Volunteers move pets to safety in Lebanon

[tocqueville]

By DONNA ABU-NASR, Associated Press Writer
1 hour, 42 minutes ago

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 U.S. Embassy and others told evacuees that pets would not be allowed on the ships and helicopters carrying them to safety.

"The embassies that evacuated their citizens from Lebanon made a mistake when they made no provisions for pets," activist Hania Jurdak said.

The group spearheading efforts to save the animals is BETA, Lebanon's first animal welfare and rescue organization, established two years ago. The group rescues stray and abused animals and tries to find them homes.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060725/ap_on_re_mi_ea/mideast_fighting_saving_the_pets_lh1;_ylt=ApII4cQKoZ1Y3WAY3oQLWxIHcggF;_ylu=X3oDMTBjMHVqMTQ4BHNlYwN5bnN1YmNhdA--

[jilln]

1. Clearly our government learned nothing from Katrina...

and is again leaving the rescue work to others.

[Polly Hennessey]

2. Pets in Lebanon

I donated to the WSPCA (World Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals)yesterday. They are helping the BETA group in Lebanon. I can't believe that the United States is not evacuating pets with their owners. I know Americans have a short memory but how short is it ---2 days? Wonder if the Europeans are being allowed to take their pets. Guess I would be stuck in Lebanon as I would not leave my kids.

[leftyladyfrommo]

3. God Bless.

Everytime i hear about the evacuation I think about the animals. And the children and the women and the men.

[Hidden Stillness]

4. The Civilized People

This whole issue of treatment of pets during disasters and emergencies, as it comes up tragically over and over again, is just a perfect, clear-as-day split between the civilized people with conscience, and stupid brute force that will not even tend to the consequences of its own ways. The civilized people who love animals and know people; and those who only want to advance themselves, no matter what anything is. It is so touching, and yet sad, to find this same kind of beautiful and moving behavior here, as during Katrina, etc.; universal--all of it.

[jilln]

5. I never thought of it in that light...

to me it was always more of a competence/incompetence or organization/lack of plan thing.

[goforit]

6. God bless the stewards of the Earth.