AVMA, animal welfare groups plan Haitian relief efforts

Schaumburg, Ill.

-- The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and its emergency arm --- Veterinary Medical Assistance Teams (VMAT) -- are still gathering information before they send cash, supplies or veterinary volunteers to earthquake-damaged Haiti.

According to VMAT, a few Christian Veterinary Mission volunteers were in Haiti before the earthquake, but they're at work helping the millions of surviving Haitians in need of aid.

The status of animals in Haiti's zoo in Fermanthe is unclear.

In addition to the AVMA's planning, a coalition of animal-welfare groups that includes the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) has begun gathering supplies in nearby Dominican Republic. An ASPCA press release states that Haiti is home to roughly 5 million livestock animals, a large stray dog population, a variety of companion animals, and native wildlife, some species of which are endangered.

Check back with dvm360.com for more updates.