Dust choked the air as buildings crumbled to the ground. Car alarms and sirens penetrated the stunned silence. Beirut was in tatters. On 4 August 2020, a warehouse filled with ammonium nitrate exploded in the port. In the wake of the destruction, helpless citizens cried out for the loss of their homes, businesses, and most of all, their loved ones. Countless pets were wounded amid the shattered glass and falling debris. Out of the ashes, one group emerged to search between rubble for the smallest of all Lebanon’s residents.
Within two hours of the blast, the team from Animals Lebanon were scouring the streets to bring pets to safety and give them medical attention. The organisation, directed by Jason Mier, has attended to the wellbeing of the country’s animals for the past 12 years. While they have only had a few members in the past, 300 volunteers joined their efforts in the aftermath of the disaster. Feeding milk bottles to mewing kittens and coaxing frightened dogs from underneath cars, they’re restoring hope.
So far, they have sent over 100 pets back home to their families. “We’ve been able to make so many people happy by reuniting them with their lost animals,” Mier says. Though people’s lives have been left in ruins, the return of their cherished pets has brought them tears of relief. In a time of unfathomable tragedy, we are reminded of what we need most – each other.
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Animals Lebanon is providing assistance to pet owners who are struggling to care for their animals after the blast. If you would like to contribute to their efforts, donate here.
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