In February 2018 a stray dog found its way on top of the safe confinement structure covering the Unit 4 reactor at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Three workers performed a daring rescue (caught on video) to ensure that this dog was brought to safety.
Author: SPCAI Staff
Hysterical Animal Videos
Donkeys, Farmers, and their Families- Working Together for an Improved Life
In Tanzania, subsistence farmers depend on donkeys to keep their families alive. We’ve seen donkeys used in almost every aspect of transportation- to carry water from miles away, to bring crops to market, or to carry a sick family member to the nearest hospital.
Unfortunately, donkeys are rarely vaccinated, are often equipped with ill-fitting carts and harnesses that cause festering sores, and can become drastically overworked. In the wild, donkeys live up to 30 years, but we’re told that in Tanzania, working donkeys may live only three or four years.
Our partner organization TAPO (Tanzania Animal Protection Organization) is working diligently to enhance the quality and longevity of life for donkeys. They know farmers and families need donkeys to survive, so they focus on education and assistance to create a better life for donkeys throughout northern Tanzania.
We recently partnered with TAPO to host a donkey clinic where we provided education to over 120 farmers and medical assistance to over 760 donkeys.
Here, a TAPO staff member drains an infected wound and talks to the farmer about how to provide the best care to the animal. The farmer is learning to provide a longer, healthier and happier life for the donkey, which will also benefit his family.
NOT the Dog in the Window
In Beirut, shiny pet store windows show off cute, wiggly purebred puppies. Huskies and golden retrievers top the list of popular breeds, and the demand is strong. In a country where pet adoption isn’t the norm, it is common for people to walk right past suffering street dogs and into a shop to find the next furry addition to their family- all too often that cute puppy finds themself in the street dog’s position just several months later.
We just returned from a visit to our partner, BETA (Beirut Ethical Treatment of Animals), where they are working to rescue dogs off the street and are encouraging people to adopt one of the thousands of Beirut dogs in need of a home.
BETA staff gave us a tour of their beautiful open-air hillside shelter where they house nearly 700 dogs. Dogs are housed in large runs shared with other dogs of similar size and temperament, and are let out in groups each day to run free in nature. We were concerned that dogs might not return, but staff assured us they always come back to the safety and security of BETA’s shelter where they know they will be fed and cared for.
We were thrilled to see the work of BETA first hand, but that wasn’t the reason for our trip. We were there to pick up our most recent group of Operation Baghdad Pups: Worldwide rescues! We are so grateful to BETA for providing a safe haven for these dogs on their long journey between Iraq and their soldiers’ homes in the US. BETA has dogs available for adoption in Beirut and also for families in the United States and Canada. You can help be part of the solution by giving a once neglected and starving Beirut street animal a home today!
Feline Feature: OBP: Worldwide Rescue Cats
By Emma Koeniger, SPCAI Content and Digital Media Coordinator
This month SPCA International transported eight cats from the Middle East to their forever homes in the United States. These friendly felines were rescued by military service members and government contractors who were on deployment in the Middle East. The rescue logistics were challenging, but these combat cats love their new lives!
Cheetoh’s comfy chair in Washington state is a far cry from the streets of Iraq. He is all purrs in his forever home with the Air Force veteran who became his best bud.
Meat Dough is thrilled to once again be perched on the shoulder of the Army Officer who saved her. She loves playing in her new home in Tennessee.
Princess Jasmine is learning that Oregon is a little colder than the Middle East. Luckily there are so many cozy spots in her forever home with the Army Officer who rescued her.
Dan is enjoying life in Georgia. He is so happy to be back in the arms of the Army Lieutenant who found Dan abandoned by his mother on the streets of Iraq.
Midnight and her three kittens, Simba, Nala and Aslan, couldn’t ask for more now that they are in their forever home in Texas. We’re so glad they get to spend the rest of their lives with the Air Force Lieutenant that rescued them from the verge of death in Iraq, nursed them to health and refused to leave them behind.
