Tsunami dogs - sad plight reported in LA Times and by Anderson Cooper on CNN 1/18/04

[Guest guest]

News on the animal situation in the Tsunami zone is sad. On Saturday,

January 16, the Los Angeles Times carried a story, by John M. Glionna,

headed, " Orphaned Sri Lanka Dogs Seen as Danger. Many canines were left

to fend for themselves after the tsunami. Fears of deadly rabies trigger

a government plan to exterminate them. "

 

It opens:

" They are perhaps the most overlooked victims of last month's

devastating tsunami, increasingly desperate creatures existing without

shelter and little food or even clean water. And under a new government

program, their days are numbered.

 

" They're dogs of all sizes, color and character, former pets that have

been left without masters after the tsunami flooded this eastern Sri

Lankan village, killing at least 1,000 of its 6,000 residents.

 

" For three weeks, hundreds of dogs have wandered through the rubble of

Ulle in search of food, puddles from which to lap and often just a

reassuring pat on the head.

 

" The animals are too timid to compete with humans for the food that

arrives at refugee camps every day. Yet in Ulle and across this poor

island nation, some dogs are slowly getting meaner, howling at night,

joining wandering packs, snarling at one another over the animal

carcasses that wash up along the beach.

 

" Last weekend, Sri Lankan officials began planning a dog eradication

program after one person in Ampara province, which includes Ulle,

reportedly contracted rabies, presumably after being bitten by a dog.

The victim's condition was not known. In Ulle, more than half a dozen

people — including two foreign relief workers — have also recently been

bitten by dogs. None has been diagnosed with rabies so far. "

 

Because of fear of a major rabies outbreak, " Officials say the canine

eradication program will start in the next few days and could soon be

extended to other regions. They plan to poison the dogs with

cyanide-laced meat, although they've had problems finding enough

cyanide. "

 

A veterinarian who has been so far vaccinated about 300 " free range "

dogs is quoted:

 

" These dogs are starving. It's hard enough for people in these refugee

camps to find food. One can only imagine the plight of these animals.

They rely on the leftovers from humans. But now there are no leftovers.

And the dogs will get desperate. "

 

We read,

" The vet, whose efforts are sponsored by the Humane Society

International and other donors, said that most of the dogs were

undoubtedly former pets because they looked well-fed and had healthy

coats of fur.

 

" 'They're very nice dogs, most of them. This is not their fault that

they have lost their owners. It's very tragic, actually.' "

 

And we read,

" The veterinarian said that French Red Cross doctors in Ulle asked him

last Sunday to stop vaccinating stray dogs and concentrate only on those

that were identified by owners. Many dogs now wear bright red collars,

signifying that they are not to be euthanized. "

 

How odd that the word " euthanize " is chosen to describe death by

cyanide. We tend to use the word too loosely.

 

You can read the full Los Angeles Times report on line at:

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-dogs16jan16,1,752315

5.story

 

Perhaps it will inspire you to write a letter to the Los Angeles Times

about the plight of dogs in the Tsunami zone, or here in the USA. The

Times take letters at: letters.

 

You can read reports from the Humane Society International (a sponsor of

the vet referred to who is vaccinating animals) and donate towards the

group's efforts at:

http://www.hsi.org.au/news_library_events/Tsunami_Intro.htm

 

And HSUS has a great page specifically on this issue:

http://www.hsus.org/about_us/humane_society_international_hsi/hsi_asia/r

elief_efforts_focus_on_human_tragedy_after_catastrophic_tsunami.html OR

http://tinyurl.com/7x95s

 

Regarding Anderson Cooper on CNN:

 

I have missed his reports on the issue, and unfortunately I cannot find

them on CNN's website, but I hear that Anderson Cooper has gone out of

his way to call attention to the suffering of the dogs, reporting on

them in a highly sympathetic manner. I heard that, on January 7, as he

reported on the dog's plight and petted and examined the foot of a dog

who seemed attached to him, another reporter asked if he were not afraid

of disease; he replied that it was a chance worth taking. Since one of

the reports I read suggested that many dogs coming to humans seem to be

looking as much for a reassuring pat as anything else, Cooper's response

is particularly touching. Today, January 18, Jill Church tells me that

his report on the Indonesian government's plans to exterminate stray

dogs was again very sympathetic, and gave donation information for

groups such as the Humane Society International and WSPA.

 

Many millions of people saw that report, so Anderson Cooper's choice to

focus on animal suffering, when many reporters would refuse to do so

when there is so much human suffering (as if compassion is a limited

commodity) is no doubt responsible for some extra aid going to the

animal victims. Please take just a moment to let him know that his focus

on the animal issue is deeply appreciated. There is a page that asks

specifically for feedback about Anderson Cooper at:

http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form4.html?5

It will take just a moment to go there and post a quick thank you for

his Tsunami dog coverage.

 

Those new to DawnWatch will find my extensive report from earlier this

month, on the Tsunami animal situation, at:

http://www.dawnwatch.com/1-05_Animal_Media_Alerts.htm#TSUNAMI

 

Yours and the animals',

Karen Dawn

 

(DawnWatch is an animal advocacy media watch that looks at animal issues

in the media and facilitates one-click responses to the relevant media

outlets. You can learn more about it, and sign up for alerts at

http://www.DawnWatch.com. To , go to

www.DawnWatch.com/.php. If you forward or reprint DawnWatch

alerts, please do so unedited -- leave DawnWatch in the title and

include this tag line.)

 

 

 

 

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