On
January
12,
2010,
a
calamitous
magnitude
7.0
earthquake
hit
Haiti,
with
its
epicenter
not
far
from
the
densely
populated
capital
of
Port-au-Prince.
HSI’s
disaster
response
team
was
on
the
ground
within
days
of
the
disaster.
Our
initial
assessment
will
inform
our
long-term
plans
to
improve
the
overall
situation
for
animals
there.
Updates
-
Helping
Haiti
in
the
Long
Term
-
Latest
Video:
HSI
and
Haitians,
Working
Together
-
Additional
Videos
and
Slideshows
-
Heading
Home,
for
Now:
February
4,
2010;
10:00
a.m.
EST
-
Merger
Village:
February
2,
2010;
9:30
p.m.
EST
-
Second
Wave
Deploys:
February
1,
2010;
3
p.m.
EST
-
American
Pets,
Rabies
Vaccinations:
January
27,
2010;
5
p.m.
EST
-
Children's
Hospital:
January
26,
2010;
9:30
p.m.
EST
-
Exchanging
Ideas:
January
25,
2010;
8:00
p.m.
EST
-
Leogane:
January
24,
2010;
12:45
p.m.
EST
-
Croix-des-Bouquets:
January
23,
2010;
9:30
p.m.
EST
-
The
Zoo,
and
Two
Lucky
Dogs:
January
23,
2010;
6:05
p.m.
EST
-
Assessing
the
Situation:
January
22,
2010;
6:50
p.m.
EST
-
Arrival
in
Haiti:
January
21,
2010;
6
p.m.
EST
-
Heading
for
the
Border:
January
21,
2010;
1:
45
p.m.
EST
-
Gathering
Information
&
Preparing
to
Go
In:
January
19,
2010
-
First
Steps
Toward
Action:
January
15,
2010
-
Reaction
to
Devastation:
January
13,
2010
-
Dispatches
from
the
Field
-
More
News
-
Twitter
Multimedia
Watch
our
latest
video
above,
then
view
our
slideshows:
Slideshow
1
Slideshow
2
More
videos:
HSUS,
HSI
Helping
Haiti's
Animals
"Survivor"
Dogs
Home
from
Haiti
Two
Lucky
Dogs
Out
of
Haiti
February
4,
2010;
10:00
a.m.
EST
|
|
|
Scrounging
for
food.
©
Kathy
Milani/HSI |
|
This
morning,
our
second
team
prepared
to
return
to
Santo
Domingo.
Nine
people
and
four
dogs
will
make
the
trip
with
two
trucks
and
trailer.
Before
departing,
they
met
again
with
representatives
of
Christian
Veterinary
Mission
to
transfer
supplies
and
confer
regarding
urgent
and
ongoing
needs.
Our
responders
will
debrief
on
the
long
ride
home.
Their
appraisal
of
animal
welfare
concerns
will
shape our
broader
organizational
response
in
the
days
and
weeks
to
come.
Veterinary
Care
and
Human
Service
of
the
Dominican
Republic,
and
Christian
Veterinary
Mission,
will
continue
to
provide
immediate
care
and
assistance
in
Haiti,
while
HSI/HSUS/HSVMA
organizes
the
next
phase
of
our
response
to
the
animal
welfare
challenges
of
the
earthquake's
aftermath.
February
2,
2010;
9:30
p.m.
EST
|
|
|
We
will
try
to
help
Haiti's
horses.
©
Kathy
Milani/HSI |
|
Our
team
has
now
spent
a
substantial
amount
of
time
at
the
epicenter
of
earthquake
damage
and
observed
all
species
trying
to
survive.
Today
we
treated
a
few
privately
owned
animals
and
discovered
some
neighborhoods
with
animals
obviously
receiving
community
feeding.
The
team
returned
to
Merger
village
to
assess
the
needs
of
other
local
villages,
since
outlying
areas
were
still
getting
insufficient
overall
relief.
Dr.
Megan
Hlusko
was
presented
with
two
treatment
challenges
at
this
visit:
one
a
very
sick
dog,
and
the
second
a
young
woman
who
had
a
foot
wound
incurred
on
January
12.
Dr.
