From the Executive Director
News Special Edition Meet our Disaster Response Team The Philippines: responding to Typhoon Haiyan Celebrating 50 years protecting animals
Protecting animals in disasters for 50 years
From the Executive Director
8-year-old MarJo Nalagan Jr. holds puppy Brownie while he receives treatment from World Animal Protection vets in the Philippines after Typhoon Haiyan.
WSPA is now World Animal Protection
Contact World Animal Protection
As you’ve probably noticed, our organization has a new name. In June 2014, World Society for the Protection of Animals became World Animal Protection.
We’d love to hear from you! Contact us at:
While our name has changed, our focus has not — it remains firmly dedicated to our work with animals. We always have been, and always will be, about protecting the world’s animals. And the more people who know about our work, the more animals we can reach. Such a powerful name will help us be heard as we call on supporters everywhere to move the world to protect animals. Find out more about how we’re changing animals’ lives — and how you’re making a difference. Visit worldanimalprotection.ca today. 2 World Animal Protection News
World Animal Protection 90 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 960 Toronto, ON M4P 2Y3 T: 416 369 0044 TF: 1 800 363 9772 F: 416 369 0147 E: info@worldanimalprotection.ca worldanimalprotection.ca World Animal Protection is a registered Canadian charitable organization. No. 12791 9076 RR0001
From the Executive Director
Thank you for protecting animals in disasters for 50 years World Animal Protection. It is who we are and what we do. And now, it’s also our name. Thank you for all your support as we make this exciting transition. With this name, that tells the world exactly what we are here to achieve, we’ll be in an even stronger position to deliver change that matters for animals. While we take important steps into the future, it’s also a time to reflect on what we have achieved for animals. This year marks our 50th anniversary of protecting animals in disasters. Our legacy began in 1964, when John Walsh travelled to Suriname in South America to rescue animals stranded after extensive flooding. Known as Operation Gwamba (featured on page 8) his work saved nearly 10,000 animals. That daring rescue effort set the stage for many more decades of lifesaving work. For example, on page 4 of this magazine you can see how your support made an impact after Typhoon Haiyan last year, helping communities rebuild and prepare
for the future. In 2013 alone, World Animal Protection helped more than one million animals and their owners affected by 14 disasters. This issue is a special tribute to our teams working tirelessly for animals whenever a disaster strikes. It’s also a tribute to supporters, like you, who make this lifesaving work possible. I hope you enjoy reading about all you have accomplished for animals over the years and I hope you are as excited as I am about what the future holds for animals and World Animal Protection. Sincerely,
Josey Kitson Executive Director, World Animal Protection Canada
Contents Stories 2 WSPA is now World Animal Protection 3 From the Executive Director 4 The Philippines: responding to Typhoon Haiyan 5 Les Philippines : intervention après le typhon Haiyan 6 Meet our global Disaster Response Team 8 Celebrating 50 years protecting animals
Editor: Elizabeth Sharpe Contributors: Catherine Coquerel, Josey Kitson, Katriona Meheran, Carla Pisarro and Elizabeth Sharpe Designer: Lyubava Fartushenko CA0009_0814 Cover photo: © World Animal Protection. Unless otherwise stated, all images are the copyright of World Animal Protection. Printed on 100% recycled paper from post-consumer waste with vegetable-based inks. World Animal Protection News 3
© World Animal Protection/Troncophotovideo
Check out this video
The Philippines: responding to Typhoon Haiyan In November 2013, the Philippines was hit by the devastating Typhoon Haiyan. Known to locals as “Yolanda,” the typhoon tore through cities with winds up to 150 miles per hour. Thousands of lives were lost.
Thanks to your generous donations, our Disaster Response Team deployed quickly to the Philippines to reach animals in need. Once there, we provided food, water and veterinary care to over 17,400 animals. Our team found sick and injured animals — cows, goats and water buffalo — foraging for whatever food they could find. They saw desperate pets not used to fending for themselves, separated from their owners. People shared what little they had to keep their animals alive but struggled to find food even for themselves.
Going mobile – reaching farther for animals
Puppy Love
We know that getting skilled help and the right tools for the job to where they need to go is critical in saving animal lives. Thanks to your support we were able to train local vets with specially prepared lifesaving kits that are light and versatile for travelling on foot or bicycle to otherwise unreachable areas across the Philippines. These kits are making the difference between life and death for thousands of animals.
