained. She has to carry all of her own food to last for more than a week, a water purification system, personal items, small equipment and other necessary pieces of gear. She’s been getting ready for this for days -- waiting for this call to come. Passport ready? Booster shots? You bet. As you can imagine, it’s an intense effort to get ready to go on an international response on very short notice. She will be on a plane early tomorrow for Santo Domingo, where she’ll meet up with a small team of other senior staff members from our coalition partners. They all expect to be in Port-au-Prince on Thursday morning. They’ll join up with the coalition members already there to begin coordinated operations on the ground. Tracy expects to be in Haiti for about a week, setting up these initial programs and laying the groundwork for the larger and longer-term efforts ahead of us.
I’ll share more with you as soon as I know more. Thank you all for your wonderful help in getting the information out on the ARCH coalition and our important work in Haiti. Please join me in wishing Tracy and the other responders Godspeed and safety in their travels.
--------------------------------------
Jan. 24
On the Ground in Haiti
It was a busy weekend! The ARCH team arrived in Port-au-Prince on Saturday and spent the day meeting with authorities and local animal welfare agencies. Today, the ARCH team met with Jean Marie Claude Germain, Haiti’s Minister of Environment. The discussion with the minister opened the door for ARCH members to begin focused missions of vaccinating street dogs and assisting with the care of livestock in the earthquake-ravaged regions. ARCH’s first task may be a round-up of street dogs, with the goal of feeding them and vaccinating them against rabies.
But a huge priority for ARCH will be maintaining veterinary care for livestock. Families in Haiti will depend more than ever on their backyard farms for food, milk, sale and survival. The coalition plans to distribute food to farmers to help sustain them until they get back on their feet.
Both of these efforts will help in protecting the lives and reducing the suffering of both the people and the animals of Haiti. In the meantime, the ARCH team members on the ground have begun an assessment of the state of the health, well-being and needs of the animals.
I saw a news article over the weekend where my good friend, Dr. Heather Case of the American Veterinary Medical Association and a member of the ARCH coalition, was quoted: “It’s public health, it’s animal welfare, and it’s what we need to do following a disaster.” Thank you Heather, you couldn’t be more right.
I’m pleased to report that the coalition has now raised about $140,000 in donations to support the animal disaster response in Haiti -- but the experts on the ground estimate that much more will be needed -- I think we all realize that this will be a very long effort if it is to make a difference. Please help us in our efforts to assist the people and the animals of Haiti.
Thank you all for your donations and the amazing and supportive emails, Facebook comments and tweets we’ve been receiving. Please keep them coming! And please let others know about ARCH and our mission to assist Haiti. We’ll keep you updated as it progresses over the next few days and weeks.
(show/hide changes)Sun Jan 31 23:23:15 +0000 2010 by LTel:updated notes
notes: FROM THE WEBSITE:
Haiti Earthquake Response
The devastating earthquake in Haiti brought tragedy to the region, and our thoughts and prayers are with all those who have been affected. As scores of relief agencies and government resources have already mobilized to help the people caught in the situation, American Humane and other groups are turning attention to the animals that are suffering as well.
American Humane is part of the Animal Relief Coalition for Haiti (ARCH), a coalition of professional animal welfare organizations formed to provide emergency response services for animals affected by the tragic earthquake. American Humane has provided significant funding to ARCH, which is led by the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). Currently, our international coalition is preparing a mobile animal clinic and staff to perform outreach work in Haiti, with training provided by ARCH. Our coalition also will be assessing and assisting with the needs of animals belonging to people displaced by the disaster, as they move into temporary camps. Plans include providing food and clean water, as well as vaccinating companion animals against rabies.
Donate now to support our efforts to help animals in Haiti and future disasters.
Updated Reports
Debrah Schnackenberg, American Humane’s vice president of the Animal Protection Division and director of Animal Emergency Services, is providing updates on American Humane’s and ARCH’s efforts to help animals in Haiti.
