Some of the animals will be reunited with their owners while others will be put up for adoption
Hundreds of animals stranded in Afghanistan arrived in Vancouver on Tuesday night, after more than six months of rescue efforts by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).
A total of 158 dogs and 146 cats touched down at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) aboard a specially converted Russian Ilyushin 76-TD aircraft after stops in Turkey and Iceland.
SPCA International said partners in Kabul reached out to them regarding the pets when U.S. forces withdrew from Afghanistan.
The groups hoped to evacuate the animals to North America at the time of the withdrawal, but the volatile situation combined with logistical issues resulted in the delay.
“These animals have been on the plane for quite some time,” Lori Kalef, director of programs for SPCA International, said prior their arrival. “We had to reroute at the last minute due to the conflict going on in Russia.”
From YVR, the animals will be transferred to a specially constructed 1,600-square metre facility.
Kalef said about 66 of the animals will be reunited with their owners, while another two dozen will stay with the SPCA until their owners are able to retrieve them.
The others will be put up for adoption across North America.
Anyone interested in adopting one of the animals can visit the SPCA International website. Applications will be handled by SPCA International and the B.C.-based RainCoast Dog Rescue Society.
Treacherous rescue mission
In a statement, the SPCA said numerous pets were left behind in shelters when their owners fled the country following the Taliban takeover.
A local charity, Kabul Small Animal Rescue, had saved more than 70 dogs from Kabul International Airport and rescued dozens of other animals abandoned by owners when they were forced to flee.
The sign reads, “Unlucky dog – Please help!” as it stands in the middle of a deserted street, catching the eye of anyone who passes by
This was the heartbreaking message left by the puppy’s owner when they abandoned her. The little pup sat forlorn, nestled near a rock, her eyes fixed on the path that the owner had taken, a path from which they would never return to collect her.
A concerned neighbor called Hope For Pets when she stumbled upon the abandoned puppy. Her fear of dogs prevented her from getting too close, and the puppy had been left there since the early morning.
The rescue team interviewed several neighbors, but no one had any information about the puppy. It seemed she had been left behind by a stranger who, out of fear that she might follow them home, had tethered her to a rock.
Physically, the puppy was in good health, but her body reeked, and she was in desperate need of a thorough cleaning.
In a bid to find information about her owner, the rescue team posted pictures of the abandoned puppy on social media with the caption “Unlucky Puppy – Help Me!” The response was overwhelming, with hundreds of people expressing their anger and dismay.
Dogs are known for their unwavering loyalty and companionship, always standing by our side, sharing in our joys and sorrows. There is no justification for labeling them as “Unlucky Dogs” and leaving them to fend for themselves.
Such behavior is not just inappropriate; it’s downright cruel. Hope For Pets continues its search for information about the heartless owner.
If you have any information about the puppy or her owner, please come forward. Justice must prevail, and we hope to identify the person responsible as soon as possible, ensuring that they face the consequences of their actions before the law.
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