7/29/06: [MIDDLE EAST] Panic From The Blast Of Rockets
Disaster Rescue Needs & News
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ANIMAL ISSUE OF THE WEEK
NON-DISASTER ALERT: Ask Your Reps To Back Captive Primate Safety Act
Take action: http://www.kinshipcircle.org/letter_library/letter.asp?LetterID=1537&seriesfirst=true
IN THIS ALERT:
- IN THE NEWS
- CHAI/Hakol CHAI Saves Animals In The Line Of Fire
- The War Rescues
- Israel: Many Abandoned Pets In The North
- Fleeing Owners Strand Animals
- Volunteers Rescue Pets Wounded In Katyusha Attacks
- Animal Resources In War-Torn Middle East (continually updated)
1. IN THE NEWS
BEST FRIENDS: ANIMALS IN LEBANON
SOURCE: Michael Mountain, bestfriendsnews@bestfriends.org
It’s been tough for the animals on both sides of the Lebanon/Israel border, but for the animals in Lebanon, as you can imagine, it’s a major disaster. Thousands of them abandoned by evacuees who are being told by their governments to leave their pets behind. And thousands more just caught up in the general chaos. (Imagine Hurricane Katrina -- but with bombs and rubble instead of floodwaters.)
There’s one main rescue group in Lebanon – Beirut for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or BETA (no relation to the U.S. group PETA) – and they’re hanging on by a thread. Their shelter was hit, but they’ve managed to evacuate the dogs from there to a place in the hills, donated by a German supporter. We’ve set up a new section on the Best Friends Network: http://network.bestfriends.org/middleeast. It’s updated regularly.
Emergency funds are much needed by the BETA folks to buy food and medicine that can be brought in from Jordan and Syria. You can donate from the news page at http://network.bestfriends.org/middleeast, or you can send directly to BETA. We’ve asked them to keep us posted on their needs.
Thanks for caring, Michael Mountain, Best Friends
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DONATIONS TO BETA, ONLINE OR BY BANK TRANSFER
SOURCE: <joelle_k@idm.net.lb>
The animals in Lebanon need a lot of help but the only thing that can reach us for the moment is money. The country has been isolated from the rest of the world and not in any possible way goods or products can reach us (medicines, food...) although we need a lot of them. The supplies available in Lebanon and the moment are becoming more rare and we're trying - as much as our finances permit it - to stockpile food (cats and dogs) and medicines for a long period...
Donations to BETA can be made either online:
http://animals.beirut.com/donate.php
Or by bank transfer to the following account:
Name: Joelle Charles Kanaan
Bank: Bank Audi s.a.l.
Branch: Hadath (015)
Account No.: 735945 465 002 015 06
Swift Code: AUDBLBBX
For more information on how to help, contact:
maggy_sha@yahoo.com, joelle_k@idm.net.lb, animals@beirut.com
Joelle Kanaan, Co-Founder, Beirut for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (BETA)
Beirut, Lebanon, Web: http://beta.beirut.com
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EGYPT: GROUP “SPARE” TO HELP THE HOMELESS ANIMALS OF LEBANON
SOURCE: http://network.bestfriends.org/middleeast/news/6327.html
July 25, 2006 -- Two visitors to Best Friends working to help pets of the half million displaced people in Lebanon.
Photo: Many donkeys are among the animals in Lebanon needing help.
Mona Khalil, Vice-President of SPARE (Society for the Protection of Animal Rights in Egypt) and Kristen Stilt, one of the Board Members of SPARE, have been at Best Friends this week.
“The Lebanese Embassy in Cairo has opened an account in the bank for donations, both monetary donations and donations of food and supplies," explained Mona. “But we can't be sure that these donations will reach the animals, because most of the donations will be for people.”
A further complication is that following the outbreak in Egypt of bird flu a few months ago, no dog or cat food is allowed to enter Egypt. Most dog and cat food contains chicken, so it was banned in order to prevent the spread of bird flu. Now dogs and cats in Egypt are fed meat and fish, along with vegetables or rice. This means that the food that SPARE would be able to send for the animals could also be used for humans, making it all the more likely that all the food that SPARE might donate would go to people, with none left for the animals.
SPARE is looking into other ways of sending food and supplies to the animals in Lebanon, tens of thousands of whom are now left homeless. The best way in for supplies, thought difficult, they said, is by road from Jordan or Syria.