Jan. 24
On the Ground in Haiti
It was a busy weekend! The ARCH team arrived in Port-au-Prince on Saturday and spent the day meeting with authorities and local animal welfare agencies. Today, the ARCH team met with Jean Marie Claude Germain, Haiti’s Minister of Environment. The discussion with the minister opened the door for ARCH members to begin focused missions of vaccinating street dogs and assisting with the care of livestock in the earthquake-ravaged regions. ARCH’s first task may be a round-up of street dogs, with the goal of feeding them and vaccinating them against rabies.
But a huge priority for ARCH will be maintaining veterinary care for livestock. Families in Haiti will depend more than ever on their backyard farms for food, milk, sale and survival. The coalition plans to distribute food to farmers to help sustain them until they get back on their feet.
Both of these efforts will help in protecting the lives and reducing the suffering of both the people and the animals of Haiti. In the meantime, the ARCH team members on the ground have begun an assessment of the state of the health, well-being and needs of the animals.
I saw a news article over the weekend where my good friend, Dr. Heather Case of the American Veterinary Medical Association and a member of the ARCH coalition, was quoted: “It’s public health, it’s animal welfare, and it’s what we need to do following a disaster.” Thank you Heather, you couldn’t be more right.
I’m pleased to report that the coalition has now raised about $140,000 in donations to support the animal disaster response in Haiti -- but the experts on the ground estimate that much more will be needed -- I think we all realize that this will be a very long effort if it is to make a difference. Please help us in our efforts to assist the people and the animals of Haiti.
Thank you all for your donations and the amazing and supportive emails, Facebook comments and tweets we’ve been receiving. Please keep them coming! And please let others know about ARCH and our mission to assist Haiti. We’ll keep you updated as it progresses over the next few days and weeks.
-> FROM THE WEBSITE:
Haiti Earthquake Response
The devastating earthquake in Haiti brought tragedy to the region, and our thoughts and prayers are with all those who have been affected. As scores of relief agencies and government resources have already mobilized to help the people caught in the situation, American Humane and other groups are turning attention to the animals that are suffering as well.
American Humane is part of the Animal Relief Coalition for Haiti (ARCH), a coalition of professional animal welfare organizations formed to provide emergency response services for animals affected by the tragic earthquake. American Humane has provided significant funding to ARCH, which is led by the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). Currently, our international coalition is preparing a mobile animal clinic and staff to perform outreach work in Haiti, with training provided by ARCH. Our coalition also will be assessing and assisting with the needs of animals belonging to people displaced by the disaster, as they move into temporary camps. Plans include providing food and clean water, as well as vaccinating companion animals against rabies.
Donate now to support our efforts to help animals in Haiti and future disasters.
Updated Reports
Debrah Schnackenberg, American Humane’s vice president of the Animal Protection Division and director of Animal Emergency Services, is providing updates on American Humane’s and ARCH’s efforts to help animals in Haiti.
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Jan. 29
American Humane Responder Begins Locating and Treating Animals in Haiti
Tracy Reis, American Humane’s Animal Emergency Services program manager, arrived in Santo Domingo late on Wednesday night, where she grabbed a quick two hours of sleep. By 6:29 a.m. on Thursday, she had already boarded a plane to Port-au-Prince with the rest of the ARCH team.
After landing, the team members located their living quarters in the United Nations compound and then headed out in the animal control trucks that our Dominican Republic partner, Sociedad Dominicana para la Prevención de Crueldad a los Animales (SODOPRECA), had brought along to reassess targeted areas of the city and locate animals in need. That was an all-day mission. Locals on the ground explained that what used to take an hour of travel now takes between four to six hours due to the devastation and the large number of people who are still finding refuge during the day in the streets.
