From the Times of Israel:
“As enemy rockets rain down, Israelis provide shelter to displaced pets”
(A woman and her dog take cover in a stairway in Jerusalem,
as a red alert siren sounds during a rocket barrage fired from Gaza into
Israel, October 7, 2023.)
While first responders continue to work around the clock in
Israeli communities hit by the shocking Hamas terror assault that has claimed
the lives of some 1,300 people, another group of emergency workers is also busy
following the devastating losses. Across Israel, animal welfare organizations
and veterinarians are coming together to assist animals in the south and Gaza
periphery, many of which have been left without homes or families. Amid the
efforts to reunite displaced families with their pets, a new hotline was
established on Tuesday that will allow people to pass on information about
their pets to special task forces. Workers will then carry out rescue
operations to bring the animals to a safe location where they can be reunited
with their owners.
In a statement to the press, Shay Weisberger, one of the
organizers behind the initiative, said that “many animals have been left behind
and their owners are begging for help.” “We call on dog and cat owners whose
animals have been left behind to contact us at *6137 or 054-461-0963, to give
us their details and we will take care of getting them out,” he said. “In
addition, we call on those who are interested in serving as a foster home to
contact us and offer their help.” At the same time, the northernmost part of
the country has been readying itself for possible attacks from Lebanon, which
has resulted in people evacuating or choosing to leave their homes — and their
pets — behind.
Living in a village in northern Israel, Tal (they requested
their last name be withheld for their safety) has found themselves caring for
more than one pet in recent days as families leave the area in an effort to
stay safe. “I live in a small village in the western Galilee, just over four
kilometers (2.5 miles) from Lebanon,” they told The Times of Israel. “So we’re
considered to be in the second degree of danger, as compared to those living
between zero and four kilometers from Lebanon.. “A number of families who live
in caravans had to leave,” Tal said, explaining that while some left due to a
lack of access to bomb shelters, others left to prevent their children from
experiencing anything traumatic. “One family asked me to take care of their
cat, Hatzot, who they left behind and I’ve been going to visit her every day.
I’ve been feeding her and refilling her water twice a day,” Tal said, adding
that they have yet to actually see the cat, who has been hiding under furniture
out of fear.
(Paspas the cat was left with Tal after her owners fled from
their village close to the Lebanon border.)
In addition to Hatzot the cat, Tal has been asked by another
neighbor to take care of both their pets — one dog and one cat. “During the
airstrikes this morning Malka the dog was shaking and freaking out, and Paspas
the cat has been showing all of the signs of stress, like over-grooming
herself. And last night she was having tremors and jerking,” Tal said. “So it’s
been fun,” Tal said cynically. “Animals have been showing up left and right,
trying to get into different people’s houses if they are outside during rockets
or an airstrike. They may try to go to other people’s homes if they can, or try
to find a space that feels safe to them. So different people have been posting
pictures of all these animals in group chats trying to figure out who they
belong to.” When it comes to caring for the animals, Tal explains the
challenges that the pets are facing as they try to adjust to the rapid changes.
“Paspas is normally an indoor-outdoor cat who normally climbs in or out of the
bedroom window at night or in the morning when she wants to come in to sleep or
to eat snacks,” said Tal. “But now because the window is in the safe room, I’m
trying to get her to sleep inside. But then she meows a lot at 5 a.m. every
day, and that’s usually a time when I would let her out, but now I don’t want
to go outside, in case there are airstrikes, so I just force her to stay inside
with me.”
On Wednesday morning, animal welfare organization Tnu
L’Chayot L’Chiot (Let the Animals Live) set off for the Gaza border with four
vehicles carrying pet food, veterinarians, and animal rescue experts as part of
their ongoing efforts to assist as many pets as possible.
(Lost pets have been running for shelter in the north,
entering homes in an attempt to stay safe from the rockets overhead)
The volunteers began their day in the southern city of
Ashkelon, remaining there until roughly 11 a.m., at which point they continued
on to the Gaza border town of Sderot. At both locations, the organization set
up food distribution points for those in need. In a Facebook post, they added
that residents who are unable to reach distribution points should contact the
municipality, who will try to deliver the items to their homes instead. Elsewhere
in Israel, citizens running for cover from rocket fire have found themselves
faced with the difficult task of bringing their pets into safe rooms and
shelters. For some, bringing their pets with them to communal shelters has
proven too dangerous, given the need to move quickly and some animals’ stubborn
nature. Residents often have just seconds to take cover from incoming
projectiles. To this end, a representative for the Jerusalem-based Emek Refaim
Veterinary Clinic explained that when it comes to cats, it’s safer to leave
them behind when heading for the shelter. “Cats will be able to find somewhere
to hide should they need to,” she said, adding that the presence of a cat in
the shelter would ultimately add more stress both for the cat and for people in
the shelter who may have allergies or may not want an unfamiliar animal sharing
a small space with them.
However, she said, should a person still wish to bring their cat
into the shelter and the cat does not seem too distressed, there is no reason
not to do so. And while war has made it difficult or impossible for some owners
to care for their pets, people across Israel have stepped up to assist. One
Facebook group used by people looking to sublet their apartments in exchange
for pet care has been flooded with offers of assistance from up and down the
country. On Tuesday evening, group member Adam posted an offer of assistance,
explaining that he had been evacuated from his home in Metula and was now in
the center of the country looking for a place to stay and was more than happy
to look after a pet at the same time. Other posts in the group included offers
of assistance to people from down south who couldn’t keep their pets with them
after being evacuated. “Anyone who needs pet care due to the security situation
is welcome to contact me,” wrote a group member from the center of the country.
“You can also bring them to my home — we have a garden.”
^ It is so sad to see animals and pets suffer through all of
this. I am glad to see that some are doing whatever they can to help them. ^
https://www.timesofisrael.com/as-enemy-rockets-rain-down-israelis-provide-shelter-to-displaced-pets/
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