Humane Society International Brings Much-Needed Help to Animals in Nepal
The HSI team is also seeing the strength of the human-animal bond. In Sengden village, Purnima Tamang, who has no family except her eight goats, refused to leave the remains of her home because she does not want to leave her goats. “Call them what you want – my property, my family, my friends…. They are all I have left,” she told our team, crying. The goats are sick with respiratory problems because they’ve been soaking in the rain for five days, and are cold. Our team is now helping them with medicine and food.
For those Nepalese who have lost loved ones and so much else in their lives, the further loss of the animals on whom they depend would compound the tragedy.
This week, a team of veterinarians and disaster relief experts from Humane Society International — armed with medicines, vaccines, surgical equipment, and other supplies — touched down in Nepal, the mountainous nation most famous for its sherpas and high-altitude mountain climbing. Nepal was horribly shaken last weekend by an earthquake that registered 7.8 on the Richter scale, centered in the capital of Kathmandu.
Over the coming days, our expert HSI disaster responders will work with local animal welfare groups and other international organizations in affected areas to bring relief to the hundreds of thousands of animal victims of the earthquake.
Helping Nepal’s Animal Victims
Natural disasters, we know from experience, take a heavy toll on animals, just as they do on humans. In Nepal, animal victims range from family pets to street dogs and farm animals that have been killed, injured, lost, or abandoned. They now face starvation, dehydration, and illness – unless they get help fast.
“For many people, their animals are all they have left, so HSI’s animal aid is a vital lifeline,” said Rahul Sehgal, HSI-Asia director, who is on the ground in Nepal. “Over the past few days we’ve been here, our team has encountered some horrific scenes of devastation — for humans and the animals. There are hurt, sick, and starving animals everywhere we go, and we are working night and day to help as many as we can.”
How Helping Animals Helps Locals
How Helping Animals Helps Locals
Some of the hardest hit areas are small agricultural villages in which animals are an important presence and often critical to the survival of a family. Our team has been touring these villages to assess the earthquake’s impact and to provide relief. In the village of Pahade Tole, animals, including farm animals and dogs, have no food and nowhere to sleep because the ground is soggy after days and days of incessant rain. In Tika Bhairav village, more than a thousand animal deaths have been reported.
The HSI team is also seeing the strength of the human-animal bond. In Sengden village, Purnima Tamang, who has no family except her eight goats, refused to leave the remains of her home because she does not want to leave her goats. “Call them what you want – my property, my family, my friends…. They are all I have left,” she told our team, crying. The goats are sick with respiratory problems because they’ve been soaking in the rain for five days, and are cold. Our team is now helping them with medicine and food.For those Nepalese who have lost loved ones and so much else in their lives, the further loss of the animals on whom they depend would compound the tragedy.Continued Relief Efforts
Over the coming days, our HSI team and our partners will continue our relief work in Nepal, focusing on providing veterinary assistance and supplies, sheltering and caring for lost and abandoned animals, and vaccinating dogs and livestock to prevent disease outbreak. We are also witnessing some small miracles that offer hope: in Pahade Tole, for instance, our team uncovered a basket from the rubble. Inside were five ducklings that were still healthy and alive.
If you’d like to help with our relief effort, you can donate here.
This Pit Bull Who Was Shot 5 Times Can’t Stop Kissing One of the Cops That Helped Save His Life.
Frank the eight-month-old Pit Bull mix has a fighting chance at a healthy life thanks to the fast actions of neighbors and police.
As a stray living in Chester, Pennsylvania, Frank was well known by his neighbors. They enjoyed his affable presence in the neighborhood as he was always friendly and sweet to the humans he encountered. Residents weren’t sure where he’d come from, but would feed him and give him attention when he cared to drop by.
Until one day when they heard gunshots and discovered that Frank had been shot five times at close point range by an unknown assailant. Four officers responded quickly. Despite his grim injuries, Justice Rescue Humane Officer Russell Harper said that Frank was wagging his tail at the site of the responding officers and even licking Harper’s face.
Clearly the attack hasn’t changed Frank’s sunny personality as he can barely contain himself in the presence of one of the officers who helped save the day. To find out how to further help Frank – whose veterinary care is estimated to total over $20,000 – click here.
Also, if you see a stray in your neighborhood and are unable to take them in yourself as you attempt to locate any possible family that may be missing them, contact your local rescue group so that animal can be taken off of the streets. The sad reality of injury by humans, cars, exposure to the elements and disease make the streets no place for a dog or cat to be living, even if they’re being regularly fed.
