An animal welfare organization helps people who survived the deadly Beirut explosion reunite with their lost pets.
MAJOR EXPLOSION in Beirut
Our hearts are with everyone who got affected. ❤
Our shelter got severely affected and glass rained down on the cats. Some of the cats got injured but taken immediately for medical care. pic.twitter.com/ehKfyuYbTu
— AnimalsLebanon (@AnimalsLebanon) August 4, 2020
The nonprofit organization Animals Lebanon is leading search teams to find and treat animals affected by the devastating blast, Comic Sands reports. The explosion hit Beirut on Tuesday, August 4. It was fatal for more than 100 people and injured nearly 5,000 others.
Animals Lebanon’s executive director Jason Mier said reuniting owners with their beloved pets was ‘making people happy’ at such an ‘overwhelming’ time.
As reported by Metro, Mr. Mier explained:
“The goal really now is to reunite people with their lost pets, and that’s been working well.”
As ‘the main animal welfare organization’ in Lebanon, the charity has been contacted by hundreds of people looking for their pets after last week’s horrific incident. Although the organization was also damaged in the blast, the executive reveals that they have helped found the owners of at least 20 pets so far.
In the aftermath of the #BeirutExplosion, one group is looking out for the city's lost and hurt pets. This is the heartbreaking reunion between a cat mom and her furbaby who volunteers say, was found stuck inside a car. 🎥: @AnimalsLebanon pic.twitter.com/uMX7VMpkUJ
— Alisha Ebrahimji (@AlishaEbrahimji) August 7, 2020
This was the ‘most difficult situation’ the animal organization has ever faced since it was established 12 years ago.
Mr. Mier adds:
“So far today we have had more than 40 people out, working in teams of two or three, and that has been ongoing since 8pm last night. The goal is to keep going, I know we’re doing good stuff, I know we’re making people happy, but it’s overwhelming for everybody.”
Call for SEARCH PARTY
Our hearts go to all the people who were affected, to all those who lost people, those who were injured and those who lost their homes.
There are also the animals that need help. Many pets were lost or injured during the explosion and they still need help pic.twitter.com/qKYLojohJH
— AnimalsLebanon (@AnimalsLebanon) August 5, 2020
Unfortunately, it is still unclear how many animals were injured or separated from their owners after the explosion.
Furthermore, Animals Lebanon’s director said:
“We’ve joined international conventions, we’ve drafted and passed national animal welfare law, we work throughout the country helping all types of animals. With the compounding of all these things, the economic crisis, the government collapse… coronavirus, rising unemployment, and now this blast. This is the most difficult situation we’ve ever been in. We’re just trying to get through the day. There’s a lot of people ready to help.”
The animal organization accepts donations at its official website.