Author: SPCAI Staff

by Emma Koeniger, SPCAI staff

As the humanitarian crisis continues in Venezuela, a study done by the Simon Bolivar University found that roughly 87% of Venezuelans are unable to purchase food for themselves and their families. Not only are the people of Venezuela going hungry but their pets too.  In 2015, the inflation level in Venezuela rose to 275% and even increased to 800% in late 2016/early 2017. This inflation has crippled NGOs in Venezuela, as they solely rely on support from individuals to fund their programs and day-to-day needs.

Red de Apoyo Canino is an animal shelter located in Caracas, Venezuela. Founded in 2007, the staff and volunteers work tirelessly to improve the lives of abandoned and abused animals of Venezuela, and also the lives of animals belonging to low-income families. Red de Apoyo Canino provides free veterinary care, low-cost and free spay and neuter services, humane education, as well as rehabilitation and adoption for the 270+ animals in their care.

Red de Apoyo Canino did not close their doors in 2015 when the inflation level rose to the highest level in the Western Hemisphere. They could not give up on the animals and people of Venezuela who so desperately needed them.  With severely limited resources this amazing group of animal advocates persevered, helping hundreds of animals in 2016.

Today, SPCA International is incredibly proud to support Red de Apoyo Canino and their unwavering dedication to the animals and people of Venezuela. Through the help of an SPCAI Shelter Support Fund grant, Red de Apoyo Canino will be able to fund a vaccination drive in their community.

By Lori Kalef, Program Manager

During times of conflict and war, the suffering of animals is often overlooked as the focus on the human implications and impact on society takes precedence. But make no mistake, animals are victims of this terror in many ways; in fact, it is believed that millions of more animals die from the causes of war than humans.

Animals suffer greatly in war-torn countries because the people who care for them must flee their homes without warning, leaving their dogs, cats, and livestock behind to fend for themselves. Horror stories of slow deaths from disease, starvation, injuries, and thousands more caught in the crossfire and killed by landmines.  Disrupted services like animal shelters, veterinary care, and even zoos leave an enormous void.  In the Afghan war during the 1990's, more than 75,000 animals were lost due to mines alone. In 2009, animals abandoned and caged at the Gaza zoo starved to death and those who didn't were shot point blank.

In 1989 some refugees fleeing Nicaragua during the Revolution made every attempt to bring their cattle and horses with them to the border of Costa Rica where thousands of refugees found asylum. However, discovering the last few hundred yards to the border were laced with landmines, they tied their livestock to trees, likely intending to come back for them at some point, but never did. Brave animal activists later went to the area to see if they could help. Many of the animals were dead due to starvation, and the few emaciated ones who were still alive survived on eating the bark off the trees that they were tied to. 

During times of terrible war and the resulting human flight, it is typical that no help for these animals can be found for thousands of square miles. No veterinarians, no animal control, no legal system to punish abusers, and any presence of police or military must focus on the immense human needs. There is no dog or cat food because human food is hard to find and there is no excess money to spend on helping animals. During a war, animal suffering grows, and these terrible conditions persist long afterward, even as the country begins to rebuild.

In the years since the civil war broke out in Syria in 2011, thousands of animals were left behind to endure immeasurable hardship and starvation. During the Iraq war, insurgents sometimes strap bombs to dogs and donkeys and blow them up as convoys pass by. Stray dogs and cats in Iraq and Afghanistan are still abused and killed on a daily basis. Reports from U.S. service members describe how these innocent strays are often stoned, cut, burned or poisoned. 

SPCA International is charged with helping the animal victims of war. Since 2008, our Operation Baghdad Pups: Worldwide has rescued over 700 dogs, cats and even one donkey befriended by our service members to the United States from combat zones around the world like Iraq, Afghanistan, Egypt, Syria, Africa, Romania, Kosovo, Jordan, and Qatar.  SPCAI has built relationships with shelters and rescue groups on the ground in war-torn countries like Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria, helping these dedicated groups find financial resources that are otherwise non-existent. SPCAI is committed to expanding our efforts in these areas of the world by continuing to support rescue and relief organizations, shelters and dedicated animal advocates on the ground.

by Meredith Ayan, SPCAI Executive Director

In July 2016 we told you about a terrible situation in Brazil ahead of the Summer Olympics – stray cats at a small local airport were being maliciously poisoned and killed. It was presumed that the person laying out poison wanted to clean up the grounds for the influx of international visitors. Luckily, with your help SPCAI was able to intervene. We visited these cat colonies, met with the volunteers who were caring for them, and initiated a trap neuter and release (TNR) campaign to control the population, vaccinate and provide necessary veterinary care.

As is common with these projects, a closer look revealed much more work to be done and far more cats than we originally estimated. Our initial estimate was that maybe two or three cat colonies existed on the airport grounds, but we soon realized that number was as high as six individual colonies. Tragically, we also discovered a majority of the cats were suffering from Sporotrichosis, a fungal disease that when untreated results in unsightly, painful open wounds. Managing the Sporotrichosis outbreak has meant unexpected expenses and a much longer project as the cats must recover in quarantine.