Hurricane Response: Picking Up the Pieces
By Emma Koeniger, Content and Digital Media Coordinator
The 2017 hurricane season ravaged the islands of Puerto Rico, St. Thomas and St. Martin, among many other communities. Animal welfare organizations in these areas were left without power, food for their animals, stable shelter and proper refrigeration for medication and supplies.
Rebuilding after the hurricanes passed was difficult and expensive. SPCA International reached out to organizations located in these devastated communities to help them rebuild. In Puerto Rico and St. Martin, I Love My Island Dog, El Faro de los Animales, Island Dog Inc. and Amigos de Los Animales received over $50,000 in grants through our Disaster Relief Fund. These grants will help them reconstruct their shelters, provide urgent medical care, and acquire food and clean water for the animals in their care.
SPCA International was also able to deliver many pallets of veterinary supply aid to St. Thomas Humane Society. These medical supplies will help them care for the animals in their shelter as they continue their life-saving work.
These grants and supply shipments would not have been possible without the support of our loyal donors. Because of them, we are able to help shelters affected by natural disasters continue their essential work for the animals in their communities.
In late 2017 SPCA International also provided Disaster Relief Fund grants to animal welfare organizations located in Florida and Texas in response to the devastation caused by the hurricane season.
Fighting the Abuse of Spanish Greyhounds
By Stephanie Scott, SPCAI Staff
For many years SPCA International has been dedicated to fighting the systemic abuse of Spanish Greyhounds (Galgos). Each year in Spain tens of thousands of galgos are abused and brutally killed by the people who bred them. Every other country in the E.U. has banned the barbaric sport of hare coursing because of the torture and brutality the tradition inflicts on the galgos. Through our ongoing education and advocacy efforts, SPCA International and SOS Galgos continue to work to ban this evil practice in Spain.
As those efforts continue we are also supporting the constant rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming of Spanish Greyhounds and podencos that are abused, tortured and abandoned by these hunters.
Below you will find photos of Tinka, Lola, Peggy Sue, Honey, Abby, Billy Jean, Margot, Uva, Xena, Tinka, Stella, Syra, Taspa, Puskas, Ophelia, Zahara, Pino, Opal, Nieve, Leia, Manchita, Lusi, Leisi, Frascuelo, Gandalf, Laika, Hercules, Estiva, Flo, Francis, Dakota and Boston – all recently rescued and many already adopted by loving families after coming in with a myriad of injuries from abuse and neglect. These animals have survived tremendous wounds, starvation and dehydration – the worst of humanity. But they were taken in and loved by the wonderful volunteers at SOS Galgo and then their new families. Today they finally are beginning to trust again.
OBP: Worldwide Super Mission Update
In January 2018 executive director, Meredith Ayan, and program manager, Lori Kalef, along with 8 volunteers travelled to Beirut, Lebanon, where 25 dogs were waiting to finish their long journey to the United States. As of January 24th each dog is safe and sound in their forever home with the loving soldier who rescued them and their family. Check out these fantastic updates we’ve received!
From Iraq to Arizona, Khanjar loves running around with SGT Jeremy’s family.
Chuck and Hank are two brothers who were born in Iraq. They are now living in Florida and are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the soldier who rescued them. (He is still on deployment in Iraq.)
From the Middle East to the hustle and bustle of New York, Syri is thrilled to be cuddling up to CPL Danny every night.
Georgia is a lot greener than the Middle East. Al Waha loves lying in the grass and all of the attention CPL Robert’s family has to offer.
Syri has forgotten all about the hot desert where she’s from, she has taken to snowy upstate New York like a fish to water.
After being rescued from near death in Syria Lucky is enjoying a more laid back lifestyle in Tennessee.
Rokey is enjoying the Vegas life and he can’t wait for the U.S. contractor who rescued him from Baghdad to join him in his new home.
The mountains and forests of Oregon are too much fun for Korra. She loves going on daily runs with the soldier who rescued her from Syria
Clarksville, Tennessee isn’t like Iraq at all, and Socks loves it. She is counting the days until her soldier returns from deployment.
