A McDonald's restaurant located in the coastal city of Caraballeda, in La Guaira state, has been transformed into an emergency hospital for both humans and pets following two devastating earthquakes that struck northern Venezuela on June 24, 2026, according to a report by The Associated Press.
Situated adjacent to the wreckage of collapsed state housing complexes, this McDonald's now functions as an emergency veterinary clinic, a medical care center, and a reunion point for owners and their lost pets. Locals have dubbed it the "McDonald's Hospital."
The operation is led by Ángel Matute, a veterinarian who traveled from Barquisimeto with a team of 70 volunteers, including veterinarians, students, doctors, and civilians, all searching for a functional location amidst the chaos.
The team chose the McDonald's because it was one of the few operational facilities in the area, complete with air conditioning and offering shelter from the intense tropical rains.
"To us, a pet is as valuable as a human life. Some animals show more humanity than people do," stated Matute, who also sleeps at the restaurant alongside the other volunteers.
By the time of this report, the group had rescued 140 animals and treated an additional 60, while search teams ordered hamburgers and fries at the same counter.
Heartwarming Reunions Amidst the Chaos
One of the most touching stories involved 36-year-old Gabriela Alves, who was reunited with her six-year-old white dog, Buddy, after a desperate search lasting more than a week.
Alves was visiting a relative's home when the earthquakes shook the northern region. Hours later, she returned to her house by motorcycle, only to find it in ruins.
Upon learning that McDonald's was serving as a pet search headquarters, she visited daily, inquiring about any sightings of a white dog.
"We're all just living day by day. Today, I came back, honestly having lost all hope," she shared on Friday.
However, while rummaging through the debris of her home, she heard a distant bark. She looked down and saw Buddy's white ear through a crack in the concrete. She screamed for help, and nearby rescuers created a hole in the wall to extract the dust-covered dog, trapped for eight days under the rubble.
Hours later, veterinarians at the "McDonald's Hospital" administered intravenous fluids to Buddy on a restaurant table, while employees continued to serve ice cream.
"This is a miracle. We've lost everything material, but at least we're both alive," Alves expressed, hugging her dog tightly.
Extending Help Beyond Caraballeda
The initiative wasn't confined to Caraballeda: a McDonald's branch in Macuto also ceased burger sales to provide emergency veterinary services following the earthquakes.
The June 24 earthquakes—two powerful tremors measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, occurring just 39 seconds apart—are regarded as the most intense recorded in Venezuela since 1900, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
As of the latest report, the official toll stood at at least 2,645 dead and over 12,000 injured, though the United Nations estimates there may be more than 50,000 missing beneath the rubble.
"Amidst all the tragedy of the earthquake, this is something positive in the midst of everything bad," Alves said, holding Buddy close.
FAQs About the McDonald's Pet Hospital in Venezuela
Why was a McDonald's chosen as a makeshift hospital?
The McDonald's was chosen because it was one of the few operational facilities in the area, provided air conditioning, and offered protection from the severe tropical rains.
Who is leading the operation at the McDonald's Hospital?
Ángel Matute, a veterinarian from Barquisimeto, is leading the operation with a team of 70 volunteers, including veterinarians, students, doctors, and civilians.
How many animals have been rescued so far?
As of the latest report, the team had rescued 140 animals and treated an additional 60.