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From: Elizabeth Forel <elizforel@...>
Date: Sat, 8 Jan 2005 07:50:51 -0500


<hlitke@...>


Veterinarians to Travel to Tsunami Disaster Site to Aid Animal Victims

DAVIS, California (January 6, 2005) -- The Association of Veterinarians
for Animal Rights (AVAR), a national organization of veterinarians,
veterinary technicians, and students has coordinated travel and relief
work arrangements for two veterinarians who will be traveling to India
this weekend to help animal victims of the recent tsunami disaster. One
of the participating veterinarians is going at AVAR¹s request through
the Animal Rescue League of Boston and the other is an AVAR member from
the New York area..

The veterinarians will head to the coast of southern India, where they
will split up and assist two different animal protection organizations
with various tasks related to the tsunami disaster, including shelter
work and visiting villages in remote areas of the country. One has
experience with large animals, including elephants. The other recently
returned from India and has experience traveling in the region and with
shelter medicine.

Reports from India reflect a growing need for veterinary assistance.
While many free-roaming animals were able to escape the flooding waters,
many who were confined drowned. Others are left without food and clean
water and face the same risks of disease as do their human counterparts.
Animal shelters are becoming over-crowded, as many human victims have
turned their animals over due to lack of ability to care for them at
this time.

Although the veterinarians will be taking veterinary supplies with them,
AVAR is asking for monetary donations that will be wired to them so that
they can purchase additional supplies in India as they are needed.
Further, AVAR plans to send other veterinary assistance in the near
future to assist with efforts to sterilize and vaccinate dogs and cats
in the region. AVAR, Animal Rescue League of Boston and United Animal
Nations are covering the cost of the airline tickets for the
veterinarians. Donations can be made online via the AVAR website at
www.avar.org <http://www.avar.org/> or via mail to: AVAR, PO Box 208,
Davis, CA 95617-0208. Please indicate that the donation is for the
Tsunami Disaster Relief. AVAR is a 501(c)3 nonprofit registered charity
so donations are tax deductible.


Pam Runquist
Director of Companion Animal Issues
Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights
PO Box 208
Davis, CA 95617-0208
Tel: (530) 759-8106
pam@...






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