More than 10,300 pets and wild animals have already been rescued from the floods in Rio Grande do Sul, according to the state’s Civil Defense bulletin, released this Saturday (11), at 9am. The data comes from the Secretariat of Environment and Infrastructure (Sema/RS) and the Response Group for Animals in Disasters (Grad) made up of volunteers from various areas of activity of animal protection entities.
Among the rescued animals is the horse nicknamed Caramelo, due to the color of its coat, which was isolated on a roof in the Mathias Velho neighborhood, in Canoas. The rescue work was carried out by soldiers from the São Paulo Fire Department, with assistance from the state Military Brigade, on Thursday (8).
After rescue
According to the Department of Environment and Infrastructure (Sema/RS), animals rescued from flooded areas undergo veterinary screening. Those in good health are returned to their guardians and when no one is identified, they are sent to public shelters or GRAD spaces. If they have hypothermia or injuries, they are taken to the nearest veterinary clinic.
Rescue of stranded animals in Rio Grande do Sul. Photo: Luisa Mell/Instagram
Owners who have not yet found their animals should contact the municipality’s Civil Defense and go to the city’s shelters to try to identify the pet.
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and independent animal protection groups have come together on social media to share information that can help these animals be reunited with their owners or, when necessary, find a new home.
On Instagram, profiles; @acheseupetrs, @dogs_enchenters and @tosalvoanimais were created for families in Rio Grande do Sul to reunite with their pets. In a private message (direct) to the administrators of the three virtual profiles, the interested owner can send the animal’s main information such as coat color, name, whether it is male or female, size and, if possible, photos. On the other hand, whoever finds a pet can make contact and point out where it was rescued or is sheltered and provide characteristics that facilitate the return of the animals to their owners. The information is being posted on the social network page.
Help
The Animal Disaster Response Group (Grad), which has spread the motto: Every life matters and no one will be left behind, states that requests for rescues continue to arrive, but many areas remain inaccessible. The institution requested support from motor vessels to expand rescue actions in flooded areas. For financial donations, the Grad group provides the PIX key: [email protected].
At this time, donations of food for animals (dogs, cats, rabbits, rodents, horses, birds) in closed packaging are being accepted. Items such as houses and beds for pets, cat litter, food jars, drinking water, vaccines, anti-flea medicines, dewormers, veterinary medicines and pet microchips are also needed, which are placed under the animal’s skin and store its main data such as name, species, sex, color, age, in addition to the guardian’s identification and residence address.
Independent animal protectors and civil society organizations indicate that they need volunteer veterinarians and people who can take care of rescued animals, mainly to spend the night in shelters or who offer temporary homes until the pets are found by their owners or adopted.
Janja welcomes a dog rescued from the floods, by Cláudio Kbene/PR
The first lady, Janja da Silva, adopted a dog last Sunday (5) during a visit to the Canoas Animal Welfare Center, which was named Esperança. The animal underwent surgery for fractures and is doing well.
This same Canoas unit, in the metropolitan region of Porto Alegre, had its infrastructure expanded by the Disaster Animal Response Group, with collective and individual temporary tents and air-conditioned containers for veterinary teams to work to promote the animals’ well-being and, when necessary, perform various surgeries and castration.]
Esporte Clube Pelotas also built a shelter for rescued dogs at the Boca do Lobo stadium in the city.
