In the wake of devastating natural disasters in Indonesia, Samoa, and the Philippines, The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) is deploying emergency disaster assessment and response teams to ascertain the crises’ impact on the regions’ animals. Initial assessments indicate that dogs and cats will have the greatest need for emergency relief.

Philippines Typhoons
Ravaged by recent storms that have killed hundreds of people, destroyed thousands of homes, and left the capital city of Manila under water, the Philippines is now bracing for Cyclone Parma, which is expected to hit the islands as either a category 4 or category 5 (super-cyclone) storm. A WSPA emergency team is currently on the ground in Manila, meeting with relief groups and preparing for initial assessments of an emergency relief effort.

Samoa Tsunami
On Tuesday Samoa was devastated by a tsunami that wiped out entire villages and claimed the lives of more than 100 people - with the death toll expected to rise. Another earthquake on Wednesday has increased panic in the stricken region. In response, WSPA has deployed its Disaster Management Veterinarian Dr. Juan Carlos Murillo to the islands. Dr. Murillo is charged with making an immediate assessment with WSPA partner Animal Protection Society of Samoa. In addition, a team from New Zealand comprised of representatives from the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the Wellington and Auckland Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and WSPA is scheduled to deploy to Western Samoa. These teams will ascertain the tsunami’s impact on the island’s animals and treat animal victims.

Indonesia Earthquakes
Yesterday Indonesia was struck by two very strong earthquakes close to Pedang in Sumatra that killed hundreds of people and trapped thousands in the rubble. WSPA is deploying Indian Disaster Veterinarian Dr. Ashish Sutar and veterinary intern Woranich Hintong to the area to liaise with relief groups and assess the need for animal relief there.

James Sawyer, WSPA's Head of Disaster Management commented, "The situation in the last few days has been terrible for Asian people and their animals, and the WSPA team has been putting in maximum effort to get to these areas to help animals who are suffering. The professionalism and rapid response of our field teams has meant that we can respond to all three disasters in an appropriate manner."

Every year natural disasters wreak havoc on millions of people and their environment. When people's properties are destroyed, animals’ homes often disappear too. Wild animals face the prospect of having to flee their home habitat to survive, while domesticated animals are at grave risk of remaining trapped and abandoned without food or water on farms, in people's homes, or even at zoos. WSPA is the only animal welfare organization with full-time staff trained to protect the animal victims of natural disasters around the globe. WSPA has run disaster relief operations for animals for more than 40 years and is often the first and sometimes the only organization that will go to the heart of a disaster to save the lives of animals. In 2008 our disaster relief teams helped more than 224,000 animals in 15 disaster-stricken countries around the world.

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