Helping animals in Haiti six months on

The Animal Relief Coalition for Haiti (ARCH) has released a film about their work with animals in the wake of the devastating earthquake in January in which 250,000 people died.

ARCH has helped more than 24,000 animals in the last six months, and the four-minute film shows how a team of local veterinary staff trained by the RSPCA run a mobile vet clinic for pets, farm animals and poultry.

The mobile clinic provides rabies and anthrax vaccines, parasite treatments, vitamin shots and first aid where needed.

RSPCA officer Kevin Degenhard, who worked as ARCH co-ordinator in Haiti for two months, said: “It has been an astonishing achievement to help so many animals during such a difficult time. The team in Haiti has done so well.

“We’ve always taken a strong view that it’s crucial to help communities rebuild in the wake of this terrible disaster, and a vital part of that is helping people to look after their surviving animals, as they depend on these animals for food, protection and companionship.”

ARCH is led by the by the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and is made up of 21 animal charities from around the world, including the RSPCA.

Animal and human health is linked and many people in Haiti rely on their animals for their economic wellbeing. ARCH is also working with the Haitian government to co-ordinate a public awareness programme about animal health and is carrying out a dog population survey.