Author: SPCAI Staff

Fighting the Abuse of Spanish Greyhounds

by SPCAI Staff
By Stephanie Scott, SPCAI Staff For many years SPCA International has been dedicated to fighting the systemic abuse of Spanish Greyhounds (Galgos).  Each year in Spain tens of thousands of galgos are abused and brutally killed by the people who bred them. Every other country in the E.U. has banned the barbaric sport of hare coursing because of the torture and brutality the tradition inflicts on the galgos. Through our ongoing education and advocacy efforts, SPCA International and SOS Galgos continue to work to ban this evil practice in Spain. As those efforts continue we are also supporting the constant rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming of Spanish Greyhounds and podencos that are abused, tortured and abandoned by these hunters. Below you will find photos of Tinka, Lola, Peggy Sue, Honey, Abby, Billy Jean, Margot, Uva, Xena, Tinka, Stella, Syra, Taspa, Puskas, Ophelia, Zahara, Pino, Opal, Nieve, Leia, Manchita, Lusi, Leisi, Frascuelo, Gandalf, Laika, Hercules, Estiva, Flo, Francis, Dakota and Boston – all recently rescued and many already adopted by loving families after coming in with a myriad of injuries from abuse and neglect. These animals have survived tremendous wounds, starvation and dehydration – the worst of humanity. But they were taken in and loved by the wonderful volunteers at SOS Galgo and then their new families. Today they finally are beginning to trust again.

Operation Baghdad Pups: Worldwide Super Mission

By Emma Koeniger, Content and Digital Media Coordinator As you are reading this our Executive Director, Meredith Ayan, and Program Manager, Lori Kalef, along with eight volunteers are en route to Beirut, Lebanon. Awaiting their arrival are 25 dogs ready to finish their long journey to their forever homes in the United States. These 25 dogs have not had an easy time in the Middle East. Born strays with little chance of survival, they were miraculously rescued by U.S. service members deployed in Syria, Iraq and Lebanon. One puppy’s mom was killed by an IED, another litter’s mom was found dead and so the soldier moved the group to their living quarters, and another was found in a building recently abandoned by ISIS and others were simply found starving and about to die. Their beginnings gave no indication of the loving families that are awaiting them today all over the United States. And their journey home has been challenged by political unrest, closed airports, dangerous ground transports, fifteen checkpoints on the road from Erbil to an airport 10 hours away, and suicide bombings. Normally, when SPCAI rescues dogs and cats from Iraq, Syria and surrounding countries through our Operation Baghdad Pups: Worldwide program they stay at a secure kennel facility in Erbil and they fly out of the Erbil International Airport nearby. In Erbil we also have trusted veterinarian, kennel staff, and our Iraq representative – all of them help us care for the animals and prepare them for entry into the U.S.. It is a perfect system, but due to the independence vote in Iraq, in September 2017, all international flights at the Erbil airport were grounded (for months), the borders to adjacent countries were shut and the roads surrounding the kennels became unsafe. Suddenly, we were forced to rethink our entire rescue strategy. With more U.S. troops deploying to Iraq and Syria we knew that closing the program wasn’t an option, these animals needed our help and the thought of letting down their heroic U.S. service members was not an option. The only way out was to somehow get all of the dogs to the an airport, 10 hours away. where they could fly to our partners in Lebanon. But, getting to the airport was also full of obstacles. Before attempting to transport the animals to the airport we faced another huge problem. After claiming Kirkuk the Iraqi army was making it’s way to Erbil. The road they were traveling down would take them right past our kennels, putting all of the dogs in immediate danger. In the middle of the night, dedicated kennel workers transported all of our rescues to a new, safe and secure facility. With the dogs out of harm’s way, our team set about tackling the next big obstacle – the dangerous road to the airport. Getting the dogs to the airport is much easier said than done. It involves paperwork for each individual dog and getting through sixteen checkpoints, four of which are very volatile. We were able to secure the paperwork for each of the dogs and a driver. However, the night before they were set to leave we learned that the paperwork we had could result in the death of all of the dogs. On all of the paperwork the dogs were listed as being adopted by U.S. soldiers. We were told that if any of the people commanding the checkpoints along the road to the airport found out that these dogs belonged to U.S. soldiers the dogs would likely be killed on the spot. Our fearless Iraqi team lead by our Iraqi representative sprang into action to acquire new paperwork so that the dogs would be safe. At 2:30 AM on January 13, 2018 all of the dogs were settled down in airline kennels and left for the airport in a box truck. The driver took incredible care of the dogs, stopping every few hours to give them all water and food. They made it safely through all sixteen checkpoints and arrived at the airport safely. (Whew!) On January 13th in the evening, the first five dogs boarded a plane to Lebanon! Due to airline restrictions, our staff and our trusted Iraqi veterinarian worked in shifts to personally accompany the dogs on multiple flights to Lebanon, five dogs at a time until all had been delivered to our partners in Lebanon. Stay Tuned! We will be posting updates as these patriot pups embark on the final leg of their journey – from Lebanon to New York. Make sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter so you don’t miss a moment!

