Found an injured animal on your travels, and not sure what to do? This is a list of animal shelters, organisations, groups and people around the world that can provide help or give advice on what to do when you find an injured animal on your travels.
One thing that really got to us during the France to China cycle trip, was all the injured strays we came across and our inability to help them. After we witnessed a puppy get hit by a car in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, we spent the next 3 days trying to find help for it. It was a struggle. The whole ordeal took it’s toll, and I almost ended the cycle trip there and then. It felt like no one gave a shit about these beautiful, helpless creatures. The truth is there are people that care, it’s just a matter of finding them, which isn’t always that simple.
I realise there are loads of animal lovers out there that probably have experienced something similar and wish they knew how to help. So, we’ve decided to compile a list of contacts for ‘animal saviours’ – people or organisations in each country that can offer help or advice if an injured animal has been found on your travels.
As we cycle through each country we will add more places to the list – however, please, please, please, let me know if you know of any other places/ organisations/ people in any country that would be able to provide help. Our email is info@cycletrekkers.com.
It’s helpful to provide the following information, when contacting any of the listed contacts below:
Australia
A lot of vets in Australia will treat injured wildlife for free. Once they are all fixed up, the vet will pass the animal on to a carer for rehabilitation and/or rehoming. Some vets also treat injured strays for free. It’s best to call your closest vet to confirm before making the trip. It’s useful to know that chipping dogs in Australia is required, so if you find an injured dog, vets are usually able to locate the owner.
Some other places you could try contacting are listed below; however, I recommend first contacting your local/ the nearest vet.
South Australia
Contact: Facebook page
Freedom Hill helps and rescues mostly farm animals, however I’m sure they will be willing to help an injured or mistreated animal.
Western Australia
Possum Valley Animal Sanctuary
Contact: Facebook page
Possum Valley is in Mount Helena and helps injured or rescued farm animals and native animals.
Email: mail@greenerpasturessanctuary.org.au
Alternative contact: Facebook page
Greener Pastures is located in Waroona. They usually only help farm animals, birds (ducks and chickens) and horses, however I think they wouldn’t turn away an injured animal, and would definitely know where you could find help.
Belize
Caye Caulker
PAW Animal Sanctuary & PAUSE Hostel
Phone: +501 624 7076
Email: pawanimalsanctuarybelize@yahoo.com
PAW rescues homeless and injured animals (primarily dogs and cats). The owner actually started this sanctuary after finding a bag full of kittens dump near a jetty, left to drown. She rescued the kittens, retired from her job and opened the sanctuary.
Canada
Sick or injured wild animals in Canada should receive care from a wildlife rehabilitator.
Manitoba
HIARC (Homeless and Injured Animal Rescue of Canada, Inc.)
Phone: +1 204 688 6555
They rescue homeless and injured animals (primarily dogs and cats) and provide medical care and help find them loving homes.
Ontario
Phone: +1 416 631 0662
Costa Rica
Phone: (+506) 2750-0710
Email: info@jaguarrecue.foundation
Helps rescue and release native, injured wildlife.
Indonesia
Bali
Email: rescue@barc4balidogs.org.au
Alternative contact: Facebook page & Rehabilitation Centre
Mexico
Yucatan
Email: info@cocosanimalwelfare.org
Coco’s mostly helps stray or injured cats.
Isla’s mostly helps stray dogs and can be contacted through the “contact us” page on their website.
USA
California
The Animal Hope & Wellness Foundation
Phone: (818) 386-8937
Email: animalhopeandwellness@gmail.com
Alternative contact: Facebook page
Helps any type of injured or mistreated animal. The guy that started this foundation is amazing. If you haven’t heard about the rescues he did in China during the dog eating festival, you definitely have to read up on it. There are plenty of clips on YouTube and on their facebook page to check out about it.
Uzbekistan
Tashkent
In Uzbekistan animal shelters are not allowed. There are however some voluntary groups and kind people that can help provide advice if you do find an injured stray.
(Russian & Uzbek) Give me a chance: Facebook group – most responsive.
(English) Give me a chance: Facebook group – not as many people as the Russian group, and not as responsive.
(Russian) Give me a chance: forum
Please note that some of the groups are in Russian, however there are some people in the group that speak English. It does take some time to receive a response. The groups are also completely voluntary – and it does state on their page that they don’t take in any new animals, but they will help out if they can. They are all separate groups, but are all linked.