It wasn’t just the human population of Grand Cayman that suffered during and after Hurricane Ivan – many animals were also affected by the storm.
As homes were destroyed and people left the island in the days and weeks that followed this catastrophic event, pets roamed free or were abandoned.
Shelters did not accept animals at that time, so anyone seeking refuge had no choice but to take cover without their pets.
HORRIFIC INJURIES
Animals also suffered horrific injuries from storm debris and when they were trapped in buildings torn apart by the storm. The Cayman Islands Humane Society did its best to cope not only with conditions throughout the passing of Ivan but also to help the large number of animals in distress afterwards.
“There were a lot of animals that were homeless or needed treatment after Ivan,” Julie Arnall, who was treasurer of the Humane Society at the time, said during an interview marking Ivan’s 10th anniversary.
Whenever a storm is threatening Cayman, the charity issues an appeal for people to offer emergency alternative accommodation for animals in the shelter. Before Ivan there were 120 animals on site but by the eve of the storm there were just half a dozen cats and one dog as people came forward to give temporary foster care.
PLACED IN CAT CAGES
The remaining animals were all placed in cat cages and positioned up high – just as well, because four feet of sludge gushed through the entire ground floor of the building on North Sound Road.
“I couldn’t get to the shelter until the Tuesday after the storm because the road from my house was blocked,” said Julie. “But when I did reach there, lots of volunteers were already working hard to clean up and sanitise the place.”
Volunteers brought food, while Vampt Motors on Walkers Road kindly allowed the Humane Society to take drinking water from the company’s cistern.
HELP FROM CHARITIES
Animals poured into the shelter and resources quickly became overstretched but thanks to charitable assistance from organisations in Canada and the US, many animals were flown to new homes in those countries courtesy of Cayman Airways.
A charity called SNAP from Texas also flew in volunteers with emergency supplies for the animals and to help treat those that were injured. Additionally, the Humane Society took care of dozens of dogs from the government pound for a number of months.
Meanwhile, Dr. Brenda Bush, owner of Island Veterinary Services, often had to carry out surgery in the open air under the most rudimentary of conditions, struggling to deal with the number of animals that required treatment.
Unfortunately, as the Humane Society shelter building had been badly damaged in Ivan, there was no cash coming in from the thrift store or the second-hand bookshop, which both generated revenue for the charity.
However, thanks to corporate and private donations, the organisation was able to keep going during those difficult times.
“Everybody was wonderful,” said Julie. “People came together to help, remembering it wasn’t just people who suffered in the storm – animals needed care, too.”
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