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| Best Friends Animal Society will assist cats affected by floods in Mexico. |
The floods that at one point covered up to 80 percent of Tabasco, Mexico, in recent weeks have wiped out agricultural crops and left thousands of people homeless. The floods have also affected herds of cattle and family pets, said Paul Berry, CEO of Best Friends Animal Society. In response, Best Friends sent a team of emergency responders to review the situation in Tabasco and to work with other emergency response teams to help the affected animals.
“We are stunned by the lack of information in the media on this disaster’s impact on animals,” Berry said. “We’ll do a thorough assessment and report our findings ASAP, so other international organizations can determine how best they can help.”
Best Friends’ rapid response manager Rich Crook met with Mexico’s minister of health to discuss current recovery plans. Crook also plans to meet with military officials and to tour the disaster area to determine how to best help the surviving animals.
Next steps may include working with local animal welfare organizations and volunteers to help reunite families with their pets and to provide veterinary care for sick and injured animals. Reports indicate that many residents are trying to get back to their homes to remove personal belongings and look for cats and dogs that may be stranded.
For more information about Best Friends Animal Society and updates about their efforts in Mexico, visit the organization’s website.