WAR ON LEBANON AND ITS ANIMALS
''What we want to do is find a permanent paradise for these animals. Yes, I call it paradise because that's what they deserve. They are almost like children who will never grow up and will stay innocent for as long as they live. So a paradise they do deserve." -O.G. BETA
ALL PHOTOS IN ABOVE SLIDE SHOW ARE COPYRIGHT OF BETA
BEIRUT FOR THE ETHICAL TREATMENT OF ANIMALS
Our Efforts Throughout the War
Since the 12th of July 2006, the BETA team has been
struggling to alleviate the suffering of Lebanon's neediest animals.
BETA has welcomed abandoned animals into its shelter. In 31 days, 25 dogs have
joined the dog shelter, while the cat shelter has become home to another 34
cats.
Each of the abovementioned animals has had its vaccines administered, and has
received de-worming and de-fleaing treatments, and any other treatment
necessary.
In the first week of the war, BETA was forced to move its 130 dogs in two days
from the previous shelter, which was located in a war zone. The dogs were moved
in our cars, 3 at a time and in a mini-van.
The new dog shelter is space at a pig farm, which was donated by a kind man.
Needless to say, this space is in dire need of construction works. The place is
therefore a dog shelter and a construction site at the same time.
In other words, BETA is building a new shelter from scratch, which certainly
requires many hours of work, and significant resources.
Thus, with every incoming dog, a new cage is to be built and this requires a lot
of construction material, in other words a lot of money.
As for the increasing number of cats, BETA is in the process of finding a new
space to put the cats. We were always against over crowding and we still are.
Information on Stray Animals
The BETA team has entered the southern suburbs of
Beirut to feed all the strays or those left behind. And, as some people have
abandoned their pets in the streets, BETA has also been placing food accessible
to these animals right inside Beirut.
As for the South of Lebanon, BETA is waiting for a cease fire to be able to
enter the south and rescue its animals that are in dire need of help.
Information on Primates
The BETA team has risked their lives to help several
primates, which were held prisoners inside the southern suburbs of Beirut.
Fortunately, we were able to get them out safely and in time, and they have now
joined our family of animals, and are receiving adequate care and nourishment.
It is also important to note that any single BETA member is charged with
providing the primates with ample fruits and vegetables, at a cost of at least
$20 on a daily basis.
At the same time, BETA is very concerned about the future of the primates. We
are working tirelessly to be able to send them to a sanctuary, which is the only
acceptable environment. BETA emphatically says NO TO ZOOS.
Information on Foreign Help
BETA has received Ms. Michele Rokkee from PETA who
accompanied the BETA team to the southern suburbs of Beirut, during a one day
trip with the aim of feeding the strays.
Also, BETA received great help from Ms. Linda Nealon, who risked her life and
came all the way to war-torn Lebanon in order to help the BETA team and the
animals. Ms. Nealon stayed for a little more than a week and worked closely with
us. She is currently still supporting us from the U.S., being our main
spoke-person and correspondent there.
BETA also thanks all the individuals and organizations that supported its
animals which include: Best Friends Animal Society; WSPA; IFAW; The Winsome
Constance Kindness Trust; HIS/HSUS; S.I.N., and The Brigitte Bardot Foundation.
Our Plan
We are a group of optimists, and we all believe that
there is always light at the end of the tunnel. Our animals have also had to
suffer the consequences of this senseless war, but have been patient enough
thanks to our love and care.
Our plan is to send them abroad and find them homes. We are corresponding with
the Best Friends sanctuary in Utah, and working out a deal which will allow us
to send our animals over there. Many people have already contacted us with the
desire to adopt some of our dogs. What we need now is to locate a means of
getting the animals out of Lebanon, a process which requires a finely tuned
logistics operation. Making sure our dogs are safe and happy will not mark the
end of our mission however. We will continue to rescue new animals, since they
will undoubtedly need our help more than ever before in these terrible and
testing time.
What we need...
Adoption by foreign nationals due to the crisis here,
since most of the potential adopters have evacuated Lebanese territories. Please
spread the word about BETA's cats and dogs, so that we can find them good and
lasting homes, which would in turn allow us to pick up more animals.
We always need volunteers at BETA, in order to help us care for the increasing
number of animals.
We need volunteer VETS who are able to attend to our animals' needs on the
ground
Cash donations - all routes of transportation have been disabled, and provision
of supplies is extremely difficult.
Donations of supplies (mainly food and medications) once the transportation
means (airport/seaport) are back to their normal activity.
We stayed with them and we will never leave them. They are those who cannot
speak, those who cannot comprehend what is happening around them, those who
never had anything to do with this war, and those who were left behind.
Please help us help them.
