ifaw deploys disaster response team to Bahamas, provides emergency assistance in aftermath of Hurricane Dorian

Updated: Wednesday, September 11th, 2019

IFAW is leading the international rescue and relief efforts for animals impacted by Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas. The team is currently on the ground on Abaco and Grand Bahama to coordinate rescue operations with DAR members. Animal search and rescue teams continue to answer calls from owners and organize rescue missions. Simultaneously, rescue operations on Grand Bahama have also begun. IFAW's partners GreaterGood.org and Wings of Rescue are delivering lifesaving supplies for people and animals, in addition to transporting remaining shelter animals off of Abaco and Grand Bahama islands. Special thanks to the Andrew Sabin Family Foundation for making this flight possible. 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) deployed a team to the Bahamas to carry out animal relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian, a historic Category 5 storm which struck on Sunday, September 1st, and ravaged the island for approximately 36 hours.

IFAW, at the invitation of the newly founded Dorian Animal Rescue Coalition and approved by the Bahamian government, is leading the international animal rescue effort by providing rapid assessment and life-saving rescue operations assistance. Field teams will work in the hardest-hit areas of Abaco and Grand Bahama where IFAW will meet with members of the local coalition to coordinate next steps and ensure relief services and aid are distributed to those in greatest need.

"IFAW teams deploy all over the world responding to all types of disasters. We know that animals are part of communities impacted by disasters and for those communities to heal and return to normalcy, animal needs and issues must be addressed. We are here to assist the people and the animals of the Bahamas in their time of greatest need after such a devastating event,” said Shannon Walajtys, IFAW’s Program Director of Disaster Response and Risk Reduction.

As part of this Disaster Response effort, IFAW’s team is partnering with GreaterGood.org, a charitable organization based in Seattle, to gather supplies and donations to send to the Bahamas once assessments have been completed. According to Liz Baker, CEO of the organization, "GreaterGood.org is proud to partner with the International Fund for Animal Welfare by providing funding and supplies to help those affected by this terrible and unprecedented storm. The road to recovery for the Bahamas will be long, and we are dedicated to working alongside IFAW to help that recovery move forward.”

From Hurricane Katrina in 2005 to the earthquake in Nepal in 2015, IFAW has responded to the world’s worst natural disasters, providing emergency care to animals in need while reuniting pets with their families.

Please email doriananimalrelief@gmail.com to report lost, found, injured or sheltered animals or to inquire about volunteering time, supplies, vessels or planes.

About the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW):

 The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) is a global non-profit helping animals and people thrive together. We are experts and everyday people, working across seas, oceans, and in more than 40 countries around the world. We rescue, rehabilitate, and release animals, and we restore and protect their natural habitats. The problems we’re up against are urgent and complicated. To solve them, we match fresh thinking with bold action. We partner with local communities, governments, non-governmental organizations, and businesses. Together, we pioneer new and innovative ways to help all species flourish. See how at ifaw.org.

About GreaterGood.org

GreaterGood.org is an independent 501(c)(3) charitable organization devoted to improving the health and well-being of people, pets, and the planet. In addition to creating and operating a suite of Signature Programs, GreaterGood has given over $175 million in cash and product grants to charity partners and programs worldwide that work toward our mission.

Press Contact:

Melanie Mahoney

m: 508.744.2070

e: press@ifaw.org