As the citizens of Haiti attempt to rebound from January’s devastating earthquake, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has sent a second team to assist in the process.

The initial team of responders arrived in Haiti on January 21 and has since helped vaccinate, feed and provide veterinary care to animals affected by the disaster.

The new arrivals have a daunting task in front of them as animals and people find refuge in common areas.

HSUS reports that street dogs throughout Port-au-Prince have begun congregating around the numerous tent cities that have been constructed since the quake.

The malnourished animals are surviving by eating the vast amount of scraps left by the inhabitants.

With such large numbers of humans and animals grouped tightly in and around the encampments, bacteria and parasite transfer is a real threat. This is an issue HSUS is dealing with by treating dogs for parasites and administering injectable nutritional supplements.

Dave Pauli, the HSUS team leader in Haiti, explains, “By helping animals, we're helping people too because treating these dogs for parasites reduces the risk of their transmission to humans.”

HSUS is the largest animal protection organization in the U.S. with over 11 million backers.

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