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HAVE YOU CONTACTED U.S., U.K. AND CANADIAN OFFICIALS, DEMANDING ANIMAL COMPANIONS BOARD AIRCRAFT AND BOATS EVACUATING LEBANON?
SOURCE: http://www.KinshipCircle.org
REQUEST SAMPLE LETTER: Lebanon Evacuations - NO PETS ALLOWED!
at kinshipcircle@accessus.net
2. CHAI/Hakol CHAI Saves Animals In The Line Of Fire
4 TONS OF FOOD, HUNDREDS OF WATER CONTAINERS SENT TO NORTHERN ISRAEL
SOURCE: CHAI <chai_us@cox.net>, http://www.chai-online.org/
July 27, Tel Aviv – Working through the night to avoid the danger of rocket fire, Hakol Chai, the Israeli sister charity of Concern for Helping Animals in Israel (CHAI), http://www.chai-online.org, rushed 4 tons of food and hundreds of plastic water containers to the northern Israeli settlement of Nes Amim, near Nahariya, where volunteers immediately began the process of distributing it to animals in need throughout the region.
While terrified residents in the north remain prisoners in their homes, another kind of humanitarian disaster is taking place on the streets. Starving and dehydrated cats and dogs, some injured, many lost, are running in panic from the explosions of rockets. Some residents left their cats and dogs behind when they evacuated, believing they would return soon. In other cases, animals fled the sound of missiles, became disoriented, and lost their way. Without food and water, they are desperate for help.
This dog got some shrapnel in his jaw
from a bomb, but he was taken to a vet and is fine.
Part of Hakol Chai’s relief shipment was donated by the pet food company, Purina, and by the container manufacturer, Madaf-Plazit. The rest was purchased with donations from caring people around the world eager to help in this crisis.
At midnight, the delivery van carrying the much-needed supplies pulled in to Nes Amim, where it was met by the coordinator for volunteers in the north. While rockets exploded in the background, local Dutch and German residents helped unload bag after bag of food and begin the distribution process. Afterwards, Hakol Chai’s rescue team quickly moved on to Akko, responding to a report of animals abandoned in cages behind a house. As they went, they saw dogs and cats desperate for food and water everywhere on the streets.
Entering the back yard location in search of the animals, Hakol Chai’s team was soon joined by police, alerted by neighbors alarmed by the sounds in the night. As soon as the police took stock of the situation, they joined Hakol Chai’s efforts. Three dogs, eight puppies, pigeons and rabbits in small cages, 20 chickens, parrots, and numerous cats had been abandoned. All animals were fed and watered, and the volunteer coordinator was alerted. The animals are now being transported to foster homes until permanent ones can be found. The team worked until 3 A.M. putting out food and water on the streets of the city and in backyards. Then the noise of the explosions grew louder, and they were forced to head south.
“We are obligated to care for animals in the line of fire, too,” says Yadin Elam, Director of Hakol Chai. “We cannot watch these terrible scenes day after day and fail to act.”
Hakol Chai/CHAI will donate additional shipments of food and water containers, as needed. We have also been asked to help evacuate horses. One hundred percent of donations made to help in the crisis will go directly toward rescue efforts.
Egg farmers report that due to stress, cows are producing less milk, and the shells of chicken eggs are so thin they fall apart in their hands when they try to pick them up. 17 cows and 7 calves were killed by bombs falling on Kibbutz Amir, near Kiryat Shmona. Three dogs were killed when a bomb hit a house in Kiryat Shmona inside which they had been tied up and left by their guardian, who evacuated the area. Two more dogs were killed on the streets. Some animals have been injured. Fire fighters are working to extinguish the fires in the northern forests, but many animals, including endangered eagles, may perish.
CHAI is a 501 (c)(3) organization registered with the U.S. government. Hakol Chai is an official charity registered with the Israeli government. The organization helps animals in Israel through legislation, education, and direct support.
DONATION TO HAKOL CHAI/CHAI RELIEF EFFORT
Donate online: http://www.chai-online.org/
Donate by mail:
Hakol Chai
POB 51858
Tel Aviv 67214, Israel
Or in the U.S.
