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At a makeshift field hospital for rescued pets in Brazil’s flooded south, a steady stream of volunteers arrives, hugging shivering dogs and carriers emitting the plaintive meows of displaced cats.
Many pets and farm animals spent days in water, without food, in the flooded state of Rio Grande do Sul, where torrential rains engulfed homes and turned streets into rivers, killing more than 140 people.
According to the latest state government figures released on Sunday, 10,555 animals have been rescued in the flood-hit region in recent days.
Most of the rescued animals are dogs, but there are also cats, rabbits, chickens, pigs and horses, which arrive sedated at the shelter in Porto Alegre, the state capital.
Each animal is examined and photographed; the images are then uploaded to the Internet to help owners find their pets.
The animals are treated for their injuries and fed. Some are wrapped in thermal blankets to keep warm.
“We have rapid tests. If they arrive with symptoms of infectious disease, we separate them to send them to clinics and hospitals,” said veterinarian Cintia Dias da Costa, 48, dressed in waterproof gear. under a constant downpour.
The horses are cared for by equine specialists. Many are hosted by universities that offer them temporary shelter, said veterinarian Fernando Gonzalez, 51, as he tended to a horse with a “very skittish” dark coat.
Alongside human misery, the plight of animals has gripped the hearts of Brazilians. In a widely circulated image taken by news cameras, a horse is seen stranded on a roof with muddy water swirling around it.
Nicknamed “Caramelo” by social media users calling for his rescue, the horse was eventually sedated and loaded into an inflatable boat.
In another viral video, a man is seen sobbing in a boat as he reunites with his four dogs, rescued from floodwaters.
“I want to contribute in some way and I prefer to work with these creatures, who are innocent and can’t help themselves,” said volunteer Priscilla Correa, 51, sitting with a small, trembling dog between her legs.
In the parking lot of a nearby shopping center, another temporary pet shelter has sprung up, primarily housing about 200 rescued dogs. Some play with their guards, while others are exhausted from their ordeal.
“Our feeling is that we are doing something to give visibility to the animal cause. We must understand that the lives of animals have value,” said volunteer Fernanda Ellwanger, 42.
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News Source : www.barrons.com
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