ARCH Rescue Group Saves Animals in Haiti after Quake

Since the earthquake in Haiti, a group called Animal Relief Coalition for Haiti (ARCH) has been working to rescue animals and stop their diseases from spreading to humans -- and their success has been remarkable.

By Gimundo Staff. Posted on February 17 2011

It began like any other day last January when an earthquake of enormous magnitude shook the tiny country of Haiti, part of the large island Hispaniola. If it had struck anywhere else, it would have caused extraordinary damage, but the fact that it occurred in Haiti made it even more destructive. To say that Haiti, the poorest country in the Western hemisphere, was ill prepared is an understatement. One year later, the country is still far from being fully recovered.

According to official estimates, the earthquake killed nearly 250,000 people, injured another 300,000, and displaced 1.3 million residents in the Port-au-Prince area and in much of southern Haiti. In the wake of the disaster, humanitarian relief descended upon Haiti. Amidst controversy and allegations of a slow and ineffective response, the humanitarian effort endures today. But the animal relief effort is one aspect of the country’s overall recovery that has not received much media attention.

The Animal Relief Coalition for Haiti (ARCH) was formed just days after the quake to provide relief for the animal survivors and address the threat of disease spreading from animals to humans. Jointly led by the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), ARCH has far surpassed its initial goals.

“We didn’t know what sort of impact we could make early on,” said Laura Flannery, U.S. communications manager of WSPA. And yet, with no real animal population count or idea of how many animals would require medical assistance, ARCH leaders coordinated with Haiti officials and the United Nations just one day after the earthquake to direct one of the largest animal relief efforts in modern history.

“Our original goal was to treat 14,000 animals in one year,” said Kevin Degenhard, project manager for ARCH. “But, in the first two months, our team of ten people had already treated 12,700 animals.” One year later, the ARCH coalition has helped more than 50,000 animals.

The backbone of the operation is ARCH’s mobile veterinary clinic, which allowed the team to travel into earthquake-stricken neighborhoods and provide aid and vaccinations to thousands of dogs, cats, goats, cattle, horses, and other animals. But the relief effort was not simply about treating and vaccinating animals; it also focused on assisting and training local veterinarians so that they may continue animal welfare projects after the ARCH volunteers have left.

In one year, ARCH has helped repair the National Veterinary Laboratory and main lab infrastructure, which fell during the earthquake. It has installed twenty-four solar-powered refrigeration units, which are critical to storing animal vaccinations, and launched the country’s first-ever public awareness campaign to educate Haitians about disaster preparedness, pet care, and health issues related to their pets and families.

“We’re hoping we’ve built a cornerstone, an infrastructure, for the local veterinarians and the Haitian people,” said Flannery. “Building the community is a vital part so that Haitians can continue on and have a better understanding of the importance of companion animals and livestock and their welfare.”

It’s hard to predict what lies ahead for Haiti and its people, especially after the ARCH coalition has left, but there is little doubt that ARCH and its volunteers have equipped Haiti with the right tools to take care of its animals.

By Vladimir Negron, originally published on PetMD, reprinted on Divine Caroline

Filed under: Animals and Pets, Heroes, Non-Profits,

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