Boston, MA, Aug. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global animal welfare organization FOUR PAWS supports its local partner Animals Lebanon in the rescue and care of injured animals in Beirut. On August 4th, the Lebanese capital was severely impacted by a massive explosion at the port. Over 170 people lost their lives and over 6,000 were injured. Among the victims are numerous animals – including many pets. The FOUR PAWS team is helping on site to search for buried animals to provide them with medical treatment, food and, if possible, reunification with their owners.
For the next few weeks, the FOUR PAWS team will be on the ground in Beirut with the goal to rescue as many pets and stray animals as possible from the ruins, together with the help of Animals Lebanon and local volunteers. If pets cannot be reunited with their owners, FOUR PAWS will look for a safe, new home for them. The same applies for rescued stray animals. Additionally, FOUR PAWS will provide urgently needed medical supplies and food.
“The unstable political and economic situation in Lebanon, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic, are challenging for us. But for many people, pets are like family members. That is why we will be searching and caring for surviving animals around the clock in the coming weeks. We will also use the rescue operations to vaccinate stray animals in the area against rabies – just another source of risk that we will take care of with preventative methods”, says Dr Amir Khalil, FOUR PAWS veterinarian and leader of the Beirut mission.
Expertise in crisis and conflict zones
In December 2019, FOUR PAWS and Animals Lebanon conducted an emergency mission together to care for several wild animals kept in two zoos in the south of Lebanon. The animal welfare organization has also worked in countries like Libya and Egypt. In 2016 and 2019, the FOUR PAWS team evacuated three zoos in the Gaza Strip. In 2017, FOUR PAWS rescued 13 animals from an amusement park near Aleppo in Syria, as well as the last two surviving bears and lions from a zoo in Mosul, Iraq.
"Here at Four Paws we are uniquely positioned for these difficult rescue missions, with several offices and programs operating quite literally around the world. Because of our experienced and diverse team, we are able to provide assistance for disasters and tragedies quickly and effectively, bringing reprieve and emergency support when animals and people are in desperate need," says Danika Oriol-Morway, Executive Director for FOUR PAWS USA.
ABOUT FOUR PAWS INTERNATIONAL
FOUR PAWS is an international animal welfare organization that has, for more than three decades, consistently and successfully focused on one goal: helping improve the lives of animals through sustainable campaigns and projects. We focus on animals that are directly under human influence: farm, wild and companion animals but also specifically bears, big cats, horses, primates and stray dogs and cats. Headquartered in Vienna, Austria, FOUR PAWS has offices in 14 other countries including in Boston, MA.
Copyright: © FOUR PAWS
For direct questions and additional photo requests, please contact Danika Oriol-Morway at danika.oriol-morway@four-paws.org
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