Aid Deployed to Japan

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Animal groups descend on tsunami-affected areas to help displaced animals.

The powerful 8.9 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear emergencies that shook Japan on March 11 spurred animal groups worldwide to help--much like they did when Haiti's capital was flattened by a similar natural disaster a year ago.

From large to small, donations have been pouring in. The World Society for the Protection of Animals (London) donated $150,000 to assist Japan's Animal Disaster Response Team, while the American Humane Association (Washington) sent animal shelter supplies and $10,000. On a local level, the newly formed Animal Advertising Center L.L.C. (Grants Pass, Ore.) donated $1000 in graduated amounts to each of four organizations: the Japan Cat Network, Heart-Tokushima, Animal Garden Niigata and World Vets.

According to early estimates from the World Society, 350,000 people are staying in evacuation centers, and up to 10 percent brought animals with them. That means more than 30,000 dogs and cats need shelter assistance.

"Many Japanese families include well-loved pets and, in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami, people made every attempt to protect their animals," said Lindsay Fyffe, the disaster response manager for the World Society. "Now, Japanese authorities are challenged with providing temporary housing for both evacuees and their pets. Our disaster relief effort is committed to helping ADRT alleviate this problem, and provide both shelter and care to the thousands of animals--and their families--who are in need."

The world society focused its early efforts on setting up 30 temporary shelters near existing human evacuation centers. The shelters will provide tents, feeding bowls, pet food, veterinary services and essential other equipment, but their main purpose is to enable owners to continue to walk, clean, feed and care for their animals.

Meanwhile, several animal agencies joined to form the Headquarters for the Relief of Animals in Emergencies, which will collaborate with Japan's government to transport rescue supplies, provide financial support and meet the animal response requests in impacted areas. The National Disaster Search Dog Foundation (Ojai, Calif.) deployed canine search teams to assist with rescue efforts. Six canines and their firefighter-handlers combed the wreckage in Ofunato City on the island nation's northeast coast to find survivors buried alive in the rubble. The nonprofit, nongovernmental organization is dedicated to recruiting rescued dogs and partnering them with firefighters to find people buried alive in the wreckage of disasters.

Rescuers from the International Fund for Animal Welfare (Yarmouth Port, Mass.) also mobilized to Japan to help.

"People were not able to bring their animals with them when they left the affected area so we anticipate that the evacuation centers may need help caring for and finding homes for those displaced animals," said Dick Green, a disaster manager for the fund. "We also know that there will be a large number of animals that survived the earthquake and the ensuing tsunami that will need rescue."

Taken from Petage magazine, May 2011 issue

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