Planeload of abandoned dogs and cats from Afghanistan arrives in Vancouver

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.

‘This should never be the answer’: Man filmed abandoning dog on remote trail.

A dog has been rescued from a remote trail in Oklahoma after a man was caught on camera dumping the pet to fend for itself in the middle of nowhere.

The puppy, now named Rocket, was found by animal rescuers after nine hours alone on the trail according to a post on Facebook by the Oklahoma Alliance for Animals.

Trail cameras showed a man abandoning the dog and driving away in his car, according to the post. Because the trail cameras were active rescuers were able to respond.

“This is absolutely not ok. Dumping a poor defenceless animal in the middle of nowhere and driving away is cruel,” the charity wrote.

Rescuers said that the pooch had been vetted, fed, and given a safe warm place to rest his head following the abandonment.

“While we understand that people may be struggling to care for their pets due to Covid, there are resources and organisations here to help, including us. Doing this to living, feeling being should never be the answer,” they said.

“Rocket was lucky,” they added. “If cameras weren’t rolling, who knows what fate would have befallen Rocket.”

“We will ensure he never suffers this fate again,” they said.

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