After Venezuela’s Tremors, Rescued Animals Seek Their Human Families
Sandego.net – Emotion overwhelmed Catira Alejandra as she finally encountered the people she had been separated from. The little canine bounced with joy, her tail moving rapidly, while pressing affectionate kisses against her owners’ faces. This heartwarming reunion came after days of uncertainty for the small dog, who had been found trembling and huddled in La Guaira following the devastating earthquakes. When rescuers first discovered her, she bore no identifying tags and received a temporary name from her saviors.
The twin seismic events that struck Venezuela during June claimed thousands of lives and left countless families without their homes or beloved animal companions. Since June 24, emergency workers have recovered a minimum of 648 dogs and cats from the hardest-affected regions, including La Guaira state and San Bernardino, a neighborhood within Caracas. Maguildas Vargas, who leads Misión Nevado—a government initiative dedicated to housing abandoned animals—provided these figures.
Medical Care and Reunification Efforts
Vargas and her dedicated team have successfully matched at least 18 animals found in La Guaira with their previous owners. Many of these creatures arrived at shelters suffering from serious injuries. According to Vargas, who works as a veterinary assistant, the animals commonly presented with broken bones, multiple injuries, cuts, abrasions, and even mutilations. Each one receives proper medical attention and temporary housing while authorities work to locate their human families.
She has encouraged pet owners to establish online profiles for their missing animals and share these details across various social media platforms. These digital channels have become crowded with images and recordings featuring dogs of every size alongside cats of various colors—white, black, striped, and multicolored varieties. Each shared post carries emotional appeals from grieving owners alongside essential details about their cherished companions.
Shelters Become Gathering Points
Granja Los Corales, located in La Guaira state, serves as a central location for hundreds of displaced animals. Rene Cardozo, the regional shelter coordinator, explained the facility’s purpose to state broadcaster Venezolana de Televisión (VTV). “We are here as a meeting point for those people who are looking for their pets so they can come and check if they are in the facilities,” he stated.
Beyond government operations, numerous independent organizations have contributed to reuniting earthquake victims with their animals. María Cordova began her rescue work at age fifteen in 2013. Now based in Barquisimeto, within Lara state, she has transformed this early passion into a lifelong commitment. Her profession as a pastry chef enables her to structure her daily routine around caring for rescued animals.
Following the earthquakes, Cordova made two trips to La Guaira. Her organization, Amor Animal, assisted twenty-two animals during these visits. “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 shared with CNN. She emphasized that adoption is not her immediate priority. “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,” Cordova explained.
Her dedication recently bore fruit when she spotted Gus, a black cat she had previously rescued in Catia La Mar, La Guaira. After nineteen days apart, Gus found his way back to Rofredbelys, his owner. In a touching video posted by the shelter, Rofredbelys expressed gratitude through tears: “I found him by the grace of God, thanks to you.” For Cordova, moments like these validate every effort she makes. “That girl really cried,” she recalled, noting how such reunions give profound meaning to her work.