CHAI
POB 3341; Alexandria, VA 22302, USA
email: chai.usa@verizon.net; phone: 703-370-0333
web: http://www.chai-online.org
Volunteers unload shipment of food sent north by CHAI/Hakol ChaiAbandoned puppies drink thirstily from containers
provided by CHAI/Hakol Chai. Homes will be found for them
3. The War Rescues
SOURCE: http://animals.beirut.com/viewNew.php?ID=213
PICTURES OF THE SCENE: Picture of a cage on truck, pictures of the two rescued monkeys, pictures of the kittens at rescue and pictures of them at BETA home. The two primates and three kittens are now at a safe place with adequate conditions. BETA will make sure that these animals are in the right place with the right treatment.
2006-07-26
On July 25, 2006, one of BETA co-founders and a BETA volunteer managed to get inside the southern suburbs of Beirut – the WAR ZONE –, literally risking their lives, into a mini-zoo where the animals are being kept under the horror of the attacks. BETA got a clearance from the owner of the zoo to enter and rescue all the animals. Some of the workers at this zoo are amazing kind people who stayed at the premises for the sake of feeding the animals!! Both these humans and animals are suffering the horror of the ongoing attacks.
The zoo contains the following animals: a camel, a donkey, some goats, some rabbits, an owl, eagles, a lot of exotic birds, a lot of chickens, five monkeys (one baby male baboon, one female macaque and a family of 3 velvets a mother and two babies), and an alligator.
Also the zoo was surrounded by hungry and terrified adult kittens. Due to the lack of time - as attacks were to start at any second onto the area- the team managed to rescue the baboon, the macaque and 3 kittens.
On 26 July, 2006, our team is going back to the scene with more equipment to hopefully rescue as many animals as possible.
FOR PEOPLE LOCATED INSIDE LEBANON, WE NEED YOUR HELP!! Please help us find a temporary boarding for the farm animals and the chickens!
For all the people who helped, for all the people who are thinking of us, we thought to share our latest news with you!!
FOR MORE INFO contact us at: animals@beirut.com
TO DONATE ONLINE: http://beta.beirut.com/donate.php
SEE MORE WAR RESCUE PHOTOS HERE: http://animals.beirut.com/viewNew.php?ID=213
4. Israel: Many Abandoned Pets In The North
SOURCE: http://network.bestfriends.org/middleeast/news/6372.html
It has been nearly two weeks since the fighting in the northern area, (Katyushot falling from Haifa to the border) has begun. We at “Let the Animals live”, receive dozens of phone calls each day, from people who are forced to leave their homes and are looking for temporary houses for their pets, people who are willing to give foster homes for dogs and cats from the north.
Anat Refua, from the organization, is monitoring and gathering all publics applications regarding foster homes for north area residents pets and has already succeeded in pairing about 200 animals from the north with families in the southern and center area of the country.
In addition, a “Let the animals Live” rescue vehicle has been sent numerous times to the northern area, to pick up abandon dogs and transfer about 50 food bags to be distributed in north and Junt kennel in Lehavot Habashan, which has received dogs which were abandoned as a result of the war. In addition the rescue vehicle has transferred 20 dogs from Junt kennel in Lehavot Habashan to the central locations, making room for additional abandoned dogs from the north. The dogs have been transferred to Glil-Yam inn with the funding of the “Let the animals Live” organization.
Due to massive public calls on the animals suffering, among them those who remained chained or locked in abandoned houses, the organization was forced to go to Naharia numerous times in attempt to rescue (along with Anat Salmovitz of the Veterinarian clinic “Rescue” in the city), the dogs who were left behind.
Yesterday (July 23rd), the rescue vehicle driver has arrived to Naharia at the afternoon, after receiving that morning a call from a citizen, stating his dog has been chained and locked up for a week without food or water in the city, and since no one was willing to unlock her, the driver has driven there and rescued the rottweiler dog.
Etty Altman, the organization spokeswoman, has talked to the dog’s owner, but he has decided to give up on his 3 year old dog, after she has been with him for the whole three years. The dog has been found in appalling condition, dehydrated and starved, scratches all over her body with her ribs sticking out from hunger. The dog has been transferred to a private inn in the central area.
Also, two white dogs, mixed with German Shepard, were rescued, found wondering lost and frightened on Naharia’s streets. A Siberian husky was rescued, who ran from the Katyushot sound, and it took the organization almost two weeks to locate her, until Anat Salmovitz captured her. The dog has been transferred to a private inn and since the organization received reports of neglecting, it has been decided to find her a new home.
