My American friend living in Vietnam, Cat Besch, whom I met years ago in Poland, decided that she could no longer be just another bystander in a world where animals are being abused every day for food, clothing, research, and entertainment. She could no longer bear the sight of cat and dog catchers, of sick and helpless animals on the streets, and of people turning a blind eye to the harsh truth. In 2013, Cat co-founded Vietnam Animal Welfare Organization before striking out on her own as Vietnam Animal Aid and Rescue (VAAR)—a rescue shelter for cats and dogs in Hoi An, Vietnam. Not long after, she realized that the problem extends beyond companion animals, and started helping all that required VAAR's help—whether it was chickens, monkeys, pigs, or hedgehogs.
VAAR's farm sanctuary is the first such establishment in Vietnam. Their mission is to end the pain and suffering of all species through mass sterilization, vaccinations, education, and improving veterinary care across Vietnam. They advocate for a fully vegan lifestyle and for the abolition of all animal use and exploitation. All animals, regardless of their utility to humans, have rights and the Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare extend to both animals and humans.
VAAR has a rescue shelter and a farm sanctuary that houses animals in a large, secure garden for the dogs and indoor/outdoor cat enclosure for the cats, pigs, chickens, and ducks. The dogs are nearly all medical rehabilitation cases that were treated at the clinic. The cats were taken mostly as kittens from markets and brought to the sanctuary by tourists and locals. All animals are treated and taken into the shelter for psychological recovery and prepared to be adopted.
Vietnam Animal Aid and Rescue is a small charitable organization which relies on donations from their supporters—individuals such as yourself. If you want to learn more about VAAR, animal rights, and veganism, please visit their website. Don’t forget to donate!
What started in 2013 as a rescue shelter for dogs and cats in Hoi An, Vietnam quickly became much more
The two founders of Vietnam Animal Aid and Rescue (VAAR) saw a great need for a rescue shelter in Hoi An where animals often receive poor care from owners or are stolen and sold for the dog and cat meat trade
Image credits: vietnampetsandvets
Image credits: vietnampetsandvets
They began fundraising, gathered supporters, and started to take in animals—kittens found at markets and dogs suffering from cruelty and neglect
Image credits: vietnampetsandvets
Image credits: vietnampetsandvets
Image credits: vietnampetsandvets
It wasn’t long before they realized that the local vets were not able to care for the animals properly
Image credits: vietnampetsandvets
It was due to poor education in veterinary schools, a lack of training in simple surgical procedures like sterilization, and poor access to quality drugs and tools
Image credits: vietnampetsandvets
Image credits: vietnampetsandvets
At the same time, they saw that the need for better care was for much more than just cats and dogs and they began to rescue chickens, ducks, and even a couple of pigs
Image credits: vietnampetsandvets
Image credits: vietnampetsandvets
Image credits: vietnampetsandvets
VAAR advocate for a fully vegan lifestyle and for the abolition of all animal use and exploitation
Image credits: vietnampetsandvets
Image credits: vietnampetsandvets
Unfortunately, their vet clinic had to close in June 2017 due to a lack of funding and difficulty recruiting qualified veterinarians for long-term assignments
Image credits: vietnampetsandvets
Image credits: vietnampetsandvets
Image credits: vietnampetsandvets
But the non-speciesist rescue shelter and farm sanctuary work continues and they are now once again working towards improving veterinary services across the country
Image credits: vietnampetsandvets
Image credits: vietnampetsandvets
Image credits: vietnampetsandvets
Their aim is to provide adequate health care for all species, while also educating people about the power of veganism to save animals, curb climate change, and protect human health
Image credits: vietnampetsandvets
Image credits: vietnampetsandvets
Cat Besch agreed to answer a few questions about her work specially for Bored Panda
Image credits: vietnampetsandvets
What is the biggest challenge in running an animal rescue?
"I always tell people that being the director of an animal rescue is like being the ring leader of a 30-ring circus on fire. It’s a job based on crisis, one in which watching preventable suffering and death on a daily basis is inescapable. Doing this job anywhere in the world is difficult, but doing it in Vietnam with very little access to funding and experienced animal caretakers to help run the shelter makes it an impossible task. It is not an easy job and the need is extremely high and often unmanageable," Besch said.
Image credits: vietnampetsandvets
Image credits: vietnampetsandvets
What is your favorite part of the job?
"Knowing we have been the reason for hundreds of animals helped in situations where there was no hope is satisfying. We have broken a lot of barriers in the country with the very first non-profit vet clinic that we ran for 3 years, the first vegan education program, and the first farm sanctuary. These are all big accomplishments, even if they were hard-won and difficult to maintain. We have been a part of rescues of many species of pets, including farmed animals, wildlife, and even marine animals. Our vets have sterilized thousands of animals over the years and this alone is a big step towards ending the population of unwanted animals. Being outspoken for all species has been a big part of our work and one that I am very proud of."
Image credits: vietnampetsandvets
Image credits: vietnampetsandvets
Who typically adopts from your shelter?
"We get adoptions of dogs and cats within Vietnam in mostly the big cities where cats can be indoor-only and dogs have safely fenced gardens. Many are expats, but some locals also adopt. We have exported about three dozen animals over the years to the EU, the UK, Canada, and the US, even one to South Africa. We are working on opening an animal relocation business in 2021 to assist foreigners in bringing their animals to Vietnam and back home to their own countries. This will bring extra income to the organization as well."
Image credits: vietnampetsandvets
Image credits: vietnampetsandvets
Have you seen a change in how animals in Vietnam are treated since you've been there?
"Definitely! When we started the rescue in 2013, it was unheard of to even walk a dog and buying a dog collar in Hoi An near our shelter was impossible. Dog and cat food, veterinary services, and toys were impossible to get outside large cities. This has all changed. Sterilization has become more common and vaccination programs are better managed by the government. Large vegan advocacy organizations run by the Vietnamese are gaining in popularity and the vegan restaurant scene has exploded! There is definitely a movement towards recognizing animal rights rather than just animal welfare as well as including farmed animals into our circle of compassion."
Image credits: vietnampetsandvets
Image credits: vietnampetsandvets
What is VAAR's biggest need at the moment?
"Our greatest challenge this year has been maintaining funding during this lockdown, but we are also struggling to get people to adopt and even work for us as animal caretakers. We are working hard to lower our number of residents through adoption in order to make a move to a different property easier and to shift our focus 100% to long-term, high-impact projects such as our mobile veterinary clinic for mass sterilization/vaccination, and to open a small macaque rescue center in a nearby national park to address the high number of illegally traded macaques that require a rehabilitation center prior to release. When borders to Vietnam reopen, we will plan a vegan festival in central Vietnam and more animal rights education events as we had held in the past. We are really excited about 2021 and the work we will be doing going forward, but we are definitely challenged in funding and staffing our projects at this time. We simply will not give up, though. The animals need us far too much to quit!"
Vietnam Animal Aid and Rescue is a small charitable organization that relies on donations from individuals such as yourself
Image credits: vietnampetsandvets