Our partners in Brazil, Oito Vitas, have been managing the project on a daily basis. They are tracking and monitoring all the cats trapped, neutered, vaccinated, in treatment and released. They have trapped over 45 cats now, 23 have been returned, 25 remain in recovery, and about 25-30 still need to be trapped.

This has been an immense undertaking, but the pilots who care for these colonies and have been feeding them nightly for years are so grateful that their feline friends are at last getting the attention they deserve. (You will see these feline-loving pilots holding the cats in some of the photos below.) Without a funding partner like SPCA International, Oito Vidas would have struggled to tackle a project of this scale. Without our help, these cats would have remained uncared for and suffering. Along with the lives we have saved, we have brought awareness that poisoning and killing animals is not effective population control. Without the support of SPCAI donors – none of this would be possible. Thank you for helping us reduce suffering and save lives!

By Lori Kalef, Program Manager

I would never describe what I do for a living as work; it is a way of life. Animal welfare and rescue is not a 9 to 5 job, you never end your day, and you never begin. It just rolls from one to the next and if you’re like us, you wouldn’t have it any other way. There have been many days I have left a dinner party to speak to someone in Iraq or arranged an emergency pick up at 2am in Qatar from the phone that I keep beside my pillow. When an animal befriended by a U.S. service member deployed overseas is in need, that animal becomes our own and we do everything in our power to make sure that cat or dog arrives home safely.

Finding ways to transport these patriot pets to the United States is challenging enough, but often we must first transport them to a safe location in their current country where we have no staff or volunteers. That can be no easy feat! We often face hurdles that you only read about on the news: security checkpoints, animals being hidden from higher ranked officials, bombings and shootings, and the list goes on. One thing is for sure, the troops and U.S. contractors whose lives have been changed by their beloved four-legged battle buddies will stop at nothing to save their companions. Like-mindedness evokes a strong will; and where there is a will, there is a way.

I am often reminded of an email we received not too long ago from a veteran who described the relationship she had with a stray dog while deployed in Iraq more than a decade ago before our program existed. This Soldier rescued an innocent puppy from the hands of locals that were beating him to death. In return for saving his life, he saved hers from the terror that was escalating with each day in 2004 Iraq. But she wasn’t allowed to keep him even though he became completely dependent on her. She knew he would die if left to fend for himself so she pled her case in front of the regimental commander and promised to pay every penny to take her beloved savior home. She knew it would cost thousands, but she didn’t care. Thinking about leaving him behind kept her awake every night. What would become of her sweet, beautiful pup? Even though the General seemed moved by her plight, it just couldn't be done. She was devastated. When she wrote to us recently, she said she can still feel the physical pain she experienced when she looked into her dog’s eyes for the last time.

There are many stories like this one. In fact, at this very moment we are working to rescue over 40 dogs and cats befriended by service members deployed in Iraq, Egypt, Qatar, Jordan, Lebanon, Kuwait and Djibouti who all need our help. We are thrilled that so many brave, selfless service members are reaching out to us for help saving their furry friends. We are grateful that we are able to keep finding ways to get them home so that these service members don’t have to have their hearts broken like the Soldier who was forced to leave her battle buddy behind in 2004.

However, we simply can’t do it without your support, your generosity and your kindness. Please continue to follow and share our stories. Please continue to donate whenever you can. I promise to keep doing what I am doing – no matter the time day or night. Together we make a great, life-saving team.

By Emma Koeniger, SPCA International Staff

In April 2016, SPCA International received a plea from a refugee family in Canada. They had been unable to bring their beloved family dog, Fox, with them when they fled Syria. They were desperate to get him out. We immediately knew we had to help, and so we undertook what seemed like an impossible mission. 

During the planning stages of rescuing Fox, we came across the Syrian Association for Rescuing Animals (SARA). It seemed improbable to find a team of animal rescuers left in the war-torn country, but this amazing group refused to abandon the neglected animals of Damascus City.  With their help, SPCA International was able to make this refugee family’s dream come true. Fox was rescued and reunited with them in Montreal, Canada, in September 2016.

SARA is one of the only known animal welfare groups still left in the country. With an all-volunteer team they rescue and rehome animals that have seen the worst of war. When SPCA International started working with SARA for Fox’s rescue, SARA did not have a shelter facility, they’re resources were depleted and they had no consistent funding. Thanks to the unwavering support of SPCA International donors, we were able to award SARA a significant financial grant. That grant has allowed them to open a shelter facility – a dream that seemed impossible to them only months earlier.

Here is an exciting video tour of the land and buildings they have secured thanks to the SPCAI grant:

The SPCA International grant will allow SARA renovate this facility and cover the rent for an entire year. This outstanding organization that has filled a need for the homeless, injured and abused animals of Syria will finally have a shelter. It will help them serve even more animals caught in the middle of civil war.  We are honoured to be their partner in it.