When fierce hurricanes swept a path of devastation throughout parts of the Caribbean and Latin America in September 2004, WSPA sprang into action and mounted a series of mercy missions to give emergency aid for thousands of trapped, sick or starving animal survivors. The hurricanes took a terrible toll on the animals of the region, with WSPA estimating that as many as two and a half million animals, many of them farm animals and pets, perished as a result of these natural catastrophes. Some islands,such as Jamaica, suffered the loss of almost half their entire poultry stocks. Entire farms were simply destroyed by a deadly combination of unstoppable force ten winds and torrential downpours. Major General Peter Davies, WSPA's Director General, said,"In the aftermath of the hurricanes, we received reports from throughout the region of surviving animals struggling to stay alive in the midst of devastation. Many were believed to have been trapped and starving in flooded areas. These animals were running out of time, growing weaker and more vulnerable to infection and disease with each passing day. We had to act, and act fast!"
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