Hlusko
treated
the
infection
of
the
wound
but
concluded
the
foot
was
fractured
and
urged
the
village’s
pastor
to
take
her
for
appropriate
medical
treatment.
We
met
again
with
Christian
Veterinary
Mission
(CVM),
transferred
some
supplies
to
them,
and
discussed
our
assessment
of
the
condition
and
needs
of
farm
animals
in
the
stricken
areas.
We
were
also
able
to
share
our
impressions
about
overall
conditions
for
horses
in
the
country.
HSI/HSUS/HSVMA
will
work
with
CVM
to
prepare
a
summary
of
long
range
animal
welfare
programs
of
mutual
interest.
We
are
preparing
four
pet
dogs
for
evacuation
and
transport
to
Santa
Domingo.
February
1,
2010;
3
p.m.
EST
|
|
|
Treating
a
dog.
©
Kathy
Milani/HSI |
|
The
full
HSI/HSUS/HSVMA
complement
assembled
in
Port-au-Prince,
Haiti,
on
Saturday,
January
30,
for
the
second
phase
of
our
animal
response
mission,
most
team
members
traveling
by
road
from
the
Dominican
Republic.
Team
leader
Dave
Pauli
held
several
meetings
with
representatives
of
the
Christian
Veterinary
Mission
(CVM)
during
the
weekend,
to
better
coordinate
efforts
and
to
make
joint
appraisal
of
urgent
needs
and
priorities.
Visiting
the
U.S.
Embassy,
the
team
determined
that
the
USAID
and
the
USDA
were
effectively
dealing
with
the
safe
transportation
of
pets
of
evacuating
U.S.
families.
Team
members
also
met
with
representatives
of
an
airline,
a
contact
that
might
prove
helpful
should
it
become
necessary
to
transport
animals
out
of
Haiti
in
the
future.
The
team
also
returned
to
the
mission
that
had
housed
the
Katrina
dogs
Bella
and
Dieter,
where
veterinary
personnel
examined
and
wormed
three
staff
members’
dogs.
Then,
at
a
major
market/camping
area,
the
team
caught
and
treated
six
street
dogs.
They
also
met
some
more
missionaries
who
invited
them
to
schedule
a
visit
to
their
ranch
to
inspect
the
health
and
condition
of
animals
and
tell
more
about
our
work.
|
|
|
We
helped
make
more
space
for
this
spider
monkey.
©
Kathy
Milani/HSI |
|
On
Sunday,
the
team
made
its
second
visit
to
a
zoo
operated
by
Baptist
missionaries.
Overwhelmed
by
the
needs
of
the
surrounding
human
population,
they
welcomed
the
team’s
offer
to
assist
with
the
animals.
For
the
birds,
the
HSI/HSUS/HSVMA
team
suggested
a
better
diet,
cleaned
and
reworked
cages
and
space,
and
provided
items
for
enrichment.
The
team
expanded
the
primate
pen
to
offer
twice
the
previous
amount
of
space
and
added
enrichment
opportunities
there
as
well.
Finally,
team
members
fixed
the
rabbit
hutches
and
removed
sharp
wire
from
the
goat
pens.
In
all,
they
helped
approximately
50
animals
on
the
visit.
The
team
is
working
to
locate
and
arrange
for
the
transport
of
additional
supplies
and
food
for
animals
at
the
facility.
In
between
assignments,
team
members
arranged
meetings
with
regional
mayors,
agricultural
producers,
and
other
stakeholders,
to
work
out
a
plan
for
near
and
long
term
follow
up
on
animal
welfare
assessments.
The
team’s
schedule
also
included
a
visit
to
a
damaged
granary
to
help
with
an
assessment
of
necessary
repairs
and
the
potential
for
local
production
of
animal
feed,
currently
scarce.
On
Saturday
night,
several
members
of
the
complement
attended
a
“cartoon
party”
being
put
on
by
CVM
for
the
children
of
one
damaged
village.
Meanwhile,
everyone
was
delighted
to
hear
that
two
dogs
belonging
to
a
U.S.
family
had
made
it
safely
to
Florida
and
enjoyed
a
happy
reunion,
thanks
to
the
work
of
HSI/HSUS/HSVMA.
