Best Friends Beirut Airlift to USA - please pass on

[Grace]

From the Best Friends site -

Orphaned cats and dogs arrive at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary
September 26, 2006 : 12:00 AM
Trucks filled with carriers unloaded at approximately 7:00 a.m. GMT. By about 8:30 a.m. the animals were all in there new temporary residences at the Best Friends Rescue Center located at the Sanctuary.

In the wee hours of the morning Best Friends and BETA volunteers and staff drove from Las Vegas Airport to the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Southern Utah.

Once at the Sanctuary, everyone worked quickly to get all the dogs and cats acclimated to their new environment.

Both animals and people were in good spirits. Although weary-eyed and tired there were definitely wagging tails, purring and happy hello howls.

The work is far from over. Each dog and cat will continue the evaluation process that began in Lebanon.

The goal, of course, is to get these war-torn creatures to their new forever homes.

If you're interested in adopting, be sure to click on the "Adoption" tab at MiddleEast.BestFriends.org.

[LilacDragon]

Sorry, but with the HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS of dogs and cats that are euthanized each year in the United States - Best Friends is IMPORTING more homeless animals!?!

It occurs to me that the money spent on this operation might have been better spent rebuilding their own shelter.

For goodness sake - a year after Hurricane Katrina, there are still animals homeless from that!

[Catty1]

Best Friends does a TON of work in the USA.

It must be hard deciding who to save - but I think this story, because it is international, will get attention on the news. That will help Best Friends at home.

And - there are probably people who would only donate to something like this.

I hope Best Friends says to the country: "Now that we have your attention..."

Good is bound to come out of it.

[Corinna]

Sorry but I agree with lilicdragon. I think my donations to Best freinds just changed to another rescue. I give enough for orphan children around the world, and try to help lots of animals in the USA.

[Catty1]

So...what could/should have happened to the animals from Beirut?

[Grace]

I don't mind helping animals - no matter the country of the world. We donate, exclusively, to organizations helping animals. We are animal lovers, and don't care where they live.

What I'm hearing here reminds me of those that say people should only adopt children in the USA. Hogwash!! Children are children, no matter where they are. Animals are animals, no matter where they are. They should all be loved and treated with respect regardless of nationality.

[columbine]

I agree with Catty1 - people might be willing to adopt pets from Lebanon for the same reason they fly all the way to China to adopt a baby. People get overwhelmed thinking about how bad things are right on their doorstep, and turn away; but if it's a "foreign problem" it's not so scary and they might be moved to do something.

I agree with Grace too - children are children, animals are animals, and whatever gets those barriers down and opens people's hearts is a good idea. People just move around too quickly these days for it to be practical to isolate oneself on the basis of national borders.

Love, Columbine