In the village of Mamarang Sapa, three young boys brought their puppies, Liney, Lance, and Brownie, to one of World Animal Protection’s mobile clinics. Our vets, aided by local volunteer vets, gave the dogs medical injections and also provided food for the boys’ families. On learning that their dogs were now safe, the boys’ eyes lit up. One of them, eight-year-old MarJo, hugged his dogs to his chest while saying “Salamat” (thank you) over and over again.
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Les Philippines : intervention après le typhon Haiyan En novembre 2013, le typhon Haiyan s’abattait violemment sur les Philippines. Appelé localement « Yolanda », il a ravagé les villes, avec des vents atteignant 240 km/h, et fait des milliers de victimes.
Grâce à votre générosité, notre équipe d’intervention d’urgence a été rapidement déployée aux Philippines pour sauver les animaux en péril. Une fois sur place, nous avons distribué eau, nourriture et soins vétérinaires à 17 400 animaux. Notre équipe y a trouvé des animaux malades et blessés—des vaches, des chèvres et des buffles—qui cherchaient de l’eau où ils pouvaient. Nous avons vu des animaux de compagnie en détresse, incapables de se débrouiller sans leur maitre. Les gens partageaient le peu de nourriture qu’ils avaient avec leurs animaux, pour les maintenir en vie, mais avaient eux-mêmes du mal à se nourrir.
Trousses mobiles pour sauver les animaux toujours plus loin
Des amours de petits chiots
On sait que l’aide qualifiée et les bons outils sont critiques pour sauver des vies animales. Grâce à votre appui, nous avons pu former des vétérinaires locaux avec des trousses de secours légères et versatiles, conçues pour les expéditions à pied ou à vélo aux endroits les plus inaccessibles des Philippines. Pour des milliers d’animaux, ces trousses font la différence entre la vie et la mort.
Au village de Mamarang Sapa, trois jeunes garçons nous ont apporté leurs chiots, Liney, Lance et Brownie, à la clinique mobile. Avec des bénévoles de la région, nos vétérinaires, les ont traités par injection et ont offert de la nourriture aux familles des garçons. En apprenant que leurs chiens étaient saufs, ces garçons avaient des soleils dans les yeux. MarJo, huit ans, a serré son chiot bien fort contre lui, en répétant sans cesse « Salamat! » (merci).
These stories of rescue are only possible because of you. Thank you for being there for animals like Liney and for supporting our teams as they help communities recover and prepare for future disasters.
Ces histoires de secours seraient impossibles sans vous. Merci d’être là pour les animaux comme Liney; merci de permettre à nos équipes d’aider les communautés à se relever et à se préparer pour les catastrophes futures.
Find out more about how you are making a difference by visiting our blog animalsindisasters.typepad.com
Pour savoir combien vous faites la différence, visitez notre blogue animalsindisasters.typepad.com
Our team training local vets on mountain bikes helping them reach more animals in the future.
Three young boys wait for their puppies to be treated by World Animal Protection’s veterinary team.
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Faites connaissance avec notre équipe mondiale d’intervention d’urgence
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© World Animal Protection/Gregory Low
Meet our global Disaster Response Team
Dr. Ian Dacre
Cinthya Diaz
“Even when I was young, I knew it was important to look after animals. Sadly, during my career I have witnessed much animal suffering. But the sadness of some cases is balanced with the knowledge that as a vet I can make a difference.”
“I work as Logistics Officer on our Disaster Team. I’m the person in charge of taking care of all the work behind the scenes so our veterinarians can be fully focused on delivering aid. The faster and more efficiently we move, the more animals we can reach. I love this work!”
« Même très jeune, je savais déjà qu’il était important de s’occuper des animaux. Malheureusement, au cours de ma carrière, j’ai vu bien des animaux souffrir. Mais malgré les cas les plus tristes, je sais que, comme vétérinaire, je peux au moins faire une différence. »
« Je travaille à la logistique de notre équipe d’intervention. C’est moi qui fais tout le travail en coulisse pour que nos vétérinaires puissent se concentrer à 100 % sur les secours. Plus on travaille vite et efficacement, plus on peut sauver d’animaux. J’adore mon travail! »
© World Animal Protection/IFAW
Gerardo Huertas
James Sawyer
Dr. Juan Carlos Murillo
“When I started this work, I did not know I was getting into the best job there is. Every story is great to tell, but helping animals in war zones such as Afghanistan and Nicaragua was a highlight, as well as our disaster response in Haiti. The work I leave behind — by teaching people to plan for disasters — will save animals for generations to come.”
