Hundreds of pets were rescued following Venezuela’s earthquakes. Now they’re looking for their families
After Venezuela’s Tremors: A Journey Home for Hundreds of Rescued Animals
Hundreds of pets were rescued following the devastating twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela in June. The seismic events left destruction across multiple regions, claiming thousands of lives and displacing countless families. Among those affected were hundreds of beloved pets, separated from their owners and seeking refuge in shelters. Now, a dedicated network of rescuers and volunteers is working tirelessly to bring these animals back to their families.
A Joyous Reunion
Catira Alejandra’s story captures the emotional weight of this ongoing effort. The small dog, once trembling and uncertain after being discovered in La Guaira, now bounds with joy upon seeing her family once more. Her tail wagged furiously, and she offered loving licks to the faces of her loved ones, marking a moment she feared might never come. Before her rescue, Catira had been briefly renamed by rescuers and carried no identifying information about her previous life.
She represents one of many animals displaced by the seismic events. According to Maguildas Vargas, president of Misión Nevado—a Venezuelan government initiative supporting homeless animals—no fewer than 648 pets, including both dogs and cats, have been rescued since June 24 in La Guaira and the Caracas district of San Bernardino, two of the hardest-hit areas.
Medical Care and Reunification
Many of these animals arrived at shelters with serious injuries. Vargas, who serves as a veterinary assistant, noted that most of the found animals suffered from fractures, multiple traumas, mutilations, abrasions, or cuts. These pets are currently receiving medical attention and temporary shelter while efforts continue to locate their owners.
Vargas has encouraged residents searching for missing pets to create online profiles and share information across social media platforms. The result has been a flood of photographs and videos featuring dogs of every size and cats of various colors—white, black, striped, and multicolored. Each post carries heartfelt messages from grieving owners alongside essential details about their lost companions.
Shelters as Gathering Points
Granja Los Corales, located in La Guaira state, has emerged as a central hub for hundreds of rescued animals. Rene Cardozo, the regional shelter coordinator, explained to state broadcaster Venezolana de Televisión (VTV) that the facility serves as a meeting place where owners can visit and verify whether their pets are present.
Beyond government operations, independent shelters have played a crucial role in reuniting animals with their families. María Cordova, who began her first animal rescue at age fifteen in 2013, has dedicated herself to this cause from her base in Barquisimeto, Lara state. Her work as a pastry chef allows her to structure her schedule around caring for rescued animals.
A Personal Mission
In the days following the earthquakes, Cordova made two trips to La Guaira, where her shelter, Amor Animal, assisted twenty-two animals. “We are looking for their owners; we know that many are still hospitalized and haven’t had the chance to look for their pets,” she told CNN. “My mission in all of this is for them to find their owners. I am in no hurry to put them up for adoption, because my mission and my satisfaction would be for them to be reunited with their owners.”
Her dedication recently bore fruit when she spotted Gus, a black cat she had rescued in Catia La Mar, La Guaira. After nineteen days apart, Gus was reunited with his owner. “I found him by the grace of God, thanks to you,” wrote Rofredbelys, Gus’s owner, through tears in a video shared by the shelter.
“That girl really cried,” Cordova said, reflecting on the emotional reunion.
For Cordova and countless others involved in this effort, these reunions provide profound meaning to their work, proving that even in the wake of tragedy, hope and connection endure.
