President Traci Dawson and Secretary June Towler returned last month to Toronto Pearson Airport from Santiago, Chile.
The volunteers with the Dog Speed Animal Rescue and Transport Society, based in Arthur with individual members spread in Wellington County, were part of an emergency deployment and initial assessment of conditions for animals in the aftermath of the massive 8.8 Chilean earthquake in February.
It was been a grueling two weeks for the team, working in the field in extreme conditions. They encountered dead and starving animals, as well as civil uprising and were refused entry into certain rural areas until order was restored.
They were deployed with Kinship Circle, www.kinshipcircle.org to assess the situation and make recommendations on how to follow up with companion animal and livestock rescue care.
There are an estimated 700,000 animals left to fend for themselves after the quake. Chile does not have any animal shelters.
Dawson was appointed as the incident commander and had responsibility in negotiating with the Chilean officials on a memorandum of understanding for the organization to continue with the Kinship Circle plans for longer term support and rescue.
Towler was appointed as communications director.
In addition they with fellow Kinship team members worked with SACH, an animal rescue organization in Chile, in the field.
They encountered conditions for people and animals far worse than the disasters after Hurricanes Katrina and Gustav in the United States. Dawson and Towler both commended the Chilean vets and SACH for the tireless work they have been doing in the field to assist injured and starving animals.
The work was frustrating and difficult because there is no rescue centre to take animals to for treatment or care. They are treated on the street and released.
The long term plans would include setting up rescue centres and feed and water stations on the street to support the enormous number of stray animals.
One of the most important programs to implement is a high volume spay and neuter program to address the over population of animals. Livestock also need support and care with containment and feeding stations. There are animals drenched in oil and wounded that need urgent care.
Kinship Circle has embarked on a huge fundraising campaign to raise $500,000 to provide the funds to set up the facilities needed to support the animals including livestock affected by the devastation in Chile. Kinship Circle is staging a plan for return to Chile at the end of April.
Treasurer Heather Johnston, of Fergus, said in an interview that the group has been working for rescue of animals ever since Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. This fall, Dawson will be heading north with the Canadian Animal Rescue Association to Rankin Inlet, where it will set up a spay and neuter program to help reduce the number of unwanted animals.
The group also works with the Kitchener, Guelph, and Cambridge Humane Societies. It recently received its charitable status.