Today, pet bloggers are banding together to raise awareness and MONEY to help search and rescue efforts and aid to the animals suffering from the big Japan earthquake, tsunami and everything else bad that has happened and continues to happen since. Please help in any way you can!
The BlogPaws Be the Change for Pets community is supporting World Vets, which already has teams on the ground helping animals in need in Japan.
You can follow their efforts and progress via the World Vets Facebook Page. For example, yesterday they were asking if anyone knew of warehouse space where they could set up a makeshift animal center.
World Vets is a non-government organization providing veterinary aid around the globe in collaboration with animal advocacy groups, foreign governments, US and foreign military groups, and veterinary professionals abroad. World Vets is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
The goal is to raise $50,000 to support their real-time efforts in Japan by April 1, 2011.
You can donate directly through the World Vets usual donation site.
Or, you can use this widget blow, which also sends money directly to World Vets:
*** Update at 1:15 pm Thursday …. There have been some glitches today with the chip-in widget, but they seem to be fixed now. If it isn’t working when you happen to arrive, remember you can always use the link to a World Vets donation form above.***
Other Donation Options: Cell Phone Warning
There certainly are other avenues for your donations. Just one quick tip from your pal, Rox. When you text your donation via cell phone, those donations can be tied up by the cell phone company for as long as 90 days. Here people think they are helping FAST and getting money in the hands of aid organizations FAST, and nothing could be further from the truth.
The Japan Earthquake Videos and Pictures
The images coming out of Japan break my heart. I’ve been a weepy mess all week because things continue to go from bad to worse. This video of canine loyalty and fear (below) really sums up the challenges animal rescuers face.
And, yes, word has it that these dogs were rescued … even though it took 2 hours for them to reach a shelter. It seems the rescuers put them on the back of bicycles to get them there.
Don’t watch unless you have plenty of tissues handy.
Based on what I’ve tracked down online, the man who rescued the dogs is named Kenn Sakurai, and he posted a long note on Facebook that reads in part … “I haven’t done anything special. I’ve just had the idea and those crazy off-road bike riders were near there … I appreciate your words and kindness but those should be go to those bike riders. They are the kind of tribes that wherever there is a reason or excuse to go, they go … And I’m the bad brother who pushed them from behind. But with the flash of idea, I told them as if you see such why don’t you guys go ? I gave them the reason. So don’t consider me as a great good guy. A stupid guy who could save some dogs’ lives and that’s it. There are many people who are doing that with the tough job with the much safer way.”
Thanks to Surf Dog Ricochet for posting the link to Kenn’s note on Facebook. (P.S. Ricochet’s mom just had open-heart surgery a couple weeks ago. Hugs (gentle ones) to her.)
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CH113NEpY0k
Agility People ROCK!
There is also a photo that has become famous … at least in the dog agility community of a tsunami wave about to wipe out a local agility field.
What came next is a story for another day, but some agility folks in Colorado rallied their online network and tracked down the people who own / use / train at this agility site. And, at least as of Monday, everyone (and their dogs) had survived the initial emergency of the earthquake and tsunami waves.
The translation from Google isn’t perfect, but the headline on the Team Free Ride blog read, “Everyone is safe.”
The agility community has banded together to raise money for these people just like us. It isn’t a formal charity, but instead … just agility families from around globe helping agility families in Japan. For me, the personal … almost hand-to-hand gesture … is very powerful.
You can learn more about those efforts and follow the latest news via this Agility Community Supports Japan Agility Facebook Page.
Other Places to Track Rescue Efforts Online
Dog Bless You
National Search Dog Foundation
Japan Earthquake Animal Rescue and Support
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Check out all the other blogs taking part:
What a great post! I’ve finally found the time today to read through some of the 160+ blog hop posts. It was very nice to read here that the agility group is fine, thanks for including that.
And thanks for being a part of such a wonderful group of people that is helping save animals one paw at a time!
What a worthy cause. Good for you for getting involved!