Rescuer from Costa Rica in Turkey tells how they fight to save animals trapped after the earthquake

The role of dogs in the earthquake in Turkey told by Argentine rescuers 0:59

(CNN Spanish) --

"There are many animals roaming the streets, others trapped for almost three weeks in apartments and houses that collapsed, animals with injuries, infections, fractures, and most of them scared because they also lived through the earthquakes," he says. Costa Rican Grettel Delgadillo, deputy director for Latin America of the animal welfare organization Humane Society International (HSI).

Delgadillo traveled from Costa Rica to join the relief teams in Antakya, one of the cities hardest hit by the 7.8 earthquake on February 6 in Turkey and Syria, as well as by the aftershocks that followed.

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Delgadillo says he arrived in Turkey on February 16 with three rescuers from India and one from Colombia, all from the same organization.

In addition to her, three other "ticas" joined the animal protection groups, one in the same team and two others who arrived later. According to Delgadillo, the aid center is in Adana, less than three hours from Antakya. From there they travel with food and medicine for the animals because it is difficult to find this type of supplies in the place, some even brought them from Costa Rica, where the organization's headquarters for Latin America are located.

Amid the drama of cities devastated by earthquakes, with a death toll that already exceeds 49,000, the deputy director of Humane Society International says there are moments of great joy.

For example, when it is possible to reunite a dog or a cat with its owner.

"We got word that there was a cat on a balcony, we got machinery and our disaster director, Kelly Donithan, went up in some kind of basket up to the fourth floor where it was trapped, the cat responded and we were able to pick it up."

Delgadillo added that almost immediately the owners came for him, which represented a moment of great joy.

"The family was tremendously grateful, it was a story with a happy ending."

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Delgadillo says that they also receive cases of missing animals, which arrive with the audios of the owners calling them "because it is a resource that is used to attract them."

He says that this moved her a lot, just like people who have lost family members and are looking for their pets.

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Initial rescue actions focus on first aid for which veterinary hospitals have been established in coordination with local rescue groups.

Delgadillo explained that the organization hopes to remain in Turkey until the end of the year, helping affected animals not only physically, "but also behaviorally, because they experience a lot of anxiety."

When the owners do not appear, some animals relocate to neighboring communities.

In a press release, Humane Society International reported that it responds to disasters around the world, including the emergency caused by volcanic eruptions in Guatemala, earthquakes in Nepal, Ecuador and Mexico, hurricanes, floods and cyclones in India, Haiti and Mozambique and forest fires in Australia and Chile.

In addition, they help refugees and their pets fleeing the war in Ukraine.

If you are interested in supporting the work of the organization, you can go to their social networks on Facebook.

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