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.
 

How does RSPCA International help?

Natural disasters

Earthquake - Haiti
The recent earthquake in Haiti has caused untold devastation and suffering. Humanitarian aid is starting to reach the victims and must be given priority but undoubtedly animals have been affected too.

A number of animal welfare organisations, including the RSPCA, are joining together to provide relief for these animals. The Animal Relief Coalition for Haiti (ARCH) will co-ordinate the response of animal welfare organisations to rescue and alleviate the suffering of affected animals.

Arch members:

World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA)
International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)
American Humane Association
Best Friends Animal Society
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA)
In Defence of Animals
American Veterinary Medical Association
American Veterinary Medical Foundation
Antigua and Barbuda Human Society
ASPCA
United Animal Nations
Kinship Circle
One Voice
Swiss Animal Protection
Palo Alto Humane Society (PAHS)
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)
Finnish Federation for Animal Welfare Associations
Animal Medical Care Foundation (AMCF)
Petfinder Foundation
 

The RSPCA has provided funding to help stock the mobile clinic with medicine, syringes, bandages, food, and other supplies and has recently sent three members of staff to Haiti to help analyse needs there.

Get the latest information on the situation in Haiti.

If would like to make a donation please send a cheque to the address at the bottom of the page.

Please note on the back that it is for Haiti and 100 per cent of the donation will then be passed on to ARCH. 

You can also make a donation online but online donations may be used for any of our overseas work and are not reserved exclusively for Haiti.
 

Cyclone – Myanmar
Cyclone Nargis devastated Myanmar in May 2008. Over 100,000 people were killed or injured and the United Nations estimated that 2.4 million survivors were affected. Over 50 per cent of livestock in the worst hit area were killed.

The remaining animals were essential to rebuilding people's lives, for example, buffalo drawn ploughs were used to re-plant essential rice crops. We provided funding for emergency fodder and veterinary medicines, distributed as part of a multi-agency emergency relief programme which provided feed for over 12,000 buffalo, veterinary treatments for over 500 animals, and vaccinations against disease for over 3,700 animals. 

Flooding – Bolivia
Flooding and landslides in 2007 resulted in the deaths and displacement of thousands of people and their animals. We provided support by funding an emergency veterinary clinic at an Oxfam camp for displaced people staffed by vets from a Bolivian animal welfare organisation, Animales SOS. Treatment was provided to prevent the spread of disease between animals and humans. More than 5,500 animals were treated over a 10-week period.

Bush fires – South Africa
When devastating fires raged through parts of South Africa in 2007, we funded rescue teams from the National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, South Africa (NSPCA) to visit farms and rural settlements to treat injured and dying animals. 
  

Man-made disasters

Animals may also be caught up in man-made disasters and we work to help injured individuals and to minimise the impact on wild populations. Oiled birds are rehabilitated at our wildlife centres in the UK and we serve as an international oil spill responder.

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
RSPCA International
Wilberforce Way
Southwater
Horsham
West Sussex
RH13 9RS 

If you would like your donation to be used exclusively to aid recovery in Haiti please remember to write 'Haiti' on the back of your cheque.