Read
a
dispatch
from
the
field
by
HSI
Disaster
Certified
Responder
Chris
Broughton
January
27,
2010;
5
p.m.
EST
Today,
the
HSI
team
and
two
veterinarians
from
Christian
Veterinary
Mission
met
with
the
chief
veterinarian
of
Haiti’s
Ministry
of
Agriculture,
to
discuss
urgent
animal
needs
and
problems
as
well
as
future
relief
and
assistance. The
ministry
is
seeking
our
immediate
cooperation
with
the
restoration
of
its
rabies
vaccination
program.
|
|
|
HSI
continues
to
respond
to
animal
and
human
needs
in
Haiti.
©
HSI |
|
The
HSUS
and
HSI
are
also
working
to
solve
the
problem
of
restrictions
on
the
evacuation
of
pets
owned
by
Americans
leaving
Haiti
to
return
to
the
United
States,
reaching
out
to
the
American
Red
Cross,
the
Centers
for
Disease
Control,
and
the
State
Department
to
smooth
the
way
for
the
safe
and
swift
transport
of
these
animals.
HSI
is
developing
a
list
of
the
animals
and
families
affected;
making
plans
for
a
temporary
holding
area
in
Haiti
should
it
become
necessary
to
shelter
them
in
place;
and
working
on
a
system
for
transport
of
animals
to
the
Dominican
Republic,
where
we
are
engaged
with
our
partner
group
Veterinary
Care
and
Human
Service
in
developing
a
temporary
holding
facility
for
animals
brought
across
the
border.
Our
team
has
purchased
vehicles
to
support
the
ground
teams
in
their
work.
Staff
member
Dave
Pauli
will
lead
the
second
wave
of
HSI/HSUS/HSVMA
response,
as
part
of
a
larger
team
scheduled
to
arrive
in
Port-au-Prince
on
Saturday,
January
30.
Team
members
driving
into
Haiti
from
the
Dominican
Republic
have
agreed
to
transport
Christian
Veterinary
Mission
personnel
involved
in
relief
work.
Dieter
and
Bella,
the
two
dogs
who
have
survived
both
Hurricane
Katrina
and
the
Haitian
earthquake
disaster,
will
arrive
in
the
United
States
on
Friday,
January
29,
for
reunion
with
their
family.
One
HSI
responder
is
going
to
Jacmel,
Haiti’s
fourth
largest
city,
to
assess
urgent
and
near
term
animal
welfare
needs
there.
January
26,
2010;
9:30
p.m.
EST
Today,
the
team
went
to
the
U.S.
Embassy
and
found
some
soon-to-be
evacuated
families
concerned
about
their
pets;
we
will
do
what
we
can
to
help.
|
|
|
|
|
Lloyd
calms
Hai-chien.
©
HSI |
The
organization
Save
the
Children
learned
we
were
here
in
Haiti
and
asked
for
our
help
in
addressing
an
issue
at
a
children’s
hospital
in
Port-au-Prince.
A
number
of
dogs
have
been
showing
up
at
night
on
the
grounds
and
going
through
garbage.
One
dog
in
particular
was
getting
into
everything,
including
supplies.
Our
team
responded
today
and
our
paramedic/animal-handler
extraordinaire
Lloyd
Brown
managed
to
finally
catch
her.
The
dog,
Hai-chien, is
very
sweet
and
our
team
has
fallen
in
love
with
her.
We’ll
find
a
good
home
for
her
and
she’ll
be
in
our
care
until
then.
We
continue
to
work
closely
with
Christian
Veterinary
Mission
(CVM)
and
expect
that
two
of
their staff
will
join
our
group
on
Friday.
One focus
of
our
work
together
will
be
helping
the
working
horses
and
donkeys
of
Haiti.
Finally,
our
meeting
with
the
Ministry
of
Agriculture
is
scheduled
for tomorrow,
Wednesday.
CVM
will
join
us
then
in
talking
to
the
Ministry’s
Head
Veterinarian.
|
|
|
|
|
Examining
a
horse.
©
HSI |
January
25,
2010;
8:00
p.m.
EST
Today,
the
team
met
with
Christian
Veterinary
Mission
(CVM)
to
exchange
ideas.
