Emergency response
When disaster strikes the first priority is obviously to help the people affected but it is also important to provide support for the animals that they live with and depend on. People all over the world depend on animals for companionship, security, farming, transport, food and trade. Sometimes animals are their entire livelihood.
In addition to natural disasters, animals may be caught up in man-made disasters. We work to help injured individuals and to minimise the impact on wild populations. Our wildlife centres in the UK specialise the rehabilitation of oiled birds and we serve as an international oil spill responder.
Flood relief efforts in Bangkok
Thailand has been hit by the worst floods it has experienced in decades. One third of Bangkok’s 12 million-strong city districts have now been advised to evacuate because of advancing flood waters that have killed more than 600 people so far.
RSPCA International is supporting and appealing on behalf of the TWP Coalition in Bangkok which is made up of the Soi Cats and Dogs (SCAD) Foundation, the Elephant Nature Foundation and The Kinship Circle. The coaltion is working with other local animal welfare groups to source and share resources. They have set up a temporary shelter on donated land for up to 250 dogs which will be returned to their homes or entered into an adoption programme once flood waters recede. All dogs are being spayed/neutered, vaccinated, treated, fed and exercised while at the shelter.
New surgical equipment, drugs, sutures, and supplements have had to be bought in order to support this activity. SCAD is currently operating at four times its normal capacity and is desperate to source extra funding. The greatest expense at the moment is medical bills at external clinics. Many of the dogs in care have illnesses and injuries that are too complex or advanced to be handled in a field setting - for example, orthopaedic surgery, advanced cancers, and respiratory problems. An outbreak of parvovirus has compounded bills at external clinics.
A height-adjustable surgical table or alternatively a few stainless steel pre-op/post-op/exam tables are desperately needed to enable field operations. More funds are needed to continue veterinary treatments.
Puppies Na Raak (cute), Joop Joop (kiss kiss) and Dok Maai (flower) are three sisters who have recovered from parvovirus and have now been fostered. Their combined vet bill was £1,244.
Visit the SCAD website for more information and see more photos here. Watch a video about the work of the TWP shelter.
Earthquake - Haiti
In January 2010 an earthquake in Haiti caused untold devastation and suffering. A number of animal welfare organisations, including the RSPCA, joined together to provide relief for animals affected by the earthquake.
The Animal Relief Coalition for Haiti (ARCH) operated a mobile veterinary clinic, visited refugee 'tent cities', trained Haitian veterinarians and veterinary health workers, helping to restore the country's vaccination programme and assisting the government in protecting animals and people from disease outbreaks.
Our staff travelled to Haiti to help manage the project and to provide training to Haitian staff. Find out more about the RSPCA's work in Haiti.
We need your help
RSPCA International wouldn’t be able to carry out these emergency responses without your support.Donate online now.Or send a cheque payable to 'RSPCA Overseas Fund' to:External Affairs Department
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