When we met Cacique, he looked completely dazed.
This little cat had survived Venezuela’s devastating earthquakes. His building did not. It was so badly damaged it had to be brought down deliberately, in a controlled demolition.
Nobody believed anything could still be alive inside. Then, after the dust settled, he was found in the rubble – injured, confused, exhausted but alive.
His rescuers named him Cacique. It means brave. Nobody who pulled him out of that rubble would argue with it.
And after everything he had endured, something extraordinary happened. He came towards the people trying to help him. He wanted affection.
If a cat really does have nine lives, Cacique has spent five of them.
Now we need to help him – and animals like him – survive what comes next.
Injured and bewildered after being found alive in the rubble, Cacique sought comfort from the people helping him. Source: NFA/Dan Snyders
The earthquake may be over – the animal emergency is not.
As this is being written, we are still in Venezuela helping animals and weeks later we are still finding animals alive in the ruins. The television cameras have moved on but cats and dogs who survived the initial disaster are still in desperate need, arriving at veterinary clinics injured, dehydrated, frightened and in need of treatment.
Some have wounds. Some need medication. Some need operations. Some have lost their homes. And some have lost the people who cared for them.
Surviving the earthquake was only the beginning. Keeping them alive is the next battle.
We saw the need – and acted immediately.
We are on the ground with our partners helping veterinary teams treat animals rescued from the disaster. We urgently need supplies and medicine for the survivors.
Network for Animals is scouring Caracas, searching for what the vets need to treat the injured animals. Prices have shot up, but we cannot turn our back on animals who will die without treatment. We are buying whatever we can find in a city where everything is in short supply – except death.
Every newly rescued animal needs a full examination, treatment, food – and sometimes an expensive operation.
We are struggling to give the animals the help they need and we badly need your help to keep going.
Network for Animals purchased as much urgently needed veterinary medicine as we could find and we are still scouring the city for more to help local teams continue treating animals affected by the earthquakes Source: NFA/Dan Snyders
Your donation can help keep an earthquake survivor alive.
Your gift today can help provide:
- Emergency veterinary examinations for injured cats and dogs
- Pain relief, antibiotics and essential medicines
- Treatment for wounds and earthquake-related injuries
- Surgery when an animal cannot recover without it
- Food and clean water for displaced animals
- Transport to veterinary clinics and places of safety
- Ongoing care while frightened and injured animals recover
Please donate today.
The disaster did not end when the ground stopped shaking. For the animals who survived, the consequences are still unfolding.
Please, help us make sure veterinary teams have the medicine and resources they need to keep saving lives.
Your donation today will help us provide emergency treatment and ongoing support for cats and dogs who have already endured more than any animal should.
They survived the disaster.
