Hualien strays find their way: Volunteer vets save flood animals

Taipei, Oct. 3 (CNA) When the Matai'an Creek barrier lake in Hualien County overflowed on Sept. 23, it unleashed massive floods in the county's Guangfu Township that left devastation in their wake.

The floodwaters killed at least 18 people, and huge mounds of mud and debris were scattered across the area.

Besides humans, another species of victims are the pets and farm animals raised by residents of the area, with many of the animals perishing from the floods.

Several animals, such as a stray dog, given the designation "168," were lucky enough to have their lives saved by rescuers and first responders.

According to animal care volunteer Hsiao Li-chiang (蕭立強), many animals rescued from the disaster sustained physical traumas such as puncture wounds as well as lacerations, while a number of them also showed signs of cold and fatigue.

Hsiao explained that with such animals, they would be admitted into a round-the-clock veterinarian volunteer center erected inside Guangfu Township to receive care and treatment before being released back to their owners.

Although vets have entered the township to save and heal the animals as volunteers, the animal professionals can only care for the physical well-being of the animals, many of which are also in need of emotional support.

While animals such as 168 were extremely well-behaved during their rescue and subsequent care, animal volunteers were quick to notice that some animals became lethargic and lost their appetites.

The reason behind the animals' lack of spirit was that even the likes of cats and dogs can suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Hsiao explained.

To rehabilitate such animals, Hsiao said, volunteers would do their best to walk and groom them and nurse them back to health.

In the case of 168, the pooch remained unresponsive to stimulus from people since its rescue.

However, 168 would become ecstatic whenever it sees the very rescuer that saved it on Sept. 28, Hsiao said, adding that 168 would wag its tail at its rescuer on top of trying to cozy up to the human.

In the end, 168 was adopted by its rescuer, and volunteers decided to drive 168 themselves to Kaohsiung on Thursday to live with its new person.

To date, the center has rescued over 120 animals, including cats, dogs, and even ducks and turtles.

Around 20 pets have found their way back to their owners, Hsiao said, adding that some of the remaining animals are put up for adoption.

Besides medical treatment manned 24-7 by volunteer vets, Hsiao said the center is also equipped with care and grooming stations for the rescue animals.

While more severely injured animals would be transported to a proper animal hospital, a portable veterinarian emergency room is available to vets to go on call and treat animals for their owners at locations other than the center, he said.

The center itself will remain at Guangfu Township until Tuesday, Hsiao said.