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Brad Pattison will fly to Haiti next week on an animal rescue mission
By Kathy Michaels
As Kelowna’s Brad Pattison packs his bags to enter a disaster zone others are desperately trying to flee he’s admittedly nervous about what he’ll face.
The well-known canine expert will fly into Haiti next week with a small team of animal rescuers and a veterinarian to deal with an issue that’s far from the headlines at this point.
“We are walking into a living hell…people are trying to survive, they don’t have anything and we are going down there, with the excitement of going to help, but how that’s received; I don’t know,” he said.
While tens of thousands of human casualties have been the focus of relief efforts, his expertise makes him one of the few who can address the needs of animals that have been caught in the devastated landscape and it’s a situation he can’t ignore.
“We have a professional team and we can go down there and make a difference,” he said. “We need to go down there ASAP because many dogs will be trapped, unable to find food or water and they’ll be suffering and perishing slowly.”
Few will be rescued in the traditional sense. Pattison realizes in many cases his work will be focussed on euthanizing the animals he finds that have been injured beyond repair, and it’s not a task he’s looking forward to, though it’s not unfamiliar territory.
Like many others, Pattison can’t help but draw comparisons between Haiti’s quake and Hurricane Katrina, as that’s the last place he embarked on an animal rescue mission. But, he explained, the differences are vast and the conditions he will meet next week will put him in a much more hostile environment.
Hurricane Katrina was the most destructive natural disaster in U.S. history, and the fallout killed 1,800 people across the Gulf Coast. Haiti, however, is an earthquake zone in a third world country that may have killed 50,000 people. There’s also a matter of timing.
“With Katrina because we got there three weeks affter the fact a number of issues were already cleaned up, such as dead bodies from human and animals,” he said. “Going into Haiti this early into the catastrophe is different.”
With so many humans working to keep themselves alive, Pattison expects that there will be people who will be hostile to his attempts to focus his efforts on animals, which are viewed differently in developing nations.
But it’s the work he and his team have to do so they are ready for whatever they will find.
“When you are noted as a person who has supplies that are in demand, if it’s for the taking then someone will try to take it,” he said, noting communication is critical and all members of the team are trained in self defense.
In the meantime, he’s turning his attention to his game plan.
The first step once they arrive will be assessing the situation and finding which animals need to be euthanized because they’re starving, or have crushed and broken limbs.
It’s not a country with an SPCA adoption service, so putting a dog to rest is often the only way to treat it. Then, from that point on they will continue. Though, he’s not sure how the trip will play out yet.
At this point, the mission is completely self-funded, though Pattison would appreciate donations. For those who would like to give, go to www.bradpattison.com.
15 Responses to “Kelowna canine expert heading to Haiti on a rescue mission”
Tags: animal rescue, brad pattison, haiti
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Animals are sentient beings also, and deserve compassionate treatment. Thank you for doing this.
To the article’s author, please note that it wasn’t the hurricane that killed so many people after Hurricane Katrina, the majority of deaths resulted from the failure of the levees after the fact. Most of the deaths were due not a natural disaster, but to human negligence and incompetence.
Thank you for reporting on this.
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Sadly, Mr. Pattison will get financial support for another folly. With no disaster-related education or experience, it will be another big PR stunt. He should leave the work to volunteer responders who are specially trained and offer their time and knowledge with compassion. To make money on the disaster is deplorable.
Suggest folks lend their financial support to IFAW who is already supporting an animal rescue established in Haiti.
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Brad & team;
You know we’re all behind you 100%. Be safe, and thanks for all you do over and over again for those who can’t speak for themselves.
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Perhaps this is an attempt to boost a poor public image? I hope his ego doesn’t get in the way of the true rescue volunteers who are already in Haiti.
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Good job Brad! It’s amazing to know that someone is willing to go IN to that country right now with all the havoc & mess that is going on and save the animals. They’re lucky to have you and your talents.
To you nay-sayers: How about putting your energy into support for Haiti and it’s helpers rather than negativity?
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It’s so sad that this reporter didn’t do any homework for this piece and actually refers to Brad as an expert. I agree with Jackson and Louise, not only will this detract from the real efforts but it will take away from monies that would have gone to far more effective groups. I also tend to go with Jackson that this is nothing more than a publicity seeking stunt from Brad in an effort to boost his relatively poor image in the dog world.
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I agree this is nothing more than a way to get a bit more publicity. I think I’d rather put my dollars towards WSPA or the Humane Society.
Hahah states his people are trained in self defense..ya like that’s going to do much good when people want your food or medical supplies and they have guns!! This ain’t the good ole USA…Haiti is one of the most violent countries around and people there are more than desperate.
Hopefully they won’t get out of the airport.
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What is so SAD is all of you who are critisizing Brad and his team who are all risking their LIVES to try and make some king of difference for the better in a horrible situation like this.
Animals are his job, animals are his life. Just because you can’t see the importance in it, doesn’t make it unimportant!
Don’t be so negative when someone is only trying to do good.
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Wow, I didn’t know you guys knew Brad so personally as to attack his credibility. Do you solely base your opinion on his show??
Perhaps you should just appreciate that at least he’s willing to help the animals that are treated like garbage in a 3rd world country and risk his life while doing so.
What are you guys actually doing to help the animals in Haiti??
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Honestly people, who cares what this does or doesn’t do for Mr. Pattinson’s image? If he eases suffering or saves even one animal, he’s made a positive contribution.
(And thanks Sandy for underscoring that Katrina was, by and large, NOT a natural disaster).
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I have been thinking of the animals since the minute I heard about the earthquake. Yes, anyone who can do something about the situation should. I myself donated to IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) and ASPCA. They are organizing in the Dominican Republic to go in as soon as they are allowed.
In this disaster we should all pull together and do whateven we can to help humans and animals. Stop the negativity please.
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Thank you Brad and your team for risking your safety in the name of those who have no voice. Canada is lucky to have advocates such as yourself to stand up strong for what we believe in.
To those obsessed with negativity and people bashing,it is hard to believe that someone would go in to Katrina, Puerto Rico/Dead Dog Beach, and now Haiti- all self funded, simply in the name of good PR…if even 10% of your energy was put into helping those in need, imagine the miracles that could occur in this world!
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Way to go Brad & Team! I made a donation because at least I know where the money is going..unlike the Toronto Humane Society (now in hot water after leaving animals to die of starvation and diseases). At least I’ve met Brad and have done some training with him so I know he is very much “for the animal”. Whatever his team can do is already more than if he didn’t go.
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I have met at least 3 members of Brad’s team and I can tell you that all of them are there for the animals. I don’t see any of the rescue organizations stepping up and telling Brad not to come. He went down there before he got a cent from anyone so it was a possibility that he would be flipping the bill himself yet he still went. He didn’t stay and wait to raise the money. If they didn’t want him there trust me he wouldn’t be getting off the plane.
There are always skeptics out there who will critique anything he does but I notice they aren’t the ones putting their lives on the line and they aren’t the ones out there trying to train dogs that would otherwise be put down.
Way to go Brad!
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Really, if he stayed and donated the ..say 8 grand, instead of going for a few days, he would accomplish a lot more.
Please continue discussion on the forum: link