COLUMNS
January 30, 2010 In times of storms, floods and other disasters, rescue teams of all types move into action to help.
In Haiti after earthquakes have devastated parts of that country, some of the first on the scene were the dog teams, searching for human survivors in the wreckage of collapsed buildings.
Following them were medical teams to treat the survivors who were injured.
But people were not the only victims in Haiti. Millions of animals, including farm animals, livestock, pets, and a huge population of stray dogs needed help.
Disaster response teams from the Humane Society of the United States made their way to the disaster area, intent on helping animals in need.
Close behind was the Animal Relief Coalition for Haiti, an international group of animal welfare organizations including the American Humane Association, United Animal Nations and the International Fund for Animal Welfare.
Their mission is to provide clean water, food and medical treatment and supplies for rescued and injured animals.
The efforts of these groups will alleviate suffering for rescued animals, but they also help the human population.
Providing care and treatment for livestock and other farm animals will benefit the people who now, more than ever, will rely on the milk and food those animals will supply.
Feeding and vaccinating stray pets will help to prevent the spread of certain diseases.
Probably my favorite animal story from Haiti is about an American couple who were in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina. They took in two stray dogs after the storm.
Four years later they were in Haiti when the earthquake happened and they had to evacuate - without their dogs.
The HSUS team located the two dogs, which now have survived both a major hurricane and a massive earthquake, and reunited them with their grateful owners.
For more information about animal relief efforts in Haiti, visit the HSUS website at www.HSUS.org, American Humane Association at www.americanhumane.org or the International Fund for Animal Welfare at www.IFAW.org.
When we all work together we can make a world of difference, when we're speaking of pets.
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