Grupo Caridad

An earthquake survivor and her companion.

As residents of Ica and Pisco begin picking up the pieces, Lima-based animal welfare organization Grupo Caridad is stepping in to help care for the animals affected by a magnitude 8.0 earthquake, which jolted the region on August 15.

Humane Society International has been monitoring the situation and has given emergency support to animal protection organizations like Grupo Caridad.

Providing Relief

Fernando Moreno, founder of Grupo Caridad, has been sending HSI frequent updates from the field. He and a volunteer team of veterinarians, veterinary technicians and other trained disaster responders reach Pisco on August 19.

"We arrived in Pisco with other organizations, Unidos Por Los Animales and the Asociacion Peruana de Proteccion a los Animales. The magnitude of the catastrophe is much worse than what has been shown on TV. Downtown Pisco no longer exists—it has been reduced to rubble," says Moreno. "Many frightened animals are roaming the streets, traumatized by what happened. Many others wait among the debris, perhaps expecting that their owners will return."

Grupo Caridad veterinarians have treated more than 200 animals in Pisco so far and distributed over 1,500 pounds of food to pet owners and roaming animals.

Grupo Caridad

Rescue teams are distributing food to animals

Using a small rented truck, the Grupo Caridad team drove all over the outskirts and city centers of Pisco and Ica, assessing damage and helping animals—both stray and owned—along the way.

"What a misfortune that such wonderful animals, after losing their owners and living through a destructive and traumatic earthquake, have to continue suffering," says Moreno. "But we are here to help."

Staying Through Thick and Thin

Grupo Caridad is planning to continue their rescue and relief efforts and expand their assessment and response to other affected areas.

"We will keep a team of vets and responders in Pisco until Sunday [September 2] to keep offering free services and food to pets and their owners," reports Moreno. "There is also a region called Huancavelica where animals and people are really affected by the disaster. Apparently no aid has arrived there yet. We expect to be able to visit Huancavelica and continue our work in Pisco and surrounding areas."

HSI is receiving almost daily updates from the field and will continue to offer our support to the disaster responders.