In times of crisis, various stakeholders face unique challenges, each driven by different needs. Since the outbreak of war, Animals Lebanon, an NGO founded in 2008, has shifted its focus primarily to providing relief for animals, particularly pets in areas ravaged by the Israeli raids.

In a recent interview, Jason Mier, a representative from Animals Lebanon, shared the significant hurdles their team is currently navigating.

A Shift in Focus

“We are operating completely beyond our usual scope,” Jason explained. “In normal times, we would focus on wildlife relocation, advocating for animal welfare, and collaborating with the government. Now, all our efforts are directed toward providing relief and rescuing animals.”

Before the economic collapse, Animals Lebanon was primarily funded by the Lebanese community, with over 85% of their financial support coming from local sources. Today, most funding is sourced from abroad, highlighting the first major challenge they face: financial instability. “Since 2019, it has become increasingly difficult to draw attention to animal issues,” Jason noted. “Every time we try to regain our footing—whether it is after COVID-19, the Beirut Port explosion, mounting economic crisis, or the war—new challenges emerge.”

Rising Demand for Support

Since the war began, the demand for their services has surged. The team is rescuing pets left behind in bombed areas and finding foster homes for displaced animals. The challenges are overwhelming.

“Safety is a significant concern,” Jason remarked. “Our teams often enter relatively unsafe areas to rescue pets. Some locations are simply too dangerous, and we cannot risk the safety of our staff, especially since they are not trained for such situations.”

With people fleeing new areas daily, many are forced to leave their pets behind, often unintentionally. “There are countless scenarios, such as pet owners being stuck abroad. We cannot judge; we just find ourselves shouldering a responsibility that far exceeds our capacity.” So far, Animals Lebanon have managed to rescue around 420 pets and provided 3,800kg of pet food. Furthermore, they are rehoming pets whose families have been displaced.

Redirecting Resources

On top of pet rescue efforts, Animals Lebanon is continuing its efforts of relocating a range of endangered animals to sanctuaries in the UK, the US, and South Africa in the coming weeks. The total wildlife relocation effort includes five lions, two bears, one tiger, one jaguar, and six monkeys.

“There are numerous gaps to fill,” Jason explained. “We need to continue our work in addressing issues like the illegal wildlife trade, but other pressing issues take priority.”

One particularly heartbreaking issue is the fate of livestock, especially in the Southern part of the country. “We cannot intervene with farm animals, but the numbers are staggering. Many livestock have perished due to the war, and this can impact food safety.”

Supporting Local Shelters

Animals Lebanon is actively working to support local animal shelters by providing food and funding to help them sustain operations – so far, they have received more than 820 requests for help, ranging from pet rescue, housing, and fostering, or even requests for pet food and supplies.

“Because we have been established for 16 years, we have a media presence, which aids our efforts, allowing people to reach us easily. Nevertheless, we have set up two hotlines to become more accessible—where people can report animals in need of assistance.”

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How You Can Help

Anyone can contribute by donating pet supplies—food, cages, toys, or even cat litter. There is also a pressing need for foster homes, as the influx of new animals is unpredictable. The organization has had to hire additional staff and drivers to keep up with the demand.

Volunteers are crucial during these stressful times, but long-term commitment is essential. “Having volunteers come for one day helps but is not sufficient; we need dedicated individuals who can support us over the long haul.”

Beirut Hotline | 76089969

South Hotline | 70223808

Email: contact@animalslebanon.org .

Instagram: @animalslebanon

GoFundMe Link