In the months since the most deadly tsunami in history hit the coasts of South Asia, killing more than 160,000 people and leaving many others homeless, some disaster relief organizations have come and gone. But Humane Society International and other animal welfare workers continue to provide relief and veterinary care to the many animals displaced by the tsunami.
Toward the end, HSI has worked in conjunction with other international organizations to establish the Tsunami Memorial Animal Welfare Trust. The goal of the trust is to ensure ongoing animal protection work in Sri Lanka. Joining HSI in the effort is World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA), Vier Pfoten, and independent animal advocates Bob Blumberg and Anusha David. HSI and WSPA donated seed money to begin the trust, while Blumberg and David have provided hands-on and administrative support.
The trust's mission is to provide, free of charge, recovery relief for animals affected by the tsunami as well as the communities where they live. Focusing on locations where there is no veterinary service, the trust will fund a field clinic to capture, spay or neuter, vaccinate, and release free-roaming animals to prevent pet overpopulation and keep Sri Lankans safe from rabies. In addition, pet owners are encouraged to bring in their own animals for sterilization and vaccinations, and many of them do.
"The team includes staff who work to notify and educate the local community about what is going on, assure them that the dogs are being well cared for, and ensure community dogs are returned to the same spot," explains Blumberg.
Even months after the tsunami struck on December 26, 2004, the trust's work is still necessary in remote areas of Sri Lanka, where community dogs have faced threats of culling due to the fear of rabies.
From Waves of Destruction to Waves of Support
Though most of Sri Lanka's dogs—many of them community dogs owned by no one but cared for by many—escaped the tsunami's onslaught, they suddenly found everything they knew was gone. The tsunami washed away familiar homes and businesses where they could find a place to sleep or scrounge up some food. With nowhere to hide, the dogs became extremely visible, which made local officials nervous about the spread of rabies.
That's where HSI stepped in. With the help of HSUS's Rural Area Veterinary Services, HSI set up spay/neuter/vaccination field clinics to prevent overpopulation and reduce the threat of rabies. However, "it became clear that if the teams were to leave, the population would increase and the culling would start," explains HSI Executive Director Neil Trent. To create lasting improvements for Sri Lanka's dogs, it was necessary to involve local veterinarians and come up with a long-term strategy.
There were few vets in the area, and most veterinarians from nearby Colombo were reluctant to set up field clinics in rural locales. Eventually, veterinarians from Pets V Care, a Sri Lankan animal hospital based in Colombo, signed on for the job. HSI and RAVS trained Pets V Care in the protocols of field clinic work, and Pets V Care agreed to carry on the field work on a long-term basis, with funding from the trust.
Slowly but surely, the HSI field team, including HSI Asia Director Sherry Grant and HSI consultant Dawn Peacock, transitioned the hands-on field clinic responsibilities to Pets V Care. Peacock stayed on with the Pets V Care team to ease the transition, while Grant returns often to oversee operations.
The Tsunami Memorial Animal Welfare Trust-Pets V Care team consists of eight people, including an international volunteer and a Yudisthira volunteer, and is currently operating in Panadora on the southern coast of Sri Lanka. Peacock notes that although they operate from field clinics, the teams maintain high standards, similar to those expected in a hospital situation. The materials and surgery protocols used are tailored to encourage fast recovery and maximize the dogs' overall welfare.
There are hopes that allowing for a "working holiday vet," may open opportunities for idea exchange and the possibility of a learning exchange for local vets. International support and guidance will remain a key aspect of the program and will enhance the professional development of team members.
"The work is not over," says Grant. "We hope to leave a foundation here that will continue to work in the hardest hit areas to support the communities' wish to keep dogs and have them safe and in optimum health."
The team plans to move its free clinic along the coast of Sri Lanka. With continued support from the Tsunami Memorial Animal Welfare Trust, HSI hopes the team will eventually be able to offer services to low income villages in all of Sri Lanka.
"These programs will not only improve conditions for animals, they will also improve the quality of life for the community, by reducing the number of dog bites and incidences of rabies," says Trent. "The programs will also assure the people of Sri Lanka that their community dogs will not be forgotten."
If you wish to support the Disaster Relief Team and ongoing programs like the Tsunami Memorial Animal Welfare Trust, please donate to Humane Society International.
