The whole world watched in horror on Jan. 12, 2010, as Haiti suffered the aftermath of an earthquake that measured a 7.0 magnitude. This disaster was followed by six more aftershocks measuring between 5.9 and 4.5. America and the rest of the world thought of the suffering children, the women and the men who were trapped under buildings who had lost everything.
Many countries rushed to the small island with medical supplies and doctors, only to make a small dent toward repairing the damage. People in churches, synagogues, mosques, and in their homes prayed for the people who were hurting and who had been killed. But who was thinking of the animals?
When a natural disaster of this magnitude occurs, it does not just affect the people who inhabit the area. It also affects the animals. Everyone remembers Hurricane Katrina and the thousands of animals that were being sent to shelters and adopted all over the country.
But what do people do about the abandoned animals from a country that is not their own?
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), an animal rights organization, has only commented on the subject on its website, and have said nothing about future plans to help.
However, in a recent New York Times Interview, Karen Ashmore, executive director of the Lambi Fund agricultural group in Haiti, talked about the conditions before the earthquake for pets and how the state of the animals was grim even before the earthquake occurred.
”The concept of pets is quite foreign to Haitians,” Ashmore said. “Most Haitians can barely feed themselves, much less a pet.”
After the disaster Haiti just experienced, animals come second place to human needs.
According to The American Veterinary Medical Association, “As always with disasters like this, the humanitarian rescue efforts will be the focus in Haiti for the first week or so. However, veterinarians are on standby to assist with the tragedy.”
Luckily, some very devoted activists all over the world are ready to do what they can to help the injured and sick animals of Haiti.
An organization called Sodopreca is the only Dominican animal rights group that is going to Haiti specifically to rescue the animals. Another charity called the International Fund for Animal Welfare is jumping in and helping the animals after immediate human needs are met.
An international relief effort has been created for these four-legged victims called the Animal Relief Coalition for Haiti (ARCH). Organizations involved include the World Society for the Protections of Animals (WSPA), the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), American Humane Association, Humane Society International, United Animal Nations (UAN), Kinship Circle and Best Friends Animal Society.
Doctors from the ASPCA are already in Haiti and are vaccinating and performing some surgeries on around 60 animals each day. Most of the animals that have received help from these doctors are dogs and cats.
Water, food and other supplies will be transported around Haiti in a mobile veterinary clinic. Not only will this clinic help animals but it will also vaccinate them to avoid any outbreaks of disease. The clinic will be driven from the Dominican Republic to Haiti.
WSPA commented on its mission and ARCH’s mission in Haiti. Not only do these organizations want to vaccinate animals to decrease the chance of disease, but they also want to raise awareness among Haitians of their presence so people will bring their animals to facilities. New vets will be trained so more animals can be helped, and ARCH plans to set up solar powered clinics and purchase all needed medicine and equipment with the donation money.
The relief team mentioned above is accepting donations on the International Fund for Animal Welfares website. Other charity websites that accept donations include www.sodopreca.com or www.wspausa.org.  Although there is much work to be done, and $1.2 million is needed to follow through with plans, people are making a major effort to help the animals in Haiti.