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| Animals trapped in Manila floods! |
| PAWS survives typhoon – now desperate for help in rescue effort |
Battered by Typhoon Ketsana, which struck on September 26, the Philippine capital Manila has suffered massive flooding, resulting in over 200 deaths and the displacement of thousands of people and their animals.
The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), which rescues and re-homes animals in the greater Manila area, and runs a hugely successful Dr Dog programme on behalf of Animals Asia, is urgently in need of your help as members race to help families and pets, while struggling to overcome their own difficulties.
After two days trapped inside without food, two PAWS directors and 60 rescued animals under their care have finally made it to safety. Heidi Guzon and Gwen Protasio were trapped on the second floor of Heidi’s house while their colleagues raced against time to organise a rescue.
In the meantime, the head of PAWS Disaster Relief Team, May Felix, lost one of her own precious dogs to the waters when her house was hit by flash flooding.
Fortunately, the PAWS rescue shelter has not been damaged, though it is operating without electricity. To offer shelter to others, PAWS announced on national TV and newspapers that its doors were open as an evacuation centre for animals that have been rescued.
Unfortunately, access to the flooded areas is limited with people unable to get in or out – so there has been only a slow trickle of rescued animals over the weekend. However, as the PAWS shelter is very near the disaster area of Marikina where thousands are still stranded in their homes with their animals, tents and cages are needed urgently for the new arrivals expected once rescuers arrive. They also urgently need cat and dog food and batteries.
Despite their own problems, PAWS is doing all it can to help animals and people: PAWS Programme Director, Anna Nieves Cabrera, said in an email to Animals Asia: “The PAWS Shelter has no electricity and no phone. I am only able to email you from an internet cafe. In hindsight, we really need a radio for the shelter. If there is a way any organisation can send in a rubber boat and some life vests (I know this is close to impossible though), our volunteers, who have recently been trained for water rescues in Indonesia, may be able to rescue some animals.”
Since this email was received we have heard that more animals are arriving at the PAWS shelter as the flood levels subside and PAWS staff are now entering communities to offer help and assistance to people and animals that have been forced to evacuate.
The situation for the people and the animals in the flooded areas is very poor. You can help the dedicated people at PAWS help these families and pets by donating towards their disaster relief efforts through the PAWS website. Please click “Featured News” for secure online payment details and for more information and updated announcements.
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