ASPCA Continues Animal Relief Funding in Haiti

NEW YORK--The ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) has authorized an additional $50,000 in funding to the Animal Relief Coalition for Haiti (ARCH), a coalition created to address the needs of animals in Haiti following the country's devastating earthquake last January. This 2011 grant brings the total to $110,000 in funding provided by the ASPCA to support ARCH's relief efforts.

"One year later, the ASPCA continues to recognize the need to support the devastation facing animals in Haiti, and toward that end we continue to make financial resources available as appropriate," said ASPCA President and CEO Ed Sayres.

In 2010, the ASPCA provided a total of $60,000 in funding for livestock and companion animals affected by the earthquake. Funding has also made possible the deployment of a mobile veterinary clinic complete with vaccines, antibiotics, bandages, food, and other supplies and which has brought direct aid to more than 50,000 animals to date. More than 60 percent of the animals that have been treated are goats, pigs and cattle, while cats and dogs comprise 25 percent. The remaining animals are chickens, sheep, horses and donkeys.

ARCH is headed by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA). In addition to the ASPCA, ARCH consists of a number of animal welfare groups including the American Humane Association, Best Friends, and Kinship Circle. ARCH is the largest effort for animals in Haiti, and the largest international coalition to assist animals in a disaster. The ARCH response team arrived to Haiti 10 days after the earthquake and has since continued to have a presence in Port-au-Prince.

"The ASPCA continues to extend its full support to those organizations providing humanitarian relief in this ravaged island nation, and now in the wake of the cholera outbreak and political unrest," said Sayres. "We hope that by addressing the needs of Haiti's animal victims, ARCH will ultimately provide much-needed relief to the entire country, humans and animals alike."