Video: Breaking New Taal Volcano Rescue Story Will Make You Cry

Today was a day of successes and setbacks for PETA’s rescue team.

PETA was the first charity to reach Taal Island, which is covered with dead animals and reeks of decomposing flesh. But among all this death, there are also survivors—scared dogs, horses, cows, and other animals—and they’re in desperate need of help. Our rescue team is doing everything that it can to evacuate them from the island for urgent veterinary care.

We’ve already rescued some animals from the island—but we won’t stop working until everyone is safe.

One of the animals we rescued today is a dog called Palakitik. PETA has known her for years from running clinics on the island to provide hundreds of working horses with basic veterinary care. Whenever our boats arrive there, we call for her and she always excitedly scampers up to greet us and follows our team around everywhere.

When PETA’s rescue team finally stepped onto Taal island today, team members called out to her, not knowing whether she was dead or alive. To their amazement and relief, she came running up through the ash, overjoyed to see friendly faces! Watch her rescue video!

We gave her food, water, and lots of cuddles and took her safely off the island to receive veterinary care. Tonight, Palakitik will sleep on a soft bed, and she’ll be taken care of for the rest of her life.

There are other animals on the island—they’re scared, and they need saving, too. We were only able to be on the island for a short time, but it was long enough to put down food and clean water and also rescue some other animals. We don’t know when we’ll be allowed to go back, but we’re working with the Filipino government.

We’ll continue to provide animals in the evacuation zone with food and clean water. If you live in Metro Manila, we’re welcoming donations of dog and cat food at our office in Makati (at Unit 706, Fedman Suites, 199 Salcedo St., Legaspi Village).

The Filipino military won’t evacuate humans with their animal companions, so if you own a vehicle and are willing to help evacuate those who need to take animals with them, please post in this Facebook group.

If you’d like to donate to help animals on Taal island, please click here.