On June 24, two earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 struck Venezuela, leaving a trail of destruction in the state of La Guaira. Thousands of animals were trapped or disoriented among the rubble. Mission Nevado, a government program created in 2013, has focused on the rescue and care of these animals.mobilizing volunteers and veterinarians to care for the most vulnerable.
According to official sources, the organization has already rescued more than 600 dogs and cats in the most affected areas. Most are community animals, meaning dogs and cats that live on the streets but are cared for by residents. Rene Cardozo, coordinator of the Los Corales shelter, explained that many of these animals suffer from severe dehydration, anemia, and nervous breakdowns. due to the stress of the earthquakes. The president of the Mission, Maigualida Vargas, has confirmed that they are currently sheltering 608 companion animals.
Rescue and veterinary care operation
Rescue teams work daily in areas such as Caraballeda and Macuto, where they go to locate lost pets. At the Granja Los Corales shelter, the animals receive veterinary care, vaccination and deworming.In addition to providing consistent feeding, the teams also address cases of post-traumatic stress, recommending that families create routines and safe spaces for their pets.
Solidarity has been key: veterinarians from the state of Táchira have traveled to La Guaira to provide support, and work has been coordinated with 87 animal rights activists who have opened their homes as temporary shelters. In addition, brigades from Mexico have arrived with rescue dogs to help in the search efforts.The operation also includes the rescue of wildlife such as parrots, rabbits, and horses.
Family reunification and digital campaign
One of Misión Nevado’s priorities is reuniting pets with their owners. So far, they have successfully reunited 18 animals, and the organization has launched a social media campaign to help locate them. Vargas has urged those who have taken in a pet to post flyers with a photograph, location, and contact information., tagging the official account @misionnevadoficial to centralize the information.
The institution has also set up collection centers in San Bernardino, Nuevo Circo (Caracas) and La Guaira, where donations of food, medical supplies and animal welfare items are received. The request is clear: they only accept food and medicine, not monetary donations.Those interested can check the collection points through the Mission’s social media channels.
The community’s response has been overwhelming, and the work of Mission Nevado demonstrates that, even in the worst catastrophes, organization and empathy can make all the difference. Each rescued animal is a step towards rebuilding the social fabricAnd the network of community caregivers remains the pillar that sustains this work in the midst of tragedy.