Learn the Dark Truth Behind This ‘Funny’ Video of a Rescued Bear Walking Like Human
Seeing animals act like humans is something that we all enjoy. Like when your dog tilts their head and looks at you like “Human, I’m not having your sass today,” or your cat’s meow sounds like they’re trying to talk. We immediately personify these animals and usually think it’s hilarious. This is all in good fun, of course, but sometimes when we’re amused by an animal’s seemingly human-like actions, we don’t always recognize that their bizarre actions may be symptomatic of a serious issue.
The Asiatic Black Bear in this video, for example, has become rather famous due to his propensity for walking on his hind legs like a person; this bear now lives at a rescue center, but his life was not always this easy.
According to the Holiztic Vet, a wildlife veterinarian, the bear was likely kept as a bile bear early on in life. In the bear bile industry, Asiatic Black Bears are taken from the wild and forced to live in “crush cages,” small enclosures that prevent them from moving while the bile fluid from their gallbladders is removed. This fluid is used in Traditional Asian Medicine to help reduce inflammation; it is incredibly popular, but comes at a high cost to the animals.
After living as a bile bear, this animal was probably extremely malnourished. As a result, he has abnormally short hind legs and his head appears awkwardly large.
As to walking on his hind legs, the Holiztic Vet believes this upward stature was likely developed out of a need to beg for his food. Because of his low-weight, his spine is able to support him on two legs.
While the bear is safe now, there are many others like him whose situations are anything but amusing. So while this video might seem cute or funny, it is always important to consider the context.
The Asiatic Black Bear in this video, for example, has become rather famous due to his propensity for walking on his hind legs like a person; this bear now lives at a rescue center, but his life was not always this easy.
According to the Holiztic Vet, a wildlife veterinarian, the bear was likely kept as a bile bear early on in life. In the bear bile industry, Asiatic Black Bears are taken from the wild and forced to live in “crush cages,” small enclosures that prevent them from moving while the bile fluid from their gallbladders is removed. This fluid is used in Traditional Asian Medicine to help reduce inflammation; it is incredibly popular, but comes at a high cost to the animals.
After living as a bile bear, this animal was probably extremely malnourished. As a result, he has abnormally short hind legs and his head appears awkwardly large.
As to walking on his hind legs, the Holiztic Vet believes this upward stature was likely developed out of a need to beg for his food. Because of his low-weight, his spine is able to support him on two legs.
While the bear is safe now, there are many others like him whose situations are anything but amusing. So while this video might seem cute or funny, it is always important to consider the context.
Tootsie the Terrified, Homeless, and Injured Poodle Gets Rescued Before a Disaster.
Rescuing a scared, injured stray dog is no easy task. Often, these animals have grown accustomed to fending for themselves on the street and likely haven’t known much kindness from people, so when a group of rescuers comes to try and bring them to safety, it’s no wonder that most dogs resist.
Tootsie, the injured Poodle in this video certainly falls into this category. Based on her extremely matted fur, it was clear that Tootsie had been living on the street for quite some time. This was all about to change, however, when a group from Blue Guardian Rescue stepped in.
Tootsie the injured, homeless Poodle was terrified when rescuers came to save her. But thanks to a lot of patience and treats, Melanie and Eliot Smith finally managed to maneuver the terrified pup into a crate.
While the whole capture process might have been stressful for little Tootsie, she is now on her way to a better life in a loving forever home! Good luck, Tootsie!
Cashew the Orphaned Kitten was Found Covered in Fleas. But Look What a Little Love Can Do!
Tootsie, the injured Poodle in this video certainly falls into this category. Based on her extremely matted fur, it was clear that Tootsie had been living on the street for quite some time. This was all about to change, however, when a group from Blue Guardian Rescue stepped in.
Tootsie the injured, homeless Poodle was terrified when rescuers came to save her. But thanks to a lot of patience and treats, Melanie and Eliot Smith finally managed to maneuver the terrified pup into a crate.
While the whole capture process might have been stressful for little Tootsie, she is now on her way to a better life in a loving forever home! Good luck, Tootsie!
Cashew the Orphaned Kitten was Found Covered in Fleas. But Look What a Little Love Can Do!
Cashew the kitten was no more than a few days old when he was anonymously dropped off at a PetSmart. Abandoned and infested with fleas, the small kitten didn’t stand a chance at making it through the night on his own.
Luckily, a kind woman found Cashew and took him home for the night. What she didn’t know is that that one night would turn into a whole lifetime of fun.
Poor Cashew was scared and completely covered with fleas when he was found. But despite all this, his rescuer held him all through the night to keep him warm.
The next day, Cashew took his first trip to the vet. Thanks to a good bath and check-up, he left looking like a brand new kitten!
Now that Cashew was flea-free, he got the chance to meet his new dog sibling. Cashew was eager to get up and play, but he was still too weak to do so.
It wasn’t long before Cashew claimed his rescuer’s teddy bear as his own.
