Haiti Earthquake: How You Can Help The Animal Victims
An Animal Rights Article from All-Creatures.org

FROM

In Defense of Animals (IDA)
January 2010

[Ed. Note: ARCH (Animal Relief Coalition of Haiti) is currently comprised of In Defense of Animals (IDA), International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA), United Animal Nations and Kinship Circle.]

Since the instant news broke of the devastating earthquake that rocked Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on January 12, IDA staff have been working non-stop to assess how we can assist both people and animals on the ground. We have been in constant contact with other animal protection organizations to determine how we can best coordinate and maximize each other's efforts.

In response to a barrage of calls from IDA supporters, we rushed out an alert last week to assure you that we were as on top of the situation as possible, standing by to leap into action the moment the assessment was complete – and we asked that you standby as well.

Now we have begun to move into action – at least into the first phase. Next steps will be determined by what we find on the ground.

IDA has joined hands with a coalition of animal protection groups, called the Animal Relief Coalition of Haiti (ARCH), and has already committed funds to help pay for a mobile veterinary clinic. As a member of ARCH, who is coordinating with Sociedad Dominicana para la Prevención de Crueldad a los Animales (SODOPRECA), which is based in the Dominican Republic, we are working to get an animal disaster relief team of veterinarians and animal disaster responders, food and supplies, into Haiti. Coalition team members are on the ground right now in the Dominican Republic preparing and stocking the animal emergency response clinic, while ARCH is also organizing logistics through veterinary contacts in Haiti.

Our immediate need is for your financial support to help us meet the commitment we have already made – and future needs that are certain to follow as this unprecedented tragedy continues to unfold. Numerous supplies are needed for the mobile clinic – food, water, medicine, syringes, bandages, and more.

The situation on the ground is changing by the minute, but as soon as human relief efforts have stabilized and security is in place, and depending on the needs the Coalition finds once team members reach Haiti, we will update you further on additional ways you can help IDA help the people and animals of Haiti.

Thank you for your generosity and caring in this moment of crisis.

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