Life just outside of Nashville is great. Tank loves his new yard and being with his soldier and his family.
Athena is enjoying the cold weather in Ohio. She loves playing in her new home with her forever family.
Max is having the time of his life in his forever home in Wisconsin. From the snow to the cheese to his loving soldier he can’t believe how lucky he is.
The cool pacific-northwest air suits Baloo just fine. He is enjoying his forever home near Olympia, Washington.
Eos is so happy to be in her forever home in Tennessee with the Staff Sergeant who rescued her in Iraq.
Annabelle was over the moon when she was reunited with Joey, the soldier who rescued her, and his family. She couldn’t ask for a better home in North Carolina.
Peanut loves all the treats she’s getting at her forever home in Florida, especially when Jonathan, the U.S. Army veteran who rescued her, is the one feeding them to her!
The green grass and blue skies of North Carolina are great for Rocket. He loves playing in his new yard with the soldier who rescued him and his family.
Hanna loves all of the toys and the big yard in her forever home. She couldn’t be happier to be in Tennessee with SGT Michael.
Pig Pen is having so much fun running around with the other dogs in her forever home.
Chilly Chicago is a lot of fun for Apollo. He loves going on walks with the soldier who rescued him and smelling all of the new city smells.
Nala and Syga were rescued by their soldier in Lebanon. They love their new home together with their soldier in Illinois.
Sheriff is all smiles at his forever home in Illinois with the sergeant who rescued him.
Operation Baghdad Pups: Worldwide Super Mission
By Emma Koeniger, Content and Digital Media Coordinator
As you are reading this our Executive Director, Meredith Ayan, and Program Manager, Lori Kalef, along with eight volunteers are en route to Beirut, Lebanon. Awaiting their arrival are 25 dogs ready to finish their long journey to their forever homes in the United States.
These 25 dogs have not had an easy time in the Middle East. Born strays with little chance of survival, they were miraculously rescued by U.S. service members deployed in Syria, Iraq and Lebanon. One puppy’s mom was killed by an IED, another litter’s mom was found dead and so the soldier moved the group to their living quarters, and another was found in a building recently abandoned by ISIS and others were simply found starving and about to die. Their beginnings gave no indication of the loving families that are awaiting them today all over the United States. And their journey home has been challenged by political unrest, closed airports, dangerous ground transports, fifteen checkpoints on the road from Erbil to an airport 10 hours away, and suicide bombings.
Normally, when SPCAI rescues dogs and cats from Iraq, Syria and surrounding countries through our Operation Baghdad Pups: Worldwide program they stay at a secure kennel facility in Erbil and they fly out of the Erbil International Airport nearby. In Erbil we also have trusted veterinarian, kennel staff, and our Iraq representative – all of them help us care for the animals and prepare them for entry into the U.S.. It is a perfect system, but due to the independence vote in Iraq, in September 2017, all international flights at the Erbil airport were grounded (for months), the borders to adjacent countries were shut and the roads surrounding the kennels became unsafe.
Suddenly, we were forced to rethink our entire rescue strategy. With more U.S. troops deploying to Iraq and Syria we knew that closing the program wasn’t an option, these animals needed our help and the thought of letting down their heroic U.S. service members was not an option. The only way out was to somehow get all of the dogs to the an airport, 10 hours away. where they could fly to our partners in Lebanon. But, getting to the airport was also full of obstacles.
Before attempting to transport the animals to the airport we faced another huge problem. After claiming Kirkuk the Iraqi army was making it’s way to Erbil. The road they were traveling down would take them right past our kennels, putting all of the dogs in immediate danger. In the middle of the night, dedicated kennel workers transported all of our rescues to a new, safe and secure facility. With the dogs out of harm’s way, our team set about tackling the next big obstacle – the dangerous road to the airport.