“You are mine now, Teddy!” Seriously, he got really protective of his fuzzy.
By the third day, Cashew was full of energy and got to work charming his new parents. Although they initially were going to foster him until he was big enough for adoption, they fell in love and decided to keep him!
With a new, happy forever home under his belt, Cashew was ready to take on the world! 
With a little care and a whole lot of love, this sweet kitten has gone from hopeless to happy and healthy. A big thank you to the kind woman who rescued him!
All image source: Imgur
Orphaned Walrus Calf Snuggles With His Rescuer
A group of fishermen spotted a six-week-old walrus calf stranded on a piece of ice in the middle of North Salt Lagoon in Alaska. It is believed that the young calf was unable to keep up with the rest of his family and sadly got left behind. Walruses cannot swim for indefinite periods of time but need to take frequent breaks, making it likely that this calf was too exhausted to carry on.
Luckily, the kind fishermen stepped in to help the little calf. Calling the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) staff of the North Slope Borough’s Department of Wildlife Management, the fishermen arranged the walrus’ rescue.
Now safe and sound in the care of the Alaska SeaLife Center, the walrus is getting all the care he needs to grow up big and strong and one day return to the wild. In the meantime, however, this young calf is enjoying all of the care and attention he’s getting from his rescuers and particularly loves indulging in a good snuggle session.
Good luck, walrus!
Luckily, the kind fishermen stepped in to help the little calf. Calling the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) staff of the North Slope Borough’s Department of Wildlife Management, the fishermen arranged the walrus’ rescue.
Now safe and sound in the care of the Alaska SeaLife Center, the walrus is getting all the care he needs to grow up big and strong and one day return to the wild. In the meantime, however, this young calf is enjoying all of the care and attention he’s getting from his rescuers and particularly loves indulging in a good snuggle session.
Good luck, walrus!
German Shepherd Reunites With Family After 3 Years Apart in This Touching Video
Pit Bull Joins the Police Force in the Same City Where She Was Almost Euthanized
There are over 70 million homeless dogs and cats in the U.S. who are in need of a loving forever home. Sadly, however, due to the high volume of animals who need homes and limited space and resources in shelters, many of these animals are put down before they can ever find a forever home. Statistically speaking around six to eight million animals enter the shelter system every year and tragically, around half will never be saved from this cruel fate. While these numbers are troubling, what is more so is the fact that one in four animalsbrought into shelters are Pit Bulls. Due to the stereotypes assigned to these dogs, they are frequently deemed “unadoptable” by high-kill shelters and placed at the top of the euthanasia list; in fact, Pit Bulls have a euthanasia rate of 93 percent.
Libby, a stray Pit Bull who was brought into a high-kill shelter in Houston, Texas, was slotted to join this sad percentage. That is, until one kind woman intervened to save Libby from this untimely end.
With all these kind people backing her, Libby thrived in the training program and became a veritable rock star! Now Libby has landed her place on the Montgomery County Constable narcotics unit, joining the police force in the city where she was almost euthanized.
Libby’s success inspired Universal K9, the local police dog training group, to announce a new program and partnership with two animal rescue organizations that will adopt out shelter dogs to be trained as narcotic or explosive detecting police dogs.
This amazing story would have never been possible if not for one kind woman who decided to take a chance on a Pit Bull in need. A little compassion can go a long way!
All image source: Libby MCCO K-9/Facebook
Amazing Team Rescues a Tiny Donkey From the Bottom of a Pit
A donkey in India found himself in a bit of a situation after falling into a well. The donkey had been fighting with another larger donkey in the area and inadvertently toppled into the pit. Thankfully for the donkey, a group of villagers witnessed the altercation and quickly called Animal Aid Unlimited to help the struggling animal.
As Animal Aid Unlimited explains on their YouTube description, “[the donkey] would have slowly died of hunger at the bottom of that pit, but thanks to villagers who happened to notice him, we rescued him just in time.”
Trying to maneuver a heavy donkey out of a well is no easy task, but the animal rescue team came prepared with all the right tools and a little ingenuity to aid the poor animal. In no time at all, the donkey was safe and sound on land!
Doesn’t the kindness of this team just make you smile? Great job, Animal Aid Unlimited.
As Animal Aid Unlimited explains on their YouTube description, “[the donkey] would have slowly died of hunger at the bottom of that pit, but thanks to villagers who happened to notice him, we rescued him just in time.”
Trying to maneuver a heavy donkey out of a well is no easy task, but the animal rescue team came prepared with all the right tools and a little ingenuity to aid the poor animal. In no time at all, the donkey was safe and sound on land!
Doesn’t the kindness of this team just make you smile? Great job, Animal Aid Unlimited.
