By Stephanie Scott, SPCAI staff
On Sunday, August 21st when most of the U.S. media was still focused on the transgressions of a U.S. Olympic swimmer, another U.S. Olympian met up with SPCA International partners in Rio de Janeiro to tour the local public animal shelter and raise awareness about the hundreds of dogs and cats there who are longing for a better life. Eleanor Logan is no ordinary Olympian. A seasoned member of the U.S. women’s coxed 8, Elle already had two gold medals to her name from the Bejing and London Olympics when we met her en route to Rio in late July. On August 14th, with 500 meters left in the race, Elle and her teammates surged past the other boats to clinch their 3rd straight Olympic gold. With a lot of reasons to celebrate and focus on her team’s outstanding success, Elle still took the time that very day to tell SPCA International that she was now ready to help the animals of Rio who were displaced by the construction of the Olympic sites.
On Saturday August 20th, Elle visited a local veterinary clinic with SPCAI partners, Oito Vidas, where she met two young cats who had recently been rescued from Vila Autodromo by the Olympic Park. Elle made a commitment then and there to adopt both cats and bring them home with her to the United States. After hearing that more animals displaced from Olympic sites were being kept at the local public shelter and were in need of homes, Elle made plans to go visit them the next day in an effort to raise awareness about adoption. While she was there she made the heartwarming video you can watch below and our friends captured these pictures as she interacted with the animals.
SPCA International and Oito Vidas couldn’t be more impressed with this Olympic animal champion. We salute her!
If you are interested in giving a dog or cat from Rio a good home please visit Olympic Animals For Adoption.
Author: SPCAI Staff
Mission Tails: Out of Africa
Olympic Adoption Event in Rio
The countdown to the Rio Olympics is on! Over the past 3 months, the SPCA International team has been working to protect the dogs and cats on the streets of Rio who have been displaced from their homes now taken up by Olympic sites. SPCAI has partnered with local animal groups to combat the terrible suffering of Rio’s stray animals through research, education, spay and neuter and adoption. Our coalition is working to educate Rio’s citizens about humane pet care, spay and neuter, the hazards of abandonment and the benefits of adopting animals from shelters. On July 30th and 31st SPCA International’s team will be holding adoption events in Barra de Tijuca and Rio de Janeiro.
Olympic Adoption Events:
July 30 10:00am to 3:00pm
Città Vet, Av. Olegário Maciel, 260
Barra da Tijuca, Brazil
July 31 10:00am to 3:00pm
Praça do ó, Posto 03
Rio, Brazil
Rio Visit Reveals Animal Suffering
In June, our SPCA International team traveled to Rio de Janeiro, the host city of this year's summer Olympic and ParaOlympic Games, to assess the condition of the stray animal population. In prior Olympic Games and even World Cup Games, many host countries have dealt with the overpopulation of homeless animals in very inhumane ways. During the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games, city authorities ramped up a campaign to exterminate street dogs through the use of poison. Many spectators, visitors and athletes described witnessing stray dogs dying agonizing long deaths. SPCA International is determined to prevent these kinds of inhumane actions ahead of the Olympic Games this year and into the future.
One of our primary goals during our June trip was to strengthen our partnerships with the organizations and individuals on the ground. Our joint efforts with Oito Vidas, a local non-profit group dedicated primarily to the welfare of stray cats, has been paramount in our ability to do make progress without stationing a staff member in Rio full time. Through their expertise we have been able to form new relationships and reach out to the government and Olympic authorities.
During our visit we examined Olympic sites where we rescued several dogs and cats (including the cat pictured here) that were left behind by individuals forced to leave their homes in order to build sporting event structures. The dogs and cats are now being well cared for and treated for disease, dehydration and malnutrition. Once they are strong enough, we will have them spayed or neutered and carefully select loving and deserving homes for each and every one of them.
There is still much to be done for the animals of Rio, and not just before the games, but for long thereafter. We believe that educating the people of Rio about humane care and treatment of their animals, the benefits of sterilization and encouraging adoptions will help elevate the animal population and provide much needed support for animal activists in Rio who are working on these issues daily.
Today we are gearing up for more field work in Rio. Our team leaves July 27th to work on education, sterilization and adoption just ahead of the Opening Ceremonies. We have scheduled adoption events for some of the street animals that would otherwise have little chance of finding a home.
Please join us on Facebook to support our work and share our messages as we post and stream video live from the field. There is so much work to be done, but we can’t do it without your support!
Amazing visit to Spay Panama
Soldier Adopts Puppy From Iraq
U.S. Army veteran and international detachment fighter, Ken Wyrsch, befriended a puppy named Oliver while on the frontlines of the fight against ISIS. Ken contacted SPCA International for help getting Oliver out of Iraq when his time there came to an end. Mission impossible is now a mission complete and the local San Francisco news was there yesterday to catch their reunion on film!
Here's what Ken had to say a few hours after Oliver arrived:
"Oliver was so hungry and thirsty…he wouldn't eat or drink until later tonight. He was too excited. The neighbors dogs and him ran back and forth between houses across the street. We went to the park. Super scared at first then next thing you knew he had a following. Ran a pack….He's hugged me (and I mean he squeezes his hugs) a million times. He grabbed me with his mouth when he saw me. It was great. Thank you So So much!"
Local News Coverage
CBS News San Francisco - Bay Area Soldier Reunites With Puppy He Adopted In Iraq
ABC News San Francisco – Local Veteran Reunited With Puppy He Be Befriended In Iraq
2016 Shelter Support Photo Recap
#1. Helping Paws Across Boards is an amazing organization that travels to poverty sticken areas all over the world, providing free veterinary care to the communities animals. SPCA International was proud to support their most recent clinic in Roatan, Honduras this February.
