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.
Wagging her tail in a desperate attempt to get assistance before giving up on life, this homeless puppy makes one last plea.
The puppy was suffering from distemper and recognized she was dying. When she saw somebody passing by, she asked for help one last time.
Distemper is one of the leading causes of death among unvaccinated street dogs. This infectious virus, which targets the breathing, gastrointestinal and central nervous systems of dogs, is often deadly.
In this video, we watch Animal Help Unlimited staff try to rescue a young homeless young puppy suffering from distemper.
The dog had actually been infected for weeks but had no treatment because the baby was homeless. She was eventually found collapsed by a roadside, wagging her tail in the hopes of seeking rescue.
The rescue team realized the canine was dying, but they intended to provide it a possibility to recover. She got intensive care for 2 week, which included antibiotics and fluids.
In spite of her excruciating discomfort, the dog was grateful to have humans look after her for the first time in her life.
She was gradually getting better every day! It was a magical moment for the grooming team when the puppy restored the strength to fit on all fours and walk again!
She was so overjoyed at her victory that she rushed towards her rescuers and hugged them tightly. Her bright smiles and unlimited waving of her tail brightened our day!
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