Women head to hurricane-hit Caribbean, aim to help animals

Two Connecticut women are on a mission to provide aid to the Caribbean islands — specifically the animals on the islands — damaged by hurricanes.

Sue Maraczi, of Milford, is a licensed emergency and critical care nurse at the Animal Medical Center in New York City. Maraczi, alongside many veterinary professionals throughout the region, initiated a massive food relief effort to help hungry animals after Hurricane Irma devastated the area Sept. 6.

But Maraczi decided she wanted to do more. Soon after her friend, Melissa Marter, who lives in Stratford and owns Who’s Your Doggie in Milford, jumped on board the idea to fly down to the islands and help.

“She said let’s go help, let’s go do this,” Marter said. She said it was decided quickly that this was their choice. “At the very least, we’re bringing some supplies they need.”

The two women flew to Antigua early Thursday morning, Maraczi said. They expect to help rescue animals stranded or injured on the islands, although exactly what they’ll encounter, they don’t know.

“I have no clue what’s going to happen there,” Maraczi said. “It’s definitely going to be crazy, but for the whole time, it’s been a little bit crazy, anyway.”

Their first stop is Barbuda.

At first, they considered traveling to St. Maarten. Maraczi said she grew up in that island and in Connecticut. They started fundraising and collecting supplies.

“St. Maarten was in trouble, so we started there, as far as wanting to get the dogs off the island,” she said.

But Maraczi said “St. Maarten is doing better than many” of the other islands. And they changed their course when they were contacted by an organization that noticed their efforts.

Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, an international nonprofit group made famous through the television show “Whale Wars,” offered them a place on their rescue boat.

“We’re going down to see what’s needed and to see what more we can do,” Marter said.