Today, there was received a call from Zfat. According to which there were left 4 small dogs in an apartment. The dogs have been there for a whole week by themselves with no one to feed or take care of them. In addition, there was received another call about a dog breastfeeding 8 puppies, lying under a car, suffering all the bombing of the last two weeks, all while breastfeeding her pups. Near her were found another 2 dogs, also seem to appear abandoned. Tomorrow (July 25th), the “Let the Animals Live” rescue vehicle driver will head out to rescue those Zfat dogs and distribute food to the wondering animals. The food was partly donated by good citizens.
During the evacuation of Naharia’s dogs last night (July 23rd) the siren went off along with Katyushot bombing, and the driver had to find a shelter, there he discovered that there are people who go to the shelter along with their dogs.
WE NEED YOUR HELP:
Families interested in hosting animals from the north please contact us via mail: anatr@letlive.org.il
People who wish to donate cats and dogs food bags, for the wondering dogs in the streets as for the families who cannot purchase pet food since the stores are closed: letlive@letlive.org.il
We would also like to address the northern area public, please leave leaking drinking fountains, with buckets or bowls underneath, because animals can not survive in this heat without any water. Also, if you are able, please scatter dry food and buckets filled with water across the streets for those animals that have been abandoned.
Let the Animals Live: http://www.letlive.org.il/english
5. Fleeing Owners Strand Animals
SOURCE: http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060726/NATION/607260358/1020
Groups in Israel and Lebanon strive to help thousands of dogs, cats abandoned in attacks.
Donna Abu-Nasr / Associated Press / MONTEVERDE, Lebanon -- The howls of 133 canine refugees echoed Tuesday through the pine-and-oak-covered hills above the Lebanese capital -- crowded into cages but safely away from airstrikes against Hezbollah strongholds in the south.
The dogs were moved by volunteers from a shelter in Beirut's southern suburbs to an abandoned pig farm east of the capital -- and might be considered lucky compared to pets left to fend for themselves by foreign and Lebanese owners fleeing the Israeli bombardment.
The group spearheading efforts to save the animals is BETA, Lebanon's first animal welfare and rescue organization, established two years ago.
On Saturday, BETA -- which stands for Beirut for the Ethical Treatment of Animals -- made an appeal for donations on its Web site "to get the animals through this period."
In Israel, volunteers were also trying to save animals abandoned by owners fleeing their homes in the north to escape Hezbollah rocket attacks.
"We took in about 200 animals, mainly dogs and cats," said Tamara More, general manager of the rescue organization Ahava.
She said volunteers were going into northern towns and cities to feed abandoned animals. There "are thousands of dogs and cats roaming the streets without anyone to care for them," More said.
Animal rights activists have received scores of calls from Lebanese and foreigners asking what to do with their pets when they evacuate. They are referred to commercial kennels.
Hani Rayess said he has taken in about 45 dogs. He charges their owners $100 a month. "Some owners asked me to meet them as they headed to their ships," he said. "A couple of Westerners told me they would not leave Lebanon because they had nowhere to place their pets."
Beirut for the Ethical Treatment of Animals co-founder Joelle el-Massih feeds dogs at a farm east of the city. The group has taken in 133 dogs.
A BETA volunteer walks dogs left behind by their Lebanese owners, who fled because of Israeli attacks. In Israel, under fire from Hezbollah rockets, volunteers have rescued about 200 pets.
A Beirut for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (BETA) volunteer plays with a dog at a farm in Monteverde, 15 kilometers (9 miles) east of Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, July 25, 2006, after they were moved from a shelter near a Hezbollah stronghold in Beirut's southern suburbs because they were traumatized by the Israeli shelling. The howls of 133 canine refugees from Israeli attacks on Beirut echoed through the pine-and oak-covered hills above the Lebanese capital Tuesday. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
6. Volunteers Rescue Pets Wounded In Katyusha Attacks
SOURCE: Jerusalem Post
http://tinyurl.com/rhew9
Jul. 24, 2006, By JENNY MERKIN -- While northerners pour into the southern part of the country or into neighborhood bomb shelters, dogs and cats, some wounded by shrapnel from Katyusha rockets, are being left to fend for themselves.
Consequently, volunteer organizations have come to the rescue, trying to gather the abandoned pets and bring them to safer surroundings. Two such associations are AHAVA, an organization created to better the lives of animals in Israel and the Middle East, and Tenu L'Haiot L'Hiot (Let Animals Live).
