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Dogs in Haiti – Photo Credit : WSPA

It is hard to believe it has been a little over a week since a massive earthquake devastated Haiti. News photos and reports come in everyday showing the heartbreaking reality of what the people and animals of this nation – that was already struggling with poverty – face. Since then IDA’s staff has been working non-stop to access the situation on the ground  and what we can do to help.

We began by joining a coalition of animal protection groups, called the Animal Relief Coalition of Haiti (ARCH) and have already committed funds to help pay for a mobile veterinary clinic. ARCH is coordinating with a Dominican Republic based animal protection group named Sociedad Dominicana para la Prevención de Crueldad a los Animales (SODOPRECA) to get an animal disaster relief team of veterinarians and animal disaster responders, food and supplies, into Haiti. This Coalition team is already on the ground in the Dominican Republic preparing and stocking the animal emergency response clinic. Although numerous supplies are still needed for the mobile clinic – food, water, medicine, syringes, bandages, and more. ARCH is currently organizing logistics through veterinary contacts in Haiti. One of the greatest problems our coalition faces is finding fuel for our vehicles. Although rumors that some are charging as much as $100 for a gallon of fuel are proving untrue – there is just not enough fuel to be found and there are fears that there are those who will see an opportunity to profit from other’s misfortune once fuel does become more available. Finding clean water is also a concern and so our rescue team must provide their own water purification system. These are just some of the concerns we already face.
The situation on the ground is constantly changing, but as soon as human relief efforts have stabilized and security is in place, we will be able to get more updates  and inform you of additional ways you can help IDA help the people and animals of Haiti.

It is through the generosity and compassion of our supporters we are able to help these animals who would otherwise be forgotten in this tragedy. Please donate today to help our efforts  and take a minute to forward this to your friends and families. Please help us help them.

I doubt any of us will forget when disaster hit New Orleans in 2005 in the form of Hurricane Katrina. At the time, I volunteered to work crisis lines to help with companion animal rescue efforts in Louisiana as well as Mississippi. I can still remember how the calls from the desperate and traumatized came in at all hours  – often on top of each other. IDA was one of several organizations that sent rescue teams then. Now, IDA is actively assessing how we can assist both people and animals in Haiti. IDA is partnering together with a coalition of animal protection organization (Animal Relief Coalition for Haiti, i.e. ARCH) to assist with the pooling of both funds and on the ground assistance & response in order to support Haiti animal relief.

We are currently in touch with other ARCH partners to determine how we can best coordinate and maximize our efforts. As reports of refugees having to flee the devastated area pour in, it is heartbreaking to hear of the extremely difficult choices that people have faced to save themselves and families. Without animal protection organizations helping in these efforts, it is unthinkable what the future for the animals affected by this disaster may look like.

If you have resources that might be put to use to help the animals of Haiti, or if you would like to become more involved in IDA’s disaster relief efforts, please contact disasterrelief@idausa.org. The best way to help the affected animals of Haiti is with your financial contributions. If you would like to support our animal disaster response efforts, please help us with your donation by clicking here.

Our thoughts are with the people and animals of Haiti. We are standing by, and hope you will too. We will post updates on our blog as they become available.

We encourage our members to also support whichever humanitarian relief groups you feel most comfortable with.