CVM
has
a
long
history
of
working
in
Haiti,
knows
the
culture
well,
and
shared
useful
information
with
us,
including
the
fact
that
before
the
disaster,
the
Haitian
government
had
been
working
to
vaccinate
the
country's
approximately
500,000
dogs
and
cats
through
free
community
clinics.
The
government
would
like
to
continue
this
project
in
the
countryside
and
unaffected
areas
of
the
country
as
soon
as
possible;
this
is
something
we
are
hoping
to
help
with.
Meanwhile,
a large
part
of
the
city
population
is
now
making
its
way
to
the
countryside,
with
horses
and
donkeys
being
used
as
transport.
We
are
concerned
these
animals
are
possibly
being
overworked;
our
team
will
explore
this
issue
further.
Tomorrow,
HSI
and
CVM
have
a
joint
meeting
scheduled
with
the
Ministry
of
Agriculture,
the
ministry
with
responsibility
for
all
animals
in
Haiti.
There,
we
will
discuss
what
the
ministry
believes
we
can
do
to
assist
further
now
and
in
the
long
term.
|
|
|
|
|
Talking
with
a
farmer
in
Leogane.
©
HSI |
January
24,
2010;
12:45
p.m.
EST
We’ve
discovered
that
we
are
one
of
the
better-prepared
groups
on
the
ground
in
Port-au-Prince,
so
we
have
been
working
with
humanitarian
and
other
organizations
to
provide
supplies
and
conduct
assessments
in
outer
areas.
This
morning
our
responders
provided
medical
supplies
to
doctors
working
in
the
capital,
and
then
headed
out
to
the
Quiskeya
University
to
check
out
reports
of
large
numbers
of
animals
on
site.
The
Metro
Boston
disaster
medical
assistance
team
stationed
there
helped
us
conduct
an
assessment
of
the
area.
Fortunately,
we
encountered
no
injured
animals.
Afterwards
we
left
for
Leogane,
an
area
considered
one
of
the
worst
affected
in
the
country.
After
viewing
the
devastation—building
flattened,
many
people
dead
and
displaced—we
agree
that
it
could
possibly
be
in
worse
shape
than
Port-au-Prince.
We
spoke
with
farmers
there
and
discovered
that
their
horses
and
cattle
had
survived
the
earthquake
in
pretty
good
shape,
but
there
were
concerns
about
the
effect
of
the
disaster
on
their
health,
energy,
and
milk
production
going
forward.
We’re
exploring
the
possibilities
for
a
long-term
husbandry
project
in
this
region.
|
|
|
|
|
Checking
the
health
of
a
goat.
©
HSI |
January
23,
2010;
9:30
p.m.
EST
In
a
late-evening
report
from
the
team,
we
learned
that
after
assessing
conditions
at
the
zoo,
they
visited
a
town
outside
of
Port-au-Prince
called
Croix-des-Bouquets
to
check
on
the
farm
animal
situation.
There,
they
saw
goats,
chickens
and
horses;
all
appeared
okay,
but
many
structures
for
housing
animals
were
in
ruin
throughout
the
area.
Our
responders
plan
to
visit
another
town
about
two
hours
outside
of
Port-au-Prince
called
Leogane
to
check
on
farm
animals
there
as
well.
Meanwhile,
doctors
from
a
New
York
hospital
working
on
the
ground
in
Haiti
have
asked
for
our
team’s
help
in
reviewing
the
human
situation
in
these
outer
towns
as
well,
since
many
of
the
humanitarian
groups
don’t
have
vehicles
or
access
out
of
Port-au-Prince
such
as
we
have
managed
to
obtain.
Some
believe
there
may
still
be
people—alive—buried
under
the
rubble
in
these
smaller
towns.
Finally,
our
team
plans
to
explore
the
rumor
that
dogs
are
eating
human
cadavers.
The
local
people
have
heard
talk
of
this
and
will
guide
them
to
the
location
where
it
is
said
to
be
happening.
|
|
|
|
|
The
team
has
encountered
many
hungry
strays.
©
HSI |
January
23,
2010;
6:05
p.m.
EST
Today,
the
team
visited
a
local
zoo
and
found
it
had
escaped
major
damage
during
the
earthquake.