Here at American Humane headquarters we remain concerned for both the health and future of everyone in Haiti -- people and animals alike. In an email I received from Tracy, she noted:
"We toured most of Port-au-Prince today, including the downtown area. The devastation is really unbelievable. I've never seen anything like it. There are large groups of people hanging in the streets and around the rubble that was once their homes. Some have a vacant look of shock on their faces, while others seem to have higher spirits. There are quite a few people selling food and goods along the streets.
We saw many young children laughing and smiling for us as we took photos. Perhaps they were just thankfully unaware of the true tragedy around them. We also had a few adults smile at us. It made me feel better that at least for that brief moment, they could just relax.
So far, this deployment has gone well with no major issues. There are certainly more hoops and red tape to go through versus deploying state-side, but being surrounded by my friends from IFAW and the ASPCA has been great.”
This morning, with plan-in-hand, Tracy and the team headed out to provide antibiotics and field veterinary care to many of the animals they located yesterday. At 5:00 p.m. (Haiti local time) today, Tracy emailed me to let me know that so far they had treated 29 dogs and five cats -- and that the team was still hard at work.
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Jan. 26
American Humane Responder Heads to Haiti
Our meetings with officials from the Haitian government, the U.N. and other international agencies have gone very well, and we’re eager to get moving with the work we have in front of us in Haiti. Most of the members of the ARCH team have returned to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, to focus on pulling together the supplies that are going to be needed in Haiti for animal relief. The team will also be working on assessing needs in the areas beyond Port-au-Prince. We have a lot of work ahead of us!
Breaking news of the day: Late last night I received an urgent request from ARCH command staff asking that I send Tracy Reis, our Animal Emergency Services program manager, to Haiti as soon as possible to begin the work of implementing a feeding program for the community dogs and to assist with immediate veterinary aid to animals. That effort will be conducted in cooperation with the Haitian government and, in particular, with the Ministry of Environment.
Tracy is packing for the trip as I write this. Going into Haiti right now requires a responder to be entirely self-contained. She has to carry all of her own food to last for more than a week, a water purification system, personal items, small equipment and other necessary pieces of gear. She’s been getting ready for this for days -- waiting for this call to come. Passport ready? Booster shots? You bet. As you can imagine, it’s an intense effort to get ready to go on an international response on very short notice. She will be on a plane early tomorrow for Santo Domingo, where she’ll meet up with a small team of other senior staff members from our coalition partners. They all expect to be in Port-au-Prince on Thursday morning. They’ll join up with the coalition members already there to begin coordinated operations on the ground. Tracy expects to be in Haiti for about a week, setting up these initial programs and laying the groundwork for the larger and longer-term efforts ahead of us.
I’ll share more with you as soon as I know more. Thank you all for your wonderful help in getting the information out on the ARCH coalition and our important work in Haiti. Please join me in wishing Tracy and the other responders Godspeed and safety in their travels.
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Jan. 24
On the Ground in Haiti
It was a busy weekend! The ARCH team arrived in Port-au-Prince on Saturday and spent the day meeting with authorities and local animal welfare agencies. Today, the ARCH team met with Jean Marie Claude Germain, Haiti’s Minister of Environment. The discussion with the minister opened the door for ARCH members to begin focused missions of vaccinating street dogs and assisting with the care of livestock in the earthquake-ravaged regions. ARCH’s first task may be a round-up of street dogs, with the goal of feeding them and vaccinating them against rabies.
But a huge priority for ARCH will be maintaining veterinary care for livestock. Families in Haiti will depend more than ever on their backyard farms for food, milk, sale and survival. The coalition plans to distribute food to farmers to help sustain them until they get back on their feet.
Both of these efforts will help in protecting the lives and reducing the suffering of both the people and the animals of Haiti. In the meantime, the ARCH team members on the ground have begun an assessment of the state of the health, well-being and needs of the animals.
I saw a news article over the weekend where my good friend, Dr. Heather Case of the American Veterinary Medical Association and a member of the ARCH coalition, was quoted: “It’s public health, it’s animal welfare, and it’s what we need to do following a disaster.” Thank you Heather, you couldn’t be more right.