“It’s always the sheer numbers of animals in need that amazes me. The worst disaster in terms of scale was the 2010 dzud (when an extremely cold winter follows a summer drought) in Mongolia. So many animal lives were lost. One of the toughest things is that it becomes very difficult to leave. When we’re about to go, there is always one more animal brought to us that needs help.”
“In every mission, there is something significant that makes all the effort worthwhile. One highlight was looking after sick dolphins in Guatemala and Nicaragua who were kept in filthy tanks. Our mission was to treat them until they were fully recovered and train them for release back to the wild — all the months of hard work ended in one minute when we set them free. That felt good! Although it can be very challenging, working with animals in disasters and helping people to look after them better is a big blessing.”
« C’est toujours le nombre d’animaux dans le besoin qui me décourage. Pour moi, la pire catastrophe fut le dzud de 2010 (un hiver particulièrement rude après un été de grande sècheresse), en Mongolie. J’y au vu tant d’animaux mourir! Le plus déchirant, c’est le départ. Au moment de partir, on nous apporte toujours un autre animal qui a besoin d’aide. »
© C. Baldicantos/World Animal Protection
« Quand j’ai commencé ce travail, je ne savais pas que ça allait être le meilleur emploi au monde. Chaque histoire est fascinante à raconter, mais le fait d’aider les animaux en zone de guerre, comme en Afghanistan ou au Nicaragua, ou en zone sinistrée comme en Haïti, c’est vraiment satisfaisant. Quand c’est le temps de partir, après avoir enseigné aux gens à se préparer aux catastrophes éventuelles, je sais que c’est plusieurs générations d’animaux que j’aurai sauvés. »
Chaque mission comporte des éléments importants qui donnent leur sens à tous nos efforts. Au Guatemala et au Nicaragua, j’ai un jour soigné des dauphins malades, qui vivaient dans des aquariums sales. On avait pour mission de les traiter jusqu’à ce qu’ils soient totalement rétablis, puis de les entrainer pour qu’ils puissent retourner à leur milieu naturel. Tous ces mois de dur travail furent récompensés l’instant où on les a relâchés dans la mer. Ça faisait plaisir à voir! »
Give to World Animal Protection and help make more good news stories for animals. The work described in this magazine would not be possible without the financial support of individuals who, like you, are passionate about animals. Strengthen your support for World Animal Protection and help stop the suffering of animals around the world. Donate today. Tax receipts will be issued automatically for donations of $20 or more.
Visit worldanimalprotection.ca/donatetoday to make an online donation Call 1 800 883 9772 to donate by phone Connect with World Animal Protection: worldanimalprotection.ca World Animal Protection Canada 90 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 960, Toronto, ON M4P 2Y3 T: 1 800 363 9772 F: 1 416 369 0147 E: info@worldanimalprotection.ca Charitable Registration #12971 9076 RR0001
From the Executive Director
World Animal Protection’s John Walsh and Juan Carlos Murillo treat injured puppies after El Salvador earthquake, 1991.
Celebrating 50 years protecting animals We became World Animal Protection during a momentous year as 2014 marks the 50th anniversary of protecting animals in disasters. Our history began in 1964 with John Walsh and his first rescue expedition: Operation Gwamba.
This spirit drives World Animal Protection’s rescue work today. With response teams around the world, based in Costa Rica, Africa, Thailand, and India, we are prepared to deploy when disaster strikes.
This rescue mission was launched when the Suriname government reached out for help. Its people had been evacuated because of flooding but the wild animals were left stranded. The government wrote to Walsh asking for money and instructions, ending their letter with an ominous plea: “Time is short and the water rises.”
We are always looking to make the biggest impact for animals. And so, in December last year we entered into a unique partnership with the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the world’s largest volunteer-based humanitarian network. As we move into this landmark 50th year of disaster management work, we will help incorporate animal welfare into IFRC’s livelihoods and food security work across the globe ensuring protection for even more animals and the communities that rely on them. With your support, our teams are ready.
During Walsh’s 18 month stay in Suriname, he rescued nearly 10,000 animals, including deer, monkeys, armadillos, tortoises, sloths, anteaters, opossums, giant snakes, and more. He assembled local teams and quickly assessed how to do the greatest amount of good for the greatest number of animals.