Hundreds of pets missing after devastating earthquake in Venezuela

Hundreds of pets, including cats, dogs, and turtles, are awaiting reunification with their owners or new homes after a catastrophic earthquake struck Venezuela in June. The tremors left thousands of people dead, injured, or displaced, and many animals homeless.

The quakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude, hit the coastal city of La Guaira with devastating force. Experts from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) estimate the final death toll could nearly double the current figures. Survivors, already grieving the loss of loved ones, are now searching for their missing pets in makeshift animal shelters.

Raquel Ramos, 42, recounted her distress after leaving her cat, Mia, behind when the earthquake struck their neighborhood in Tanaguarena, reducing much of the coastal area to rubble. In a glimmer of hope, a rescue team found a black cat alive in the ruins of a building nearly a month after the disaster, sparking optimism that other pets may have survived.

This cat was discovered in a heavily damaged area where six residential complexes collapsed. Veterinarians treated the animal at the scene before taking it to an improvised shelter set up in a McDonald's restaurant, which also served as a makeshift emergency room. "We have treated 50 animals a day," said Yanier Veliz, a 20-year-old veterinary student and volunteer, noting the variety of animals, including a goat.

Volunteers Amanda Gonzalez and Yanier Veliz reported that most people arriving at the shelter have been reunited with their pets. Gonzalez described the reunions as "very emotional," with everyone, including the volunteers, ending up in tears. "These are animals that they thought were gone forever, and when they see that they are here, they become happy – and so do we," she said.