HSI Asia // Humane Society International Asia

About Us | How You Can Help

Why We Care About the Tsunami Animal Victims, by Neil Trent, Executive Director HSI (click here)

We've asked Sherry to jot down some of her experiences as she travels throughout Southeast Asia helping animals that are in need because of massive natural disasters. Click here to read of her experiences.

Help Rebuilding Aceh:

Syiah Kuala University

The rebuilding is on schedule following two months of work

1 November 2006

Be part of the Legacy. If you believe in sustainable agriculture for Aceh, HSI Asia need YOU to help finish the teaching farm for Aceh, this is your chance to invest in the rebuilding of a community.

Be part of the team that brings this teaching farm to life, and actively encourages education and promotion of animal welfare within farming.

On-site security post and storage.

Money is still needed to complete full landscaping (includes fencing for the paddocks and building a road) and buying in equipment for the barns to make them fully functional. Full Breakdown and more details upon request to sherrygrant@grantland.com

HSI Asia has been on the ground and had a presence in Aceh since January 2005, days after the tsunami that took the lives of an estimated 130,000 people and destroyed a way of life and feeling of security.

The people who remained in Aceh were in great need and the humanitarian effort has been considerable. HSI Asia has remained engaged with Aceh since making contact all those months ago and through HSI HQ in Washington DC was able to establish a funding path to allow a ground-breaking project to rebuild the Vet School’s teaching farm.

The new farm once operational will teach extensive farming and will allow animal welfare to be integrated into the syllabus through the practical work each student must pass to complete the Veterinarian’s course. The teaching farm will steer the rebuilding of Aceh away from intensive and factory style farming that has been invading much of the Asia region as a cheap solution to animal productivity.

The rebuilding began in September and has kept to schedule despite some heavy rains, we aim to have the teaching farm operational by April/May 2007.

Chicken Barn foundations complete.

HSI is committed to providing assistance and relief for animals in distress following natural disasters, and the elimination of animal suffering and the encouragement of sustainable agriculture.

India Flooding

HSI/AHF vets attending distressed goat

29 August 2006

News of India's floods is just starting to hit the international press. Since August 2, torrential rains have caused widespread flooding on all sides of India, especially in the eastern areas of Gujerat and Rajasthan and in the west, in Orissa and the state of Andara Pradesh. Only now, a month on, are the waters starting to recede enabling rescue and relief efforts to begin. There are reports of 70 foot floods that have affected over 1.8 million people.

Help came to late for these sheep

HSI has been working with the Animal Help Foundation (AHF) based in Gujerat. AHF are no strangers to disasters. The group has been active in response and relief work for the past 5 years working tirelessly, covering all areas of India in need.

HSI Asia Director Sherry Grant Inspects goat

So far, HSI has been able to respond in two areas of flooding, Gujerat and Rajasthan. HSI responses follow a similar thread. The main needs following the flooding include; carcass disposal, vaccination, veterinary treatment and the sourcing and delivering food and water.

In both Gujerat and Rajasthan herds of animals have been found dead, having had no chance to escape from the rising waters.

Grant sights stranded dog

Response in Rajasthan has been to meet the requests of the Rajasthan Government who asked for veterinary help and fodder for the livestock. In Gujerat the response is the same and equally as urgent, with fodder being sourced and purchased for the affected animals. Forging relationships with the local authorities is critical in being able to deliver effective relief in times of disaster.

The situation in Rajasthan is complicated by the large presence of Gypsum, sometimes known as alabaster. The mineral when mixed with water turns into something similar to concrete. Rajasthan is the Gypsum capital of India. Since the flooding, the water has not been receding as expected - one thought is that the Gypsum is preventing the water from escaping. This is hampering the recovery efforts. Ironically, Rajasthan, usually known for disastrous droughts, is now 10-25 feet underwater.

The HSI/AHF teams are currently in Gujerat and Rajasthan and are working under harsh conditions. Communications are difficult but the team is in good spirits.

The team is held up by a flood plain

HSI Asia has responded to disasters and provided assistance and relief in many countries in the past 20 months including; the Asian tsunami, (Aceh, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and India), Cyclones on the East Coast of India, the earthquake in Pakistan and the earthquake in Java, Indonesia, not far from HSI Asia's Bali headquarters.

HSI is committed to providing assistance and relief for animals in distress following natural disasters, and the elimination of animal suffering and the encouragement of sustainable agriculture.

Map of HSI Activities in Asia

Click picture for Enlargement

orphaned cat, sri lanka

Orphaned cat in destroyed

Sri Lankan village (photo HSI)

Vet's Questions

Tips for an overweight dog

NEW!!

Dr Natasha Lee

Dr Natasha is from Kuala Lumpur, where she is the Lead Veterinarian for the SPCA and DBKL (local Govermnet) joint Spay/Neuter Clinic – ‘Klinik Kembiri’. This project is unique, in that it is supported both by the Government and the local animal welfare NGO – the SPCA Selangor. The Klinik is for owned dogs and cats to come and be neutered at a discounted rate – but with care and expertise necessary. Klinik Kembiri was launched in 2002, Dr Natasha joined the program in 2004 and it has grown from strength to strength, nowadays spay/neutering over 200 animals per month.

Over the next four articles, Dr Natasha will explain tropical and exotic diseases that are common in Asia, although owners often have little knowledge of how to prevent or treat these diseases. Click here to read Dr. Natasha's first article on Canine Babesiosis....