Getting the dogs to the airport is much easier said than done. It involves paperwork for each individual dog and getting through sixteen checkpoints, four of which are very volatile. We were able to secure the paperwork for each of the dogs and a driver. However, the night before they were set to leave we learned that the paperwork we had could result in the death of all of the dogs. On all of the paperwork the dogs were listed as being adopted by U.S. soldiers. We were told that if any of the people commanding the checkpoints along the road to the airport found out that these dogs belonged to U.S. soldiers the dogs would likely be killed on the spot. Our fearless Iraqi team lead by our Iraqi representative sprang into action to acquire new paperwork so that the dogs would be safe.
At 2:30 AM on January 13, 2018 all of the dogs were settled down in airline kennels and left for the airport in a box truck. The driver took incredible care of the dogs, stopping every few hours to give them all water and food. They made it safely through all sixteen checkpoints and arrived at the airport safely. (Whew!)
On January 13th in the evening, the first five dogs boarded a plane to Lebanon! Due to airline restrictions, our staff and our trusted Iraqi veterinarian worked in shifts to personally accompany the dogs on multiple flights to Lebanon, five dogs at a time until all had been delivered to our partners in Lebanon.
Stay Tuned! We will be posting updates as these patriot pups embark on the final leg of their journey – from Lebanon to New York. Make sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter so you don’t miss a moment!
Radiation Can’t Poison a Dog’s Love
A Dogs of Chernobyl Update
By Lori Kalef, Program Manager
There are over 900 stray dogs that roam the site of the world’s worst nuclear disaster at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant and surrounding 30km area, known as the Exclusion Zone. These dogs are the descendants of pets left behind during the emergency evacuation that took place in April of 1986 after a reactor exploded spreading radioactive materials into the environment.
Decades later, the dogs living in the Exclusion Zone are in almost constant danger – starving, at risk of injury or attack by coexisting animals like wolves. Because the Chernobyl dogs are still radioactive, they are prohibited from being removed from the area. But SPCA International and Clean Futures Fund (CFF) are trying to change that. Thanks to our joint efforts and the leadership of CFF’s founders, Lucas Hixson and Erik Kambarian, there is hope for these abandoned, beautiful creatures. SPCAI has partnered up with CFF in a 3-year sterilization program in order to reduce the suffering of dogs in Chernobyl by providing veterinary care, vaccinations, feeding stations, radiation monitoring and hopefully an adoption program.
In fact, co-founder Erik Kambarian and his family were excitedly preparing their home in the U.S. to welcome in one of the first ever adopted dogs of Chernobyl after the August 2017 Chernobyl spay and neuter clinic. Erik’s exact words were: “I found a dog; rather she found me. I was at the tourist hotel in the town of Chernobyl getting water for the clinic and came upon an adolescent female dog. She was docile, with a beautiful coat. Since we were heading to the clinic I picked her up and got in the Soviet-era car for the short ride. She calmly sat in my lap, as if she had been on many car rides, and rested her head on my arm like we had known each other for years. I proudly brought her into the clinic, surprising our staff since I was not one of the dogcatchers.” She was tagged as dog #20, later renamed Elena, spayed and vaccinated, washed for surface contamination and was ready to come ‘home’.
One month after Erik left in August, he asked one of their volunteers to find out how she was doing and make further plans for her arrival, but the volunteer was hesitant to tell him. Sadly, Elena had been hit by a car and killed, an all too common unfortunate reality for the strays of Chernobyl. Even though Erik only got to hold her once, he still thinks about her and is even more driven to continue saving lives and working toward an adoption program in her honor. For now, both Erik and Lucas are hopeful that they will be given permission to bring home another dog on their next visit in April of 2018, a first step in demonstrating the safety of animal adoption from Chernobyl.
But make no mistake; the region is an especially challenging one to work in. The abandoned landscape, forest overgrowth combined with the environmental contamination provides a very unique and dangerous experience for the animals and our team.
Stay tuned for more updates in the next few months as preparations get underway for the Chernobyl spay and neuter next clinic scheduled for June of 2018.