Volunteers Work To Help Animals Affected By Hualien Flash Floods

Volunteers are working to help animals affected by the devastating flash floods in Hualien on Taiwan's east coast.

Transcript

00:00Encouraging and soothing these little furry fellows are not owners praising their pets,

00:08but volunteers offering comfort to survivors of last week's flash floods at an animal medical

00:13station in Hualien, eastern Taiwan. Guangfu Township was hit by severe flooding when a

00:20barrier lake in the mountains overflowed, killing at least 18 people, injuring more than 100,

00:26and displacing thousands. The victims of the disaster were not only humans, but also animals.

00:56To support disaster response efforts for animals, volunteers have flocked to the area,

01:09working around the clock to provide medical care, grooming, food, and other essential services.

01:14The animals rescued include pets, strays, and wild species. These efforts come at a time when

01:39awareness of animal protection is rising in Taiwan, along with a growing number of pets in recent

01:44years. After rescued animals have been treated, volunteers first check whether they have owners.

01:53For those found to be strays, the center steps in to help them find new homes, such as Yi Liu Ba.

01:59He was rescued by a first responder and later adopted by that very same rescuer.

02:04And he isn't the only lucky one. Take Lucy. She was adopted by a volunteer who had just

02:11arrived at the station that very day from Taichung.

02:14So far, this animal medical station has rescued more than 120 animals, including dogs, cats, ducks,

02:38and turtles since it opened its doors. Volunteers say their goal is simple, to save as many lives as

02:48possible and to ensure that no survivor, whether human or animal, is left behind.

02:54Devin Tsai, Joseph Wu, Alec McDonald, and Sandy Chi for Taiwan Plus.