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 

In 2011 Thailand was hit by the worst floods it had experienced in decades.

One third of Bangkok’s 12 million-strong city districts were advised to evacuate because of advancing flood waters that killed more than 600 people.

RSPCA International supported and appealed on behalf of the TWP Coalition in Bangkok made up of the Soi Cats and Dogs (SCAD) Foundation, the Elephant Nature Foundation and The Kinship Circle.

The coaltion worked with other local animal welfare groups to source and share resources. They set up a temporary shelter on donated land for up to 250 dogs where all dogs were spayed/neutered, vaccinated, treated, fed and exercised while at the shelter.
 

New surgical equipment, drugs, sutures, and supplements had to be bought in order to support this activity. SCAD was operating at four times its normal capacity and was desperate to source extra funding.

The greatest expense was medical bills at external clinics. Many of the dogs in care had illnesses and injuries that were too complex or advanced to be handled in a field setting - for example, orthopaedic surgery, advanced cancers, and respiratory problems. An outbreak of parvovirus compounded bills at external clinics. 
 

Puppies Na Raak (cute), Joop Joop (kiss kiss) and Dok Maai (flower) were three sisters who recovered from parvovirus and were subsequently fostered. Their combined vet bill was £1,244.
 

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. Around 68,000 animals were treated including dogs, cats, horses, cattle, pigs, goats and sheep.  

In early March 2010, RSPCA Chief Superintendent Kevin Degenhard took over as project manager for ARCH in Haiti for two months, working with the Haitian government and UN working groups. You can watch the film of Kevin working with the other members of the ARCH veterinary team to deliver aid to animals in Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas below.

A short film about the work of the Animal Relief Coalition for Haiti (ARCH) after the country's devastating earthquake in January 2010.

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