AHAVA has collected 168 dogs and cats and brought them into shelters, kennels and private homes. Its volunteers have found so many that the organization lacks the room to house more. Additionally, AHAVA volunteers are bringing food to the North to feed the hundreds of cats that roam the streets and are accustomed to being fed by local residents.
Tenu L'Haiot L'Hiot has gathered close to 300 animals and has housed them in various shelters. On Saturday, the organization ran a drive in Ramle for people to come and adopt these pets, but few people came to the event.
"These dogs and cats are being left outside and they are getting wounded from the shrapnel," said Tamara More, a spokesperson for AHAVA. More, who has found eight wounded animals and believes there "are hundreds if not thousands of more animals that have been injured."
A dog wanders the streets of Nahariya. Photo: Ariel Jerozolimski
In addition to physical injury, pets have been emotionally traumatized by the effects of the last few weeks. "Imagine how you would feel if you had been accustomed to living in a loving, comfortable environment, then abandoned, living on the street, and then have rockets fall all around you? It's not hard to imagine how they feel," said Etti Altman, spokeswoman for Tenu L'Haiot L'Hiot.
Nonetheless, More said that the animals in the shelters were getting along well and were "just happy to be back in a home and off the scary streets. They are so grateful." However, she added, "they still tremble at every sound."
Not all owners have abandoned their pets. In fact, some animals factor greatly in their owners' decisions regarding leaving the north. Gavriel Rubinstein did not originally leave his home in Safed because he did not want to leave his dog, Simba. "When you have a pet, you take in a responsibility. You become attached to your animals and they become one of the family. You can't just leave them behind. They have feelings and are traumatized by the noise," explained Gavriel's mother, Sarah.
To aid and contact either organization call AHAVA at (03) 646-7777, and
Tenu L'Haiot L'Hiot at (03) 624-1776.
7. Animal Resources In War-Torn Middle East
**This list is continually updated to the best of Kinship Circle’s ability.
We apologize for any errors. You may contact Kinship Circle at:
kinshipcircle@accessus.net
USEFUL LINKS/INFO: COMPANION ANIMALS IN MIDDLE EAST
http://www.animalsvoice.com/PAGES/news/middle_east.html
USEFUL LINKS/INFO: Best Friends
http://network.bestfriends.org/middleeast
Beirut for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (BETA):
http://beta.beirut.com/
Society for the Protection of Animal Rights in Egypt (SPARE)
http://www.sparealife.org/
email: spare@sparealife.org
ph: 20-12-381-3855; mobile ph of SPARE President, Amina Abaza: 20-12-316-2912
16 Taha Hussein, Zamalek, Cairo, EGYPT
CHAI: Concern for Helping Animals in Israel:
http://www.chai-online.org
email: chai.usa@verizon.net; phone: 703-370-0333
POB 3341
Alexandria, VA 22302, USA
AHAVA
An organization created to better the lives of animals in Israel and the Middle East, ph: 972 (03) 646-7777
Society For The Prevention of Cruelty To Animals In Israel:
http://www.haifa-spca.org.il/
Israel, Ra'anana / ph: 972 9 774 5532
Israel, Tel Aviv / ph: 972 3 682 7621, 972 3 6810061, 972 3 5181420
Israel, Mifrad Haifa / ph: 972 4 729696
Israel, Jerusalem / ph: 972 2 585 1531
Tenu L'Haiot L'Hiot (Let Animals Live)
Nonprofit organisation for animal shelter and aid:
http://letlive.org.il/english/home.php
Families interested in hosting animals from the north contact:
anatr@letlive.org.il
To donate cat/dog food: letlive@letlive.org.il
Israel, Tel Aviv / ph: 972 3 647 5812, Evening: 972 3 5441735
Israel, Haifa / ph: 972 4 222874, 972 4 253094, 972 4 326060
Rehovot Society For The Protection Of Animals
http://www.israelpets.org/eng/
ph: 08-946-0135; email: rspa@israelpets.org
SOS. Pets:
http://sospets.co.il/
Animal Welfare Organizations, ISRAEL:
http://info.jpost.com/C005/Supplements/CafeOleh/animals.html#1
Worldwide Shelter Directory:
http://www.h4ha.org/shelters/
World Society For The Protection Of Animals:
http://www.wspa-usa.org/
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Shannon Moore July 22, 1969 ~ May 31, 2006
http://memoriesofshannon.blogspot.com/
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Caring about innocent animals caught in Katrina’s wrath
doesn’t diminish human suffering. It makes us human.
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