An animal welfare organization is helping to reunite pets with their owners after a devastating explosion in Beirut on Tuesday.
Non-profit Animals Lebanon is helping to find and treat animals affected by the blast, which has killed at least 100 people and injured more than 4,000 others.
Jason Mier, executive director at Animals Lebanon, said the work was “making people happy" at an “overwhelming" time.
If anyone needs help with their pets, many vets are open for emergencies. If you need Animals Lebanon help with you… https://t.co/0cMm0Pslcu— AnimalsLebanon (@AnimalsLebanon) 1596565466.0
Mier told the PA news agency:
“The goal really now is to reunite people with their lost pets, and that's been working well, we've found owners of at least 20 dogs and cats so far."
The blast damaged the organization's office, injuring several cats in the centre with broken glass from its windows.
Major explosion rocks Beirut! Government now declares Beirut a disaster city. At 6:00 this afternoon a major expl… https://t.co/pbsTr7L5m7— AnimalsLebanon (@AnimalsLebanon) 1596575452.0
damage throughout the whole city. What happened is absolutely shocking. Our hearts go out to everyone. Animals L… https://t.co/mrfBngM9TM— AnimalsLebanon (@AnimalsLebanon) 1596575452.0
office. We rushed some animals to the vet for urgent care from the cuts. Our team is now out in Beirut helping pe… https://t.co/2JSOF3QaRj— AnimalsLebanon (@AnimalsLebanon) 1596575453.0
pic.twitter.com/VoR1fLbkyP
— AnimalsLebanon (@AnimalsLebanon) August 4, 2020
Mier told PA:
“We've been contacted a couple of hundred times so far since last night, we are the main animal welfare organization in the country."
“So far today we have had more than 40 people out, working in teams of two or three, and that has been ongoing since 8pm last night."
“The goal is to keep going, I know we're doing good stuff, I know we're making people happy, but it's overwhelming for everybody."
We are organizing teams tomorrow to help with injured or lost pets. If you can join in tomorrow to assist email your number to contact@animalslebanon.org
Support us through PayPal - https://t.co/xxq95xaJgM
We will share more updates when we can.
— AnimalsLebanon (@AnimalsLebanon) August 4, 2020
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— AnimalsLebanon (@AnimalsLebanon) August 4, 2020
Thank you for taking care of them! Donating now!
— Hannah Vieira (@thehannahvieira) August 5, 2020
Animals Lebanon is organizing search teams for all the displaced pets during this horrific disaster. We got countl… https://t.co/EJz6RE9KMb— AnimalsLebanon (@AnimalsLebanon) 1596613325.0
Mier told PA:
“Animals Lebanon has been around for 12 years… but this is the most difficult situation we've ever faced."
“We've joined international conventions, we've drafted and passed national animal welfare law, we work throughout the country helping all types of animals."
“With the compounding of all these things, the economic crisis, the government collapse… coronavirus, rising unemployment, and now this blast. This is the most difficult situation we've ever been in."
“We're just trying to get through the day. There's a lot of people ready to help."
Donations to Animals Lebanon can be made at:www.animalslebanon.org