Radiation Can’t Poison a Dog’s Love

by SPCAI Staff
A Dogs of Chernobyl Update
By Lori Kalef, Program Manager


There are over 900 stray dogs that roam the site of the world’s worst nuclear disaster at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant and surrounding 30km area, known as the Exclusion Zone. These dogs are the descendants of pets left behind during the emergency evacuation that took place in April of 1986 after a reactor exploded spreading radioactive materials into the environment.

Decades later, the dogs living in the Exclusion Zone are in almost constant danger – starving, at risk of injury or attack by coexisting animals like wolves. Because the Chernobyl dogs are still radioactive, they are prohibited from being removed from the area.  But SPCA International and Clean Futures Fund (CFF) are trying to change that. Thanks to our joint efforts and the leadership of CFF’s founders, Lucas Hixson and Erik Kambarian, there is hope for these abandoned, beautiful creatures.  SPCAI has partnered up with CFF in a 3-year sterilization program in order to reduce the suffering of dogs in Chernobyl by providing veterinary care, vaccinations, feeding stations, radiation monitoring and hopefully an adoption program.  

In fact, co-founder Erik Kambarian and his family were excitedly preparing their home in the U.S. to welcome in one of the first ever adopted dogs of Chernobyl after the August 2017 Chernobyl spay and neuter clinic. Erik’s exact words were:  “I found a dog; rather she found me. I was at the tourist hotel in the town of Chernobyl getting water for the clinic and came upon an adolescent female dog.  She was docile, with a beautiful coat.  Since we were heading to the clinic I picked her up and got in the Soviet-era car for the short ride.  She calmly sat in my lap, as if she had been on many car rides, and rested her head on my arm like we had known each other for years.  I proudly brought her into the clinic, surprising our staff since I was not one of the dogcatchers.” She was tagged as dog #20, later renamed Elena, spayed and vaccinated, washed for surface contamination and was ready to come ‘home’. 

One month after Erik left in August, he asked one of their volunteers to find out how she was doing and make further plans for her arrival, but the volunteer was hesitant to tell him. Sadly, Elena had been hit by a car and killed, an all too common unfortunate reality for the strays of Chernobyl.  Even though Erik only got to hold her once, he still thinks about her and is even more driven to continue saving lives and working toward an adoption program in her honor. For now, both Erik and Lucas are hopeful that they will be given permission to bring home another dog on their next visit in April of 2018, a first step in demonstrating the safety of animal adoption from Chernobyl.

But make no mistake; the region is an especially challenging one to work in. The abandoned landscape, forest overgrowth combined with the environmental contamination provides a very unique and dangerous experience for the animals and our team.

Stay tuned for more updates in the next few months as preparations get underway for the Chernobyl spay and neuter next clinic scheduled for June of 2018.


2017: A Year in Review

by SPCAI Staff
All throughout 2017 SPCA International was working with partners to fund spay and neuter campaigns, individual rescues, grants for military families and to stem the tide of animal abuse and neglect that is so prevalent worldwide. Our work saved thousands of lives and it’s all thanks to supporters like you. We created this photo gallery showcasing some of our individual rescues and international fieldwork. As this year comes to an end, we hope you will take a moment to enjoy the great moments you made possible.

