Egyptiona Animal Shelters Struggling Amid Unrest

[shireen]

Ongoing political unrest in Egypt has animal shelters in the country struggling for survival, suggest multiple accounts from staff and volunteers associated with Egyptian animal rescue groups.

Even before the recent protests, animal shelters and related organizations were already experiencing financial difficulties and cutbacks due to the economic crisis affecting many Egyptians. The Society for the Protection of Animal Rights in Egypt, for example, recently announced that it could shelter no more than 20 cats and 15 dogs at a time.

Now, as many tourists and Egyptians attempt to flee the African country, cats and dogs are being abandoned, with some winding up on the streets as strays.

Today, Peter Bouckaert, emergencies director of Human Rights Watch, reported, "Many essential supplies are running low in Egypt. Gas stations throughout Cairo and Alexandria are closing because they are out of fuel. Food in shops is low, and many shops are rationing how much food people can buy."

More at http://news.discovery.com/animals/egyptian-animal-shelters-struggling-amid-unrest.html


You can follow some of the urgent steps being taken to help the animals at
Egyptian Society for Mercy to Animals Facebook Page.

:cry:

[shireen]

1. k & r for the fur babies nt

[northernlights]

2. crap it's Katrina all over again

Ordered to evacuate and forced to abandon their furbabies? Will we never learn?

Thank you for the link. Once again, our stupid, pathetic government needs to wake the fuck up.

Britta Plathner http://tinyurl.com/statedeptpets
Contact - Us
tinyurl.com
U. S. Department of State Contact Us Page
3 hours ago · Like · Comment · View Feedback (3)Hide Feedback (3)
Britta Plathner please send comments to the above address about the policy of leaving pets behind. the above is the US department site but every government has a contact website. it is impossible and inhumane to ask people to leave their pets behind when they can be taken on airplanes with them. please comment, copy and share. thank you.


Marilyn Knapp Litt Friends in Egypt (US nationals working for the US government) are going to be ordered to evacuate without their animals. If anyone can help provide a safe haven for these animals, please contact me. Anyone may message me.

[shireen]

3. Thanks, northernlights ... i posted this at ESMA's FB page

under Britta's post:


A sample comment that I submitted. US citizens will remember the trauma that evacuees from Hurricane Katrina experienced when they were forced to leave their pets behind. Some refused to abandon their pets, and were killed when the levees broke in New Orleans.

Message I sent, here as an example. Please compose your message in your own words:

I've been hearing disturbing reports that US citizens being evacuated
from Egypt are being forced to leave their pets behind. I thought we
learned this lesson from Hurricane Katrina, that pets are very much a
part of the family, and many people will choose to remain behind
rather than leave without them.

Imagine the trauma that families must be feeling, leaving their pets
to an uncertain future. Animal shelters are in critical condition, and
Egyptian animal rescuers have been trying to save abandoned animals
at great personal risk to themselves.

Please allow US citizen and residents evacuating Egypt to bring their
pets with them. Or at the very least, set up a safe haven for the pets
where they will be well-cared for until their families are able to
return. Please also encourage other embassies to do the same for
their citizens fleeing the country.

[northernlights]

4. beautifully written

I get too angry to write well. I was a professional, but fall apart when so much is at stake....is it ok if I borrow and modify it?

[shireen]

5. yes, please feel free ...

:hi:

[tblue37]

7. After Katrina, I read an article about how when Cuba is threatened bya hurricane,

people are evacuated with their pets and livestock.

US authorities just can't seem to learn (or care) that people love their pets and think of them as family.

I know I could never abandon my pets. I woudl have to accept death alongside them, and if it seemed there was little hope of safety, I would try to make sure they were helped to a peaceful death first.

[Raine]

6. Animals always suffer along with the people

during times like this. :-(