November 20, 2013

White Dog and The White Dog Army

Wonderful World Wednesday

White Dog and her siblings’ first response at news of a natural catastrophe are to utter a prayer of protection for all those in the affected area. Those first hours and ensuing days are the moments when heroes rise up and innocence is lost. The WDA understands human priorities in disaster relief and in tending to those in need but wishes more efforts could be focused on those non-human victims as well.

Recent tornadoes in the Midwest and the continuing effects from the super typhoon in the Philippines have the Army digging into their wallets as they do their part to support rebuilding efforts. We wag in absolute delight at the miracle stories. We hold the responders and volunteers in our highest regard as true heroes. And we cheer with hope at stories such as this…

Animal Aid Arrives in Philippines

By Good News Network Wednesday, November 13, 2013

The International Fund for Animal Welfare arrived yesterday in Tacloban, the community in the Philippines hardest hit by Super Typhoon Haiyan to deliver animal relief packets for farm animals and pets.

The trained responders are working with local partner agency, the Philippines Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) to mobilize in the field and conduct an immediate animal needs assessment.

"The Philippines is facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. Many of the grief-stricken communities live with farm and companion animals and have no way to provide for them now," said Shannon Walajtys, IFAW Manager for Disasters. "IFAW is here working with our trusted partner PAWS to offer relief to humans and their animals in this their greatest time of need."

IFAW and PAWS have jointly responded to natural disasters in the Philippines since 1999, including rescue operations following Typhoon Ketsana in 2009 and Typhoon Bopha last year. You can donate to the IFAW/PAWS effort here.

The Humane Society International has been active in the country since 2008 and their disaster relief team including three veterinarians and two technical staff is in Leyte and Tacloban City surveying the damage and coordinating with local governments to clean up and organize relief. You can donate to the Humane Society relief effort here.

According to the latest numbers on file from the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) in the Philippines, there is an annual production of roughly 2,665 heads of cattle; 9,669 carabao; 107,367 hogs; and 1,401 goats among other farm animals in the affected Eastern Visayas. There are still no reliable estimates of the number of farm animals, companion animals or wildlife affected by Super Typhoon Haiyan.

 

CHARLES REX ARBOGAST/AP Photo

This aerial view on Monday, Nov. 18, 2013, shows the path of a tornado that hit the western Illinois town of Washington on Sunday. It was one of the worst-hit areas after intense storms and tornadoes swept through Illinois. The National Weather Service says the tornado that hit Washington had a preliminary rating of EF-4, meaning wind speeds of 170 mph to 190 mph.

The White Dog Army knows that this is a start in the Philippines, but that much rescue work still remains to guarantee animal safety. In our Midwest, shelters and rescues and volunteers from across the country have rushed to assist the homeless and lost and injured. They will not stop their efforts until they feel that the situation is stabilized and that all in need have resources and are helped. It is in this coming together to give aid to each other and to the animals affected that humans show that they ARE capable of being good planetary citizens and remind us, even in the face of disaster, it IS a wonderful world.