Our
partner,
Veterinary
Care
&
Human
Services,
Caribbean
Project
of
the
Dominican
Republic,
is
hoping
to
work
with
the
zoo
to
improve
conditions
for
the
animals
there.
Before
our
responders
crossed
into
the
country,
HSI
had
heard
from
a
U.S.
family
living
in
Haiti
who
had
been
forced
to
leave
their
pets
behind
when
they
evacuated
to
Florida
directly
after
the
disaster.
We
were
able
to
travel
this
afternoon
to
the
orphanage
where
the
two
dogs,
Bella
and
Dieter,
were
being
looked
after,
and
make
plans
to
transport
them
to
safety
in
the
Dominican
Republic.
|
|
|
|
|
Visiting
the
orphanage.
©
HSI |
HSI
is
also
preparing
for
a
second
wave
of
veterinarians
and
disaster
responders
to
deploy
to
Haiti
in
the
coming
days.
We
are
grateful
to
American
Dog
Rescue,
a
Dallas-based
non-profit
group,
which
is
supporting
our
efforts
by
matching
donor
contributions
dollar-for-dollar
for
up
to
$50,000.
These
funds
will
go
toward
the
HSI/HSUS/HSVMA
Haiti
response
efforts.
We
would
also
like
to
send
our
thanks
to
Eline
Mystal,
who
is
allowing
our
team
to
stay
at
her
Port-au-Prince
home,
and
our
partner
in
this
endeavor,
Veterinary
Care
&
Human
Services,
Caribbean
Project
of
the
Dominican
Republic.
|
|
|
|
|
Getting
water
wherever
he
can.
©
HSI |
January
22,
2010;
6:50
p.m.
EST
After
crossing
the
border
yesterday
evening,
the
team
had
to
deal
with
a
flat
tire,
two
aftershocks and
their
truck
overheating,
but
fortunately
they
were
finally
directed
to
their
lodging
for
the
night
by
two
helpful
local
men
whom
they
then
hired
to
join
the
group
as
guides.
As
they
drove into
the
country,
they
saw
cattle
grazing
in
fields,
stray
dogs
and
rubble
everywhere.
People
are
still fearful
of getting
too
close
to
buildings
in
case
of further
collapse.
Today,
the
team
traveled
to
a
site
where
tent
cities
had
been
set
up
and
found
many
more
dogs
wandering
around
the
area.
Aside
from
being
hungry,
the
animals
encountered
there
seemed
to
be
in
okay
condition,
but
starvation,
dehydration
and
disease
remain
threats,
especially
to
the
injured.
Our
vet
Rebecca,
paramedic
Lloyd
and
the
rest
of
our
group
attempted
to
get
to
the
U.S.
Embassy,
but
the
lines
were
so
long
they
gave
up
temporarily.
They
did
attend
a
meeting
of
Interaction,
a
coalition
of
non-governmental
organizations
of
which
HSI
is
a
member,
where
security
issues
were
discussed.
Rebecca reported,
“The
local
people
are
amazing!
In
spite
of
the
horror
surrounding
them,
their
hospitality
goes
above
and
beyond.
Some
won’t
accept gifts
because
we
are
helping
their
country.”
Tomorrow,
they
plan
to
visit
the
outskirts
of
the
city
to
review
the
situation
for
farm
animals
and
companion
animals
further
removed
from
crowds
of
people
and
food.
|
|
|
|
|
Preparing
to
leave
for
Haiti.
©
HSI |
January
21,
2010;
6
p.m.
EST
The
team
just
notified
us
that
they
made
it
over
the
border.
More
to
come.
HSI
Team
Arrives
in
Haiti
January
21,
2010;
1:45 p.m.
EST
Our
team
of
disaster
responders
left
Santo
Domingo,
DR this
morning
with
a
fully
loaded
SUV
and
trailer.
We
expect
them
to
reach
the
border
and
cross
over
into
Haiti
this
afternoon.
They
will
treat
animals
they
encounter
on
the
way
to
Port-au-Prince...
We
will
post
information
as
possible.
|
|
|
|
|
They
need
food,
water,
and
care.
