Dateline: Best Friends, Monday, September 25, 2006

Today, 150 dogs and 145 cats took off from Beirut International Airport at noon local time (5 a.m. EST), bound for Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.

First stop was Manchester, U.K., at 7:30 a.m. EST. They took off again at 11:30 a.m., bound for New York’s JFK Airport, where staff and animals will go through customs.

Then, it’s on to Las Vegas. Expected arrival time there is approximately 2 a.m. EST. The dogs and cats will be transferred to trucks for the four-hour ride to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.

On the ground in Manchester, U.K., Best Friends staff and crew reported that all was well.

The dogs and cats will have been in crates for more than 24 hours when they arrive at Best Friends. (Yes, we have lots of equipment to keep them clean and comfortable throughout the journey!)

On board with the animals are seven Best Friends staff and volunteers, and three members of BETA, who will be staying at Best Friends for a week or so for special training before returning to rebuild their humane society in Lebanon.

Thank you for making this historic event possible! Your donations to complete this mission are critical.

There are regular updates on the Best Friends website throughout the day at www.bestfriends.org.

/s/ Michael Mountain

Best Friends Animal Society

www.bestfriends.org