When the earth shook beneath La Guaira, Venezuela, Harmony Fund donors cast a rescue net for many animals who fell victim to this act of nature. You fueled a rescue network that rushed into the rubble, searched for survivors, and began pulling frightened animals to safety.
Our partner Red de Apoyo Canino (RAC) mobilized veterinarians and rescuers throughout the disaster zone. Teams are still providing emergency care, vaccinations, food, and supplies, repairing damaged shelters, placing rescued animals in foster homes, and tracking down families who lost their pets. This operation will go on for many months.
One of those rescuers is Othoniel Olivo of Ayuda Mascotas, whom you may remember from a previous newsletter. Before the earthquake, Othoniel and his wife Maria were struggling to feed more than 100 cats and many dogs at their shelter locations. Maria ended up in the hospital and suffered severe anxiety after many, many months of not having enough to feed the animals. Our donors stepped in, helping them escape food insecurity and breathing hope into an extremely worrying state of affairs.
Then the earthquake struck and Othoniel went to work. He and Maria and a team of veterinarians entered the disaster zone and rescued many cats. He rescued dozens of cats and brought 20 of them back to his own shelter. Now, after weeks of detective work, some of those cats are being reunited with the families who lost them.
