By SPCA International Staff
In August the SPCAI team was on location in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, promoting adoptions and working to protect animals displaced by the Olympic Games sites. This is where we met Victoria, an incredibly sweet dog who had endured unspeakable cruelty. After being starved and burned, Victoria and 13 other dogs were callously abandoned and left for dead. A “community caretaker” found these 14 abused dogs and brought them to a local vet clinic, where our team met the emaciated and burned dog named Victoria.
Although their situation seemed dire, our team noticed an unwavering will to live in Victoria and her friends. We reached out to our supporters for help because all the extensive veterinary care Victoria and her friends needed before they would be ready to go onto forever homes. Without a second thought hundreds of our supporters contributed to help for these 14 dogs heal. Thanks to that support, just over 1 month later Victoria is running around and wagging her tail. If she isn’t getting a pat on the head or a belly rub she starts crying for more attention. She has put on weight and is a completely different dog than the trembling dog we met over a month ago.
All of us here at SPCA International cannot say thank you enough to everyone who showed their support. None of this would have been possible with out you!
Victoria and the other 13 dogs are well on the road to recovery. Victoria’s story won’t end here; she still has a few more medical treatments before she crosses the finish line and is able to start looking for her forever home. If you are interested in adopting Victoria or one of her 13 friends please contact our partners at Oito Vitas ([email protected]) for more information.
Author: SPCAI Staff
Dog rescued from Syria reunites with refugee family
Victoria Update: Healing and Happy
We are excited to share these three new photos of Victoria. A few weeks ago we emailed to tell you about Victoria and 13 other dogs who were burned on purpose in an act of unthinkable evil. We received an incredible outpouring of support for Victoria and her 13 friends. These photos show how she is recovering.
When SPCAI staff met her, she couldn’t stand, she was emaciated and she was shaking. Look at her now – strong enough to stand, fur growing in over her healing wounds and a full belly! We see a look of happiness on her face that wasn’t present the day we met her.
Thank you to all SPCAI supporters who contributed to help Victoria and her friends heal. We will continue to provide updates on our Facebook page as we learn more about their recovery.
U.S. Olympian Eleanor Logan Helps Animals in Rio de Janeiro
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
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!