ITALY FLOODS AFTERMATH. OIPA VOLUNTEERS ARE STILL LENDING FLOOD VICTIMS A HELPING HAND

After the devastating flooding that submerged the northern region of Emilia-Romagna in Italy, killing 15 people and forcing over 36,000 to evacuate, OIPA volunteers and animal control officers rushed immediately in aid of flood victims. Volunteers, in particular our teams in Bologna and Ravenna, took part in rescue operations to save animals left in evacuated buildings, trapped in inaccessible places or in areas fully covered by water. Some rescue operations have been successful thanks to the precious support of firefighters, like the case of a cat mum and her kittens rescued from a submerged shelter that was reached by a fire boat. Our volunteers are helping dogs and cats in shelters, stray cats, pets (including birds and rabbits) of evacuated families or of those living in villages still difficult to reach, but also animals in farms and stables, such as horses, goats and donkeys, and livestock.

Our volunteers in Bologna has recently delivered 22 hays bales to the horses and a donkey they previously rescued from a flood affected stable and then relocated to a safer place. They are now distributing aid for animals to shelters and families.

Solidarity does not stop here. OIPA volunteers and animal control officers, all over Italy, are collecting pet food, hays, pellets, medicines (antibiotics, vitamins, painkillers, gastric protectors, eye and ear drops) anti fleas and tick treatments, and accessories (blankets, bowls, leashes, transport cages). In a few days, our volunteers in Rome/Florence/Ferrara/Alessandria/Bergamo/Lecco/Como collected 31 ton of aid that have been delivered in flood affected areas.