Rebuilding After the Hurricane

by SPCAI Staff

By Emma Koeniger, Content and Digital Media Coordinator

 

The 2017 hurricane season has brought the most major hurricanes since 2010. Breaking records from rainfall to accumulated cyclone energy, the devastation wrought by these hurricanes has been immense. From Texas to Puerto Rico, animals and people were left without food or shelter; their homes destroyed by flooding and powerful wind. 

Hurricane Irma, the strongest hurricane recorded in the Atlantic Ocean outside of the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, made landfall in Florida on September 10th as a Category 4 hurricane As it traveled through the state, Irma left thousands without power, access to clean water, and many without shelter. Among the displaced, hundreds of animals were abandoned as Irma approached, leaving shelters like the Humane Society of St. Lucie County (HSSLC) at full capacity.

As Irma barreled towards HSSLC they braced for impact as best they could and pulled through without any injuries to their staff or the animals in their care. However, their facilities were left battered and uninhabitable. David Robertson, the Director of Administration at HSSLC wrote to SPCAI:

 “The Humane Society of St. Lucie County received damage to many areas of its shelter as a result of Hurricane Irma. Fortunately, no animals were injured. However, damage to kennels, screened enclosures, drainage systems and fencing of exercise yards is significant in areas. We have many downed trees and large amounts of debris that can be can be handled in-house, however other tasks and repairs will require hiring professionals, such as plumbers, fencing experts, and possibly roofers, which can be costly. Metal kennel roofs were bent back like they were tin foil and some blew completely off. With so much standing water, fixing screens to avoid mosquitoes potentially carrying heartworm is a critical concern. Additionally, sewage drains backing up and overflowing are [also] immediate and critical concerns. “

After receiving Mr. Robertson’s email our team jumped into action, issuing a Disaster Relief Fund grant to HSSLC to enable them to afford all repairs needed for their shelter.

The Humane Society of St. Lucie County is not alone; many other shelters share a similar story after hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria. Through SPCA International’s Disaster Relief Fund shelters in Texas, Florida, Saint Martin, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic are able to begin the rebuilding process and continue to care for the animals that desperately need them.

 

One “Lucky” Dog Survived Terrorists

by SPCAI Staff

By Lori Kalef, Program Manager

 

With an overwhelming number of rescue requests coming into our Operation Baghdad Pups: Worldwide program and many moving pieces to consider for each rescue, our team is often working around the clock to save lives. On a moment’s notice things can change, and if we don’t act right away it can mean life or death for one of these beloved four-legged war buddies.

Each application we receive describes a compelling bond and a story of how our heroic service members came to rescue their dog or cat often, from very hostile situations. It is without a doubt that each account of how these animals were saved by our service members astounds us to the core; however, there always that one that will forever be etched in our hearts and minds.

When you work in animal welfare, you are privy to the most horrendous cases of abuse. One who is not so immersed in the field can often think about animal cruelty as a vague and undefined concept, without fully appreciating what those words mean. That is until you read what I’m about to tell you.

Lucky, aptly named, was found in an evacuated terrorist building in Syria by a group of U.S. Soldiers. Much to the squadron’s surprise, they looked up to find this beautiful dog suspended from the ceiling, “he was hog-tied with all four paws taped together, snout taped shut, and his throat cut.  He was left for dead." The teammates quickly took him down and using their medical training, they were able to save his life. Everyone pitched in to take care of him and soon enough Lucky had become the camp mascot and the team’s lucky charm.

One Soldier wrote, “Lucky survived a horrible experience at the hands of the worst terrorist organization in the world.” And he repaid his saviors by bringing them joy, silliness and a little love to a group of U.S. Soldiers that spend their days on the battlefield. His survival represents the hope that evil organizations such as these will one day be defeated.” 

