Sawt Falasteen - Venezuelans search for animal companions lost in the quakes

Cats, dogs, turtles and even a goat were made homeless by the 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude quakes on June 24, adding to the human misery of the disaster.

The tremors that struck within a minute of each other killed over 5,000 people, and left over 23,000 homeless in the worst-hit state of La Guaira and injured some 17,000 more.

Survivors wracked with grief over the loss of their loved ones have set about looking for their pets in animal shelters that have popped up around the coastal city of La Guaira, north of Caracas.

"When the earthquake happened, we ran out and she stayed behind. I haven't been able to find her since that day," 42-year-old Raquel Ramos told AFP as she searched for her cat Mia.

Ramos was with her young son in the Tanaguarena neighborhood when the quakes hit.

Like countless other spots along the coast, Tanaguarena is now nothing more than mounds of rubble.

Ramos says she regrets leaving Mia behind and grew teary-eyed as she gazed at a photo of the white-and-orange fur baby on her phone.

"I'm going to other shelters to see if I can find her," she said.

- Four kittens -

In a state-run shelter, dogs play in an open space while cats lounge around in cages, occasionally nibbling at food.

The facility has taken in 326 pets, with around 50 adopted.

Teenager Astrid Ugas was planning to adopt a cat to keep hers company after its partner disappeared during the earthquakes.

She ended up taking in four kittens.

"I want to help everyone who needs it," the 17-year-old said.

One rescue team managed to pull a cat -- alive -- from the ruins of one building almost one month after the disaster, sparking hope that other pets might have survived too.

The small black feline was found in a decimated area of the city, where six housing complexes, measuring between 12 and 17 stories tall, had all completely collapsed.

Vets treated the animal on site before bringing her to an improvised shelter located in a McDonald's, which had also served as an outpatient center in the aftermath of the quakes.

"We've treated 50 animals a day, including dogs, cats, turtles and someone even brought a goat," said veterinary student and volunteer Yanier Veliz, 20.

Back at the shelter where Ugas expanded her family by four, some cats have given birth and are tending to their newborns from their temporary home.

Most people who come here have been reunited with their furry friends, said veterinary student Amanda Gonzalez.

"The reunions have been very emotional," said Gonzalez, 25. "Everyone ends up crying."

"These are animals they might have considered gone, and when they see that they're here, they're happy and so are we."

J.Saleh--SF-PST