May 13, 2025, 9:20 am | Read time: 5 minutes
In late March 2025, an earthquake struck the Sagaing region in Myanmar, causing severe damage in both Myanmar and neighboring Thailand. Thousands of people, as well as many animals, lost their homes or even their lives. Even a month after the events, the need remains significant, as Christoph May, spokesperson for the World Animal Protection Society, reported in response to a PETBOOK inquiry.
On March 28, a 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar, causing homes and hotels to collapse. Roads and bridges were destroyed; tens of thousands lost their homes or had to flee due to the dangerous conditions. Many animals were left behind. The World Animal Protection Society (WTG) was one of the few organizations on the ground directly caring for animals in need. The rescue team was deployed daily. The team rescued animals from the rubble after the earthquake in Myanmar and provided water and food to abandoned dogs and cats.
A month after the events, the need is still enormous. Thousands of animals are struggling to survive, as Christoph May, spokesperson for the World Animal Protection Society, reports to PETBOOK. Many of the hardest-hit areas in Myanmar are nearly deserted due to the destruction. Ma Saw Thae Oo from the partner organization Royal Heart Dog Shelter reports on the current situation on the ground: “The stray animals are suffering from growing food shortages, and the number of pet owners who have to give up their animals has increased again.”
“The Need on the Streets Is Enormous”
“The needs on the ground were already great before the earthquake,” explained WTG Managing Director Katharina Kohn in early April in a press release. Many people were already dependent on humanitarian aid and could barely afford the cost of pet food. The earthquake has significantly worsened the situation, according to Ma Saw Thae Oo. In addition to domestic and farm animals, many strays that were previously fed by people are now left to fend for themselves. “Some areas are still almost completely deserted, only the animals remain. We travel to these abandoned places to provide food for the dogs and cats.”
“The need on the streets is enormous, also because the supply situation in the country is very poor and the already high prices for feed and medicine have skyrocketed,” as Christoph May reports to PETBOOK. How many animals are affected is difficult to say, according to May. “Such an estimate is generally difficult in disasters like this concerning animals, and in Myanmar, it is almost impossible due to the civil war and the country’s isolation from the outside world.” Moreover, there were no estimates of how many pets or strays lived in the region before the earthquake.
Many Animals Traumatized
In addition to the food shortage, injuries and trauma play a significant role in caring for animals after the earthquake in Myanmar. “After earthquakes, a particularly large fear within animals is often observed,” May explains. “When the world literally collapses around them, they retreat into hiding places.” This is not only dangerous because the buildings are at risk of collapsing. It makes it more difficult for helpers to reach the animals.
It can take days for such animals to gain trust and, for example, be lured close to humans with food, May says. This is particularly dramatic if the animals are already injured or ill, as care should be initiated immediately.
What Happens to the Rescued Animals After the Earthquake in Myanmar?
Most animals are provided with water and food on-site. The WTG works primarily with the Royal Heart Dog Shelter on the ground. If animals are injured, they are taken to shelters. Sometimes pet owners also contact the animal rescuers directly, as May reports: “We were particularly moved by the rescue of five dogs that were taken in as part of our emergency aid. The owner of the dogs was trapped under the rubble for hours but was rescued. However, due to the injuries sustained, she could no longer care for the dogs and therefore asked for the help of the animal rescuers. Without this work, the dogs would likely have been left to fend for themselves.”
In principle, Royal Heart Dog Shelter would also place animals. In the current situation, however, this is only possible to a very limited extent, as May explains.
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Danger Not Yet Averted
Even though many of the animals have already been rescued, the danger is not yet over, emphasizes Christoph May. “In early May, there was another aftershock about 100 kilometers from Sagaing.” Although the areas in Sagaing itself, where the local organization Royal Heart Dog Shelter is based, are largely accessible according to WTG’s knowledge, there is still a great danger from buildings at risk of collapsing.
Moreover, the mission is generally not without danger, as additional risks arise due to the civil war situation in the country: “Recently, there have been clashes between civil war parties near our operational area. The security situation in the country is, therefore, very tense.”
May hopes that the area where the Royal Heart Dog Shelter is located, and where the rescued dogs and cats find refuge, will be spared and that rescue operations can continue as before. “The need after the earthquake in Myanmar remains great in many regions,” the spokesperson summarizes. “We want to continue standing by the animals and the people who tirelessly work for them.” Those who wish to support the work of animal rescuers in Myanmar can do so here.