 It isn’t difficult to take one look into Lucky’s hopeful and grateful eyes and immediately fall in love. We sure did. Now more than ever, our team is working hard to find new and innovative ways to manage the challenging political climate in the Middle East, where most of our operations are conducted. There is nothing we wouldn’t do to bring this very ‘Lucky’ dog home. Stay connected with our team on social media for more updates on Lucky and the many other OBP: Worldwide dogs and cats waiting to be rescued.

Get Ready #GivingTuesday

by SPCAI Staff

by Stephanie Scott, SPCAI staff

 

For years I wondered why the season of giving is kicked off by a day called Black Friday. There is nothing merry or bright about spending hours in line just to elbow your way past your neighbors hoping you score the best deal. But six years ago, my dismay was eased by the launch of Giving Tuesday. Finally, there is a way to start your holiday season off right: by joining a crusade of philanthropists all giving to charity on the same day.

Giving Tuesday is a global day of giving fueled by the power of social media and collaboration. Its purpose is to celebrate and encourage giving. It is a new holiday tradition and a movement in its own right.

Join us to celebrate #GivingTuesday on November 28th, 2017 by planning to include SPCA International in the gifts you make on that day. I hope you will plan to make donations to many of your favorite charities. If you start your holiday season with acts of generosity, you might just find this is the best holiday season yet. 

 

 

Hero is Home!

by SPCAI Staff
When I was a soldier in Iraq my patrol happened upon a puppy. Dogs are not treated very well in this part of the world. So we dismounted I grabbed the puppy and we continued on with the mission. The puppy grew through the 3 months while I had him and we grew together. There was almost never a time when we were apart we shared meals and he loved to follow me everywhere. My squad and I named this cute little puppy Hero. I couldn’t let Hero live the way dogs here live Hot, hungry and scared of humans. So I went on the internet searching for anyone that could help me get Hero back home. That’s when I found SPCA International’s program Operation Baghdad Pups. There was a quick application process and then a nervous wait for a response. That’s when I met the director of the program and the woman that made it all happen for Hero and I. Every interaction I had with the staff was excellent. They were all kind, energetic and knowledgeable. I am so grateful to everyone at SPCA International that made it possible for Hero to move and now live in America. Thank you. – SPC Hatch

Saving the Dogs of Chernobyl

by SPCAI Staff

By Emma Koeniger, Content and Digitial Media Coordinator


In 1986 the first Goodwill Games were held in Moscow, The Phantom of the Opera debuted in London’s West End and the No. 4 nuclear reactor exploded at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. The nuclear accident’s devastation caused thousands of families to urgently evacuate their homes, leaving their belongings and pets behind. They soon learned they would not be allowed to return for decades.

 

Now, over 30 years later, workers have returned to the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant but the homes surrounding it still remain deserted, except for the hundreds of stray dogs and cats that roam, trapped in this desolate land by a perimeter fence. These are the descendants of the pets left behind in 1986. They continued to live and breed in the exclusion zone with no food or care – until now.

 

In August SPCA International executive director, Meredith Ayan, and program manager, Lori Kalef, traveled to the exclusion zone to meet with our partners the Clean Futures Fund to help spay, neuter, and vaccinate these almost forgotten animals.    


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Dogs and cats were brought into a makeshift medical center located in the 10km zone.

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They were sedated, given long lasting antibiotics and prepped for surgery.

 

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Animals were “frisked” with a Geiger counter to measure their radiation contamination level. If the counter read an unsafe level the contaminated spot was cleaned with soap and water until the reading was normal, most contamination was caused by dirt and debris on the paws and fur.

 

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The spay and neuter surgeries were performed by skilled veterinarians from all over the world!

 

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During recovery, animals were given appropriate vaccinations, de-wormer, and a secondary scan for radiation contamination.

 

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Animals were monitored until they were recovered enough to be returned to their pickup location.

 

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Ear-tags containing dosimeters are being used to monitor the amount of radiation the dogs are exposed to on a daily basis.

 

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Over 350 animals were spayed and neutered!

 

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These animals will continue to receive food, water, shelter, and medical care.


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Our work is not done; future plans are being made to control the stray animal populations in the outlying zones. Stay tuned for updates!