There are teams on the ground in Haiti working hard for the animals. Several agencies are collaborating to have the best impact possible and have already addressed the needs of many animals. They have formed a group called ARCH, Animal Relief Coalition for Haiti.
Immediately after the earthquake hit, lines of communication were opened between the government of Haiti and rescue groups here in the United States. It was clear that the needs of the people were a priority over the animals. While human relief efforts were in full swing, the animal welfare groups patiently waited.
On January 22nd ARCH was invited by the Haitian government to come to the island. They were on ground and setting up within 24 hours. While much of the needs assessment was done prior to arriving, there was still a lot to do. They spent most of the day the 23rd meeting with government officials and local animal rescue agencies.
Most of us might think of dogs and cats as the main animals in need of relief. But the biggest and most important population of animals for Haiti is their livestock. There is an estimated 5 million farm animals of which almost half are goats. There are also a number of chickens and horses as well.
While it is important to address the needs of the cats and dogs, the livestock needs take priority. It has a direct effect on their economy. "By restoring the livestock, we really restore the economy and help the government get back on its feet," said Dr. Dick Green, head of disaster relief for the International Fund for Animal Welfare.
ARCH is also addressing a human health issue in Haiti. Most Haitians have no concept of keeping a dog or cat as a pet. They can hardly feed themselves so caring properly for a pet is something they don’t think about. Because of this few if any dogs and cats, be they feral or not, have been vaccinated against the rabies virus.
The ARCH team is also planning an aggressive approach towards rabies vaccinations. There is no cure for rabies so if the disease spreads among the stray animals it is only a matter of time before humans are affected.
There have already been reports of starving dogs eating from the corpses in the streets. The response by the Haitians has been to chase off the dogs and in some cases they have beaten or clubbed the dogs to death. This puts the people at risk of being bitten.
The situation in Haiti is rough, but it gets better every day. If you feel a need to support the relief efforts I would encourage you to find a reputable agency, human or animal, and make a monetary donation. But beware; there are plenty of scammers just waiting to make a buck from this tragedy.
The Humane Society Weekly Wish: Bleach, dry dog food and cat litter please.
Jack Fisher
Board of Directors
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