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Veterinary Teams to Enter Haiti This Weekend

Editor's Note: A previous version of this story inaccurately reported that the AVMF's Veterinary Medical Assistance Teams were operating in Haiti.

An armed security guard monitors an area of downtown Port-au-Prince where the national bank collapsed. One of Haiti's abandoned dogs stands guard nearby. Courtesy of Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times

The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA), an international animal welfare organization, says plans are underway for a plane to transport a rescue team Jan. 23 from Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic to Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The government of Haiti has asked WSPA to help with emergency relief operations after the massive Jan. 12 earthquake.

WSPA, along with the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and other animal welfare groups that have united as the Animal Relief Coalition for Haiti (ARCH), plan to arrive in Haiti this weekend. It is estimated that there were 5,925 poultry, 1,450,000 cattle, 1,900,000 goats, 500,000 horses, 80,000 mules, 1 million pigs and 153,000 sheep before the earthquake, according to most recent data from the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization.

The rescue teams have put together the necessary equipment and medicines, including vaccinations and bandages. To assist with Haiti relief efforts for pets, Banfield pet hospitals has donated $10,000 to benefit the companion animal population of the affected island nation.

The Banfield donation goes to provide lifesaving medicine to Haitian animals.  Made through the American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF), the funds benefit the American Veterinary Medical Association’s (AVMA) relief efforts.

Jeffrey Klausner, DVM, MS, DACVIM, senior vice president and chief medical officer of Banfield, The Pet Hospital, says that because the company is unable to directly offer medical services to the pets in Haiti, they decided to offer financial support to the AVMF as they already have efforts underway.

The company says it hopes this donation brings relief, comfort and medical support. “As a veterinary practice, we know the important role pets and animals play in the lives of families,” says Klausner.

In addition to these efforts, the Humane Society of the United States, together with its global affiliate Humane Society International and the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association, has assembled a team of trained veterinary experts to arrive in the capital city of Port-au-Prince this weekend. <HOME>

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Veterinary Teams to Enter Haiti This Weekend

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I've been thinking about the animals since day one. There were reports of stray dogs eating the dead bodies and they were clubbed to death. There are very few "pets" in Haiti. There is live stock raised for food, and stray cats and dogs on the street... How sad! Maybe now the country will turn around for the better for both humans and animals. One can only hope. i wake up in the middle of the night thinking of all the animal suffering (and people of course) as we go on about our daily lives...Something needs to be done and I am glad there is starting to be a little focus on the helpless, hurt and hungry animals. Marianna, Porter Ranch, CA Posted: 1/25/2010 10:26:52 AM This is ridiculous. Banfield is a multimillion dollar company, owned by Mars candy company, that every year makes millions on their "Wellness Plans" that 40% of pet owners that have them don't use (kinda like gym memberships!). The fact they are so CHEAP that they donated 10K instead of maybe 100K is insulting to the relief efforts. Robert, Arlington, TX Posted: 1/25/2010 8:33:59 AM Thaks God someone remembered the animals!!! I'm from Ecuador (I live in Guayaquil) and I just kept asking about the animals there.. I feel so bad so stress I don't even have words to decribe it..no one here in my "dear" country is caring about animals!!! I would like to help, I really do but here we don't even have laws or organizations that I could contact. PLease if you are from a country where animals does count HELP THEM!!! they don't have the strenght or the words to scream for help. I have my pets and every time I whatch the news I hug them and pray for those that are in Haiti Tita, Phoenix, AZ Posted: 1/24/2010 7:21:20 PM It's very very heart warming to know the animals, any animal will be cared for in Haiti. You hear all about human efforts and very little about animal efforts which is a big concern to me. Thanks to everyone involved in the rescue efforts. Becca Goins, Charleston, SC Posted: 1/24/2010 9:44:24 AM