©
Carly
Ikuma/HSI |
January
19,
2010
Amid
the
fast-changing
and
round-the-clock
relief
efforts
for
Haiti,
Humane
Society
International
has
assembled
a
team
of
trained
veterinary
experts
to
enter
Port-au-Prince
in
the
coming
48
hours.
The
team,
representing
HSI,
The Humane
Society
of
the United
States and
the
Humane
Society
Veterinary
Medical
Association,
is
partnering
with
a
group
in
the
Dominican
Republic,
Veterinary
Care
&
Human
Services,
Caribbean
Project
(VCHS).
Our
HSI/HSUS/HSVMA
field
responders
include
a
French-speaking
veterinarian
and
a
paramedic
trained
in
disaster
response
and
animal
handling.
They
will
be
accompanied
by
two
veterinary
technicians
from
VCHS
and
a
translator.
The
team
will
provide
immediate
animal
care
as
it
can,
and
also
assess
conditions
for
animals
in
the
capitol
city
and
surrounding
areas.
As
circumstances
permit,
our
experts
will
also
advise
emergency
and
relief
workers
on
extra
steps
they
might
take
in
the
coming
days
to
alleviate
the
suffering
of
animals
while
the
desperate
work
to
help
the
island’s
human
population
continues.
|
|
|
|
|
A
stray
dog,
an
abandoned
car.
©
Yuri
Cortez/Getty
Images |
January
15,
2010
We
continued
today
with
our evaluation
of
how
best
to
help.
As
of
now:
-
We're
working
with
local
groups
in
the
Dominican
Republic
to
get
a
team
of
animal
responders
and
veterinarians
into
Haiti.
-
We're
sending
a
veterinarian
trained
in
disaster
response
associated
with
our
partner
organization,
the
Humane
Society
Veterinary
Medical
Association,
to
the
Dominican
Republic
to
spearhead
our
efforts.
-
We
are
coordinating
our
efforts
with
those
of
the
Animal
Relief
Coalition
for
Haiti.
-
We've
communicated
with
humanitarian
relief
agencies
and
are
poised
to
address
the
security,
transportation,
housing,
and
supply
challenges
that
accompany
deployment.
|
|
|
|
|
Animals,
too,
need
aid
after
disaster.
©
pestanarui/iStockphoto |
January
13,
2010
Our
hearts
go
out
to
the
people
of
Haiti,
for
the
trauma
and
loss
they’ve
already
experienced
since the
earthquake
hit.
News
agencies
report
that
thousands
have
perished,
many
are
still
trapped
in
the
rubble
of
buildings,
and
hundreds
of
thousands
of
others
are
without
shelter,
medical
care,
or
other
life
necessities.
Governments
and
relief
agencies
are
deploying
to
deal
with
what
amounts
to
one
of
the
worst
disasters
of
modern
times,
with
its
impact
compounded
by
the
chronic
poverty,
deficient
infrastructure,
bare-bones
medical
care,
and
other
problems
that
afflict
the
poorest
nation
in
the
western
hemisphere.
When
people
suffer
in
this
terrible
way,
so
do
animals.
HSI,
The
Humane
Society
of
the
United
States,
and the
Humane
Society
Veterinary
Medical
Association
are
working
on
a
preliminary
review
of
Haiti’s
animal-care
needs,
taking
into
account
the
security,
transportation,
housing,
and
supply
challenges
that
we
would
face
in
deployment.
Fortunately,
one
of
our
veterinary
teams
had
been
conducting
a
program
at
a
veterinary
school
in
the
neighboring
Dominican
Republic
when
the
quake
struck.
We
are
looking
to
determine
if
they
can
get
into
Haiti
to
conduct
an
on-the-ground
assessment.
We
are
also
communicating
with
human
relief
agencies,
and
looking
to
cooperate
with
them.
One
difficulty
is
that
there
are
no
organized
animal
welfare
groups
anywhere
in
the
country,
and
no
animal
shelters
or
veterinary
schools.
This
lack
of
infrastructure
will
complicate
any
response.
More
News
Watch
an
interview
with
HSI
President
&
CEO
Andrew
Rowan
on
MSNBC
Read
blog
entries
by
Humane
Society
of
the
U.S.
President
&
CEO
Wayne
Pacelle:
January
14
January
22
January
25
January
29
Twitter
