Israel’s News Blog Magazine: Daily Stories Video and Photos

The warning sirens ring in Israel’s northern cities and people run to the safety of the shelters. But what happens to the family dog or cat? Where does Fido or Puddy go? In day 12 of the continuing conflict, Man’s Best Friends are suffering even more than humans. Most public shelters are just not able to accommodate pets as well, due to lack of available space, people being allergic or afraid of being in close quarters with pets, and a number of other reasons, including what to do with the pet when it needs to go to the bathroom during a missile attack.

The problems of what to do with pets has always been a difficult one during these trying times and this is now especially true in Israel’s northern cities and towns. When the first Katusha rockets began to fall in cities like Nahariya, people had so little advance warning that they barely got themselves to safety much less their pets. After a long weekend of staying underground, or with accommodating people further south, many pet owners had to return to their homes to take care of their pet, which may have been without food or water for several days.

There are many concerned individuals and organizations to whom a concerned pet owner can turn to, however. Many of them can be found on a special website.

A special section dealing with pets needing adoption, complete with a photo, is also noted on this site. Information is also available at the local offices of the Israel Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, or Saar Baal Haim, transliterated from the Hebrew. Dealing with unwanted or stray animals has always been a problem in this country, as many families often abandon their pets when they no longer want to care for them. The problem with stray or dumpster cats, a serious problem during normal times, is even more pathetic and aggravating during a national emergency. Television civic action programs, like Kolbo-Tech, have screened the plight of stray dogs and cats, with cruel examples of how these ‘problems’ are often dealt with by various municipalities.

Dog and cat lovers country-wide need to get more involved in spreading the word, and a nation-wide S.O.S, concerning the plight of our furred and even feathered friends. When families in the north consider leaving their own communities for the safety of ones in the central region, they have a more difficult time of it by having to worry about their pet. This is why it is good to ‘match’ these families with those who already have pets, in order that all family members will be included. A good example of this was a recent television news magazine program in which a family in Israel’s center took in a family from Nahariya and both families had dogs. While it was commendable for the host family, who have several children, to take in a strange family, including a set of grandparents; it was even more heartwarming that the guest family were able to include their dog as well.

It may be several days, if not weeks, before people in the northern areas will be able to return to a semblance of normalcy, if their homes are still livable, that is. Let’s all be more involved in making their lives easier, by lending a hand regarding assistance for their furry friends.