#2. True Friends shelter in the Astryakhan region of Russia sees some of the worst cases of animal abuse, like Tyapa. Thanks to the tremendous outpour of support for Tyapa SPCA International was able to give a substantial grant to True Friends to help build a clinic and improve their shelter. P.S. Tyapa is still looking for her forever home!
#3.Tanzania Animal Welfare Society never ceases to amaze us. Dr. Kahema and his team bring essential care to remote areas of Tanzania. From vaccines to financial aid, SPCA International counties to support their tireless efforts to bring care to the all the animals of Tanzania.
#4. RainCoast Dog Rescue Society, based in Canada, is a foster based organization that rescues dogs from areas in Canada, and high-kill shelters in CA. SPCA International has been able to support rescues from Mexico and most recently Romania.
#5. Elephant Aid International provides better lives for captive elephants and training for mahouts (elephant trainers). SPCA International was able to help provide a chain-free enclosure for a bull elephant in Nepal.
#6. Brightside Animal Center in Oregon is dedicated to providing all of its animals with the tools they need to find forever homes no matter how long it takes. SPCA International was happy to support their need for a new feline isolation ward.
#7. RR Refuge provides sanctuary for abused and neglected horses in Canada. SPCA International is proud to support RR Refuge again, as they continue to rescue, rehabilitate and re-home abandoned horses.
#8.Rescue and Sanctuary for Threatened Animals has been providing a safe haven and advocacy for the abused and neglected farm animals in Canada. With the wonderful outpouring of support for two of their residents, Theo and Rudy, SPCA International was able to help support their wonderful work.
#9. SPCA Ouest de L’ile is a shelter in Cananda that is continuing to grow. SPCA International was excited to be able to visit and once again support their rescues and growth.
#10.Detroit Animal Welfare Group sees horrible cases of neglect and dog fighting. This past fall SPCA International was able to support the care and rehabilitation of Glory, most recently SPCAI provided a van to DAWG so that they are able to rescue more animals in need.
#11. Spay Panama is a wonderful initiative bringing week and weekend long spay/neuter clinics to the citizens of Panama. SPCA International has been a supporter of Spay Panama for the last 5 years, SPCAI was able to send a volunteer veterinarian, Hannah, to assist in the clinic and learn their patented quick spay technique.
Mission Tails 2016 Rescues Photos
What a year 2016 has already been for our OBP: Worldwide program! Since January, we have been able to rescue 11 dogs and 10 cats for U.S. Military and American citizens serving in some very challenging areas of the world. And that’s not all; we have 10 more who are currently awaiting rescue as well, all thanks to your support. Here are just a few of these rescues. We know if they could speak, they would say a big thank you to you as well!
Dushka – In a remote area of war torn Iraq, this little pup escaped her otherwise horrible fate and won the heart of a brave veteran fighting ISIS on the front lines.
Evi – The enormous support that poured out for this sweet dog that found her way onto base and into the life of one very special Soldier deployed in Kuwait was simply heartwarming!
Marcus – When this docile cat began visiting the U.S. Base Camp in Kuwait, the Soldier who found him never imagined that her life would be forever changed. The two formed an unimaginable bond during her evening shifts when he would come and cuddle onto her lap.
Mini Me and Blackie – There was no resisting this adorable duo who were only just born and left to fend for themselves on the streets of Erbil in Iraq when one lovely U.S. Soldier found them and cared for them until they were able to be transported to her family in the U.S.
Mowgli – This friendly cat used to hang out the Ali Al Salam Air Base chow hall in Kuwait hoping to find some leftover table scraps. It wasn’t until one night last fall that a kind Soldier reached out to pet him and although he seemed hesitant at first, he warmed up to her several months later by showing up at her dorm each morning and even walking her across base. Sometimes he would even escort her to dinner and wait outside until she was done!
Ollie – When a young pup was in danger of being destroyed by animal control near Taji Base Camp in Iraq, a few Soldiers took it in their own hands to offer him a place to stay until they could figure out how to get him to the U.S. After several weeks, he became the morale booster for the Soldiers and when they were informed that they only had 48 hours to get him out, our team rushed to his rescue. He now lives the happiest life in the U.S. with one of the Soldiers who stole her heart.
Savage – This adorable little ball of fur escaped what could have been a terrible attack by two stray adult dogs when a bunch of heroic reservists came to his rescue and brought him to base in Jordan. All it took was one meeting by a Marine later that day and the bond was formed. It wasn’t long before we could get him to safety and bring home where they reunited just a couple of weeks ago in the U.S.!
Tucker – When a U.S. Contractor and his fiancé noticed a small puppy sitting all by himself for 3 consecutive days at Camp Bondsteel in Kosovo, they knew they had to come to his aid. This poor little guy was orphaned and had no idea how to fend for himself, so they called him Tucker and brought him home to where they were living. Now this puppy that has a personality larger than life is enjoying his days in the U.S. with his family that came to his rescue!
Brew – Brew melted all of our hearts in an instant. After being hit by a car and shot in the abdomen, this little beauty of a dog found refuge in a trash bin at a local gas station in Kosovo. For 6 months a Soldier visited and fed her at night because she was too afraid to come out during the day. Her injuries were quite severe, requiring an amputation of her front paw, but her spirit was never broken thanks to the love and care of the kindhearted Sargent that saved her life.
These are just a few of the happy “tails’ we get to share with you because of your generous support. Thank you being part of our OBP: Worldwide team, thank you for coming to their rescue!