ifaw has rushed aid to animals recovering from earthquake in Croatia

Updated: January 20th, 2021

Since the initial earthquakes on December 29th and 30th, more than 700 aftershocks ranging from 1.2 to 4.8 on the Richter scale have hit the town of Petrinja. The impact is devastating – homes are completely destroyed and half of the town lays in rubble.  

IFAW continues to provide aid and support to local animal rescue organizations amidst dropping winter temperatures and limited local resources. Recently, we purchased three microchip readers that search and rescue teams can use in the field. Before receiving the microchip readers, the only way to scan animals was to transport them to vet clinics that had the necessary technology. Now teams can scan the animals themselves, reducing transportation time and minimizing the animals’ stress. We also provided emergency grants to support the cost of veterinary supplies as well as the purchase and distribution of animal food.   

IFAW’s Disaster Response team has vast experience helping communities recover from tragedy. We are providing guidance to local rescue organizations and helping them align with humanitarian organizations for efficient collaboration. Our partners at Udruga Merida, Udruga Rina, and Animals without Borders continue to rescue cats, dogs, and backyard farm animals from the wreckage and provide them with urgent veterinary care. The teams have successfully reunited many animals with their families and are working endlessly to also support rescue and care for the community dogs and cats during this very difficult time.

January 6th, 2021

The rescue work continues in Croatia as local responders work tirelessly to feed, rescue animals and reunite families. Udruga Merida, an organization IFAW is supporting, reports the teams transported and distributed animal food to multiple affected communities, leaving extra supplies for local distribution to families who need to feed their beloved pets. 

Reunifications have also taken place and one small dog, named Loki, had the best outcome possible. Loki, scared and traumatized after the earthquake in Petrinja, ran out of his home and disappeared. His family could not find him and began working with local rescuers, including the team at Udruga Merida, to post his story. The community rallied and shared his photos widely. Happily, Loki was found and reunited with his family shortly thereafter.

Other families are still searching for their furry loved ones, and our local counterparts will continue searching and reuniting families. 

January 5th, 2021

Thousands of people and countless animals were affected by powerful earthquakes that rocked Croatia on December 29-30th, 2020 – leaving many people and animals injured or dead. The earthquakes were felt as far away as Italy, and while human relief agencies help people in the aftermath of the devastation, IFAW rushes emergency aid to support veterinary care, food, emergency sheltering, and family reunification to our local counterparts who are rescuing animals at the epicenter of this disaster.

Our Disaster Response and Risk Reduction team immediately reached out to local rescue contacts in Croatia. IFAW had previously responded in the region during the 2014 floods that impacted Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia. 

Stay tuned for more updates from this ongoing response.