BOLOGNA – Not just people. In Bologna and its province, the rain is also putting animals to the test: cat shelters and kennels, in fact, have been affected by the wave of bad weather and in some cases have reported serious damage from last week’s flood. This is the case of the Sasso Marconi kennel, which has suffered flooding (one dog died) and the feline oasis of Pianoro which is in difficulty. Then there are some cats from a colony in Castenaso that are missing. And then there are the animals of families hit by the flood and perhaps displaced and out of their homes: animals that in some cases have found emergency shelter in recent days. This is what the dog shelter Budrio is doing, for example, where the flood hit hard. The shelter, although not directly affected, is taking in the animals of displaced people.
And just as “mud angels” have come to the aid of people in recent days, there are ‘angels’ working to help animals too. There are an example in the fieldof the zoophilic guards and volunteers of the International Organization for Animal Protection (OIPA): the Emergency Coordination for Emilia Romagna is in fact mobilizingto help animals and their families, as already happened last year during and after the tragic days of the flood in May 2023, when they rescued dogs, cats, horses, rabbits and other animals in over 250 interventions.
To deal with the emergency, an extraordinary collection of funds and materials: in fact, food, medicines, hay for the rabbits, bird feed are needed. Anyone who wishes to contribute can contact Jessica Quercioli, Coordination representative and delegate of Oipa of Bologna and the province, by calling or sending a WhatsApp message to the number 3518525005 or by writing to the email address bologna@oipa.org.
Several local associations have already organized food collections to be conveyed to Oipa of Bologna which, thanks to the availability of the Municipality of Baricella, will be granted a storage point where the aid can be collected.
Food, both wet and dry, for dogs and cats
Gastrointestinal food for dogs and cats
Antiparasitics
Veterinary drugs
Hay and pellets for rabbits
Feed for birds
In particular, the following are required:
Antibiotics
Anti-inflammatories
Corticosteroids
Gastroprotectives
Ear drops
Ear drops