I’m pleased to report that the coalition has now raised about $140,000 in donations to support the animal disaster response in Haiti -- but the experts on the ground estimate that much more will be needed -- I think we all realize that this will be a very long effort if it is to make a difference. Please help us in our efforts to assist the people and the animals of Haiti.
Thank you all for your donations and the amazing and supportive emails, Facebook comments and tweets we’ve been receiving. Please keep them coming! And please let others know about ARCH and our mission to assist Haiti. We’ll keep you updated as it progresses over the next few days and weeks.
mission:
Founded in 1877, the American Humane Association is the only national organization dedicated to protecting both children and animals. A nonprofit membership organization, American Humane is headquartered in Denver.
Through a network of child and animal protection agencies and individuals, American Humane provides national leadership in developing policies, legislation, curricula and training programs -- and taking actions -- to protect children and animals from cruelty, abuse, neglect and exploitation.
Hundreds of child welfare and child protective services agencies and professionals are members of American Humane. In addition, hundreds of local humane societies, SPCAs and animal control agencies across the country are member organizations of American Humane. As members, those individuals and organizations benefit from the national leadership, expertise, resources, information exchange, trainings and programs that American Humane provides.
American Humane also raises awareness about The Link® between animal abuse and other forms of violence, as well as the benefits derived from the human-animal bond. Our regional office in Los Angeles is the authority behind the No Animals Were Harmed® end credit disclaimer on film and TV productions, and our office in Washington advocates for child and animal protection at the federal and state levels.
-> Founded in 1877, the American Humane Association is the only national organization dedicated to protecting both children and animals. A nonprofit membership organization, American Humane is headquartered in Denver.
Through a network of child and animal protection agencies and individuals, American Humane provides national leadership in developing policies, legislation, curricula and training programs -- and taking actions -- to protect children and animals from cruelty, abuse, neglect and exploitation.
Hundreds of child welfare and child protective services agencies and professionals are members of American Humane. In addition, hundreds of local humane societies, SPCAs and animal control agencies across the country are member organizations of American Humane. As members, those individuals and organizations benefit from the national leadership, expertise, resources, information exchange, trainings and programs that American Humane provides.
American Humane also raises awareness about The Link® between animal abuse and other forms of violence, as well as the benefits derived from the human-animal bond. Our regional office in Los Angeles is the authority behind the No Animals Were Harmed® end credit disclaimer on film and TV productions, and our office in Washington advocates for child and animal protection at the federal and state levels.
(show/hide changes)Sun Jan 24 22:25:28 +0000 2010 by LTel:main_phone: -> 1-800-227-4645 or (303) 792-9900
status: Unknown -> Open
mission:
->
Founded in 1877, the American Humane Association is the only national organization dedicated to protecting both children and animals. A nonprofit membership organization, American Humane is headquartered in Denver.
Through a network of child and animal protection agencies and individuals, American Humane provides national leadership in developing policies, legislation, curricula and training programs -- and taking actions -- to protect children and animals from cruelty, abuse, neglect and exploitation.
Hundreds of child welfare and child protective services agencies and professionals are members of American Humane. In addition, hundreds of local humane societies, SPCAs and animal control agencies across the country are member organizations of American Humane. As members, those individuals and organizations benefit from the national leadership, expertise, resources, information exchange, trainings and programs that American Humane provides.
American Humane also raises awareness about The Link® between animal abuse and other forms of violence, as well as the benefits derived from the human-animal bond. Our regional office in Los Angeles is the authority behind the No Animals Were Harmed® end credit disclaimer on film and TV productions, and our office in Washington advocates for child and animal protection at the federal and state levels.
(show/hide changes)Sun Jan 24 22:21:14 +0000 2010 by LTel:site
(show/hide changes)(hide history)