Jan 15
Our hearts go out to the people of Haiti, for the trauma and loss they’ve already experienced since Tuesday night’s
calamitous 7.0 earthquake hit, with its epicenter not far from the densely populated capital of Port-au-Prince. News agencies report that thousands have perished, many are still trapped in the rubble of buildings, and hundreds of thousands of others are without shelter, medical care, or other life necessities. Governments and relief agencies are deploying to deal with what amounts to one of the worst disasters of modern times, with its impact compounded by the chronic poverty, deficient infrastructure, bare-bones medical care, and other problems that afflict the poorest nation in the western hemisphere.
Logan Abass/United Nations / CC BY 2.0
Damage from the Jan. 12 earthquake.
When people suffer in this terrible way, so do animals. The HSUS, Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association, and our global affiliate Humane Society International are working on a preliminary assessment of Haiti’s animal-care needs, taking into account the security, transportation, housing, and supply challenges that we would face in deployment. Fortunately, one of our veterinary teams had been conducting a program at a veterinary school in the neighboring Dominican Republic when the quake struck. We are looking to determine if they can get into Haiti to conduct an on-the-ground assessment. We are also communicating with human relief agencies, and looking to cooperate with them. One difficulty is that there are no organized animal welfare groups anywhere in the country, and no animal shelters or veterinary schools. This lack of infrastructure will complicate any response.
If you would like to support our disaster response work around the world, you can give here. Please stay tuned to the blog, and to humanesociety.org for continuing updates.
If you haven’t done anything yet to help out regarding this disaster in Haiti, even getting word out by spreading info #’s – please – I ask you to help. Time is of the utmost importance right now and is critical. Text “YELE” to #501501 or “HAITI” to “90999″ – we are one human race. It MATTERS. Wake up everyone. There is no such thing as too small – this includes our animals. I have donated to Doctors Without Borders, The Red Cross, and of course, am working tightly within the Humane Society. Each small effort adds up to an enormous gesture and even greater change. Do it now.
Thank you, JL
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March 24th, 2010 at 11:55 am
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News agencies report that thousands have perished, many are still trapped in the rubble of buildings, and hundreds of […….
May 4th, 2010 at 11:08 pm
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Our hearts go out to the people of Haiti, for the trauma and loss they’ve already experienced since Tuesday night’s calamitous 7…..
May 20th, 2010 at 6:30 am
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