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.
Frightened Puppies Seek Refuge Under a Rock to Escape Human Presence
Once in a serene rural enclave, a small community of puppies came into the world, born to a mother dog who had sought refuge in a hidden grove. The tranquility of this environment should have been an ideal setting for a family of dogs, yet their lives were far from picturesque. Their mother, a determined leader among humans, had instilled in her offspring an intense fear of the outside world, a realm teeming with peril.
Their existence was a testament to the primal forces of fear and survival in the animal kingdom. To find solace and security, they had learned to depend on one another. Occasionally, these puppies, bearing echoes of their mother’s tenacity, would venture beyond the boundaries she had set, spurred by their innate curiosity.
It was under the shelter of a massive stone that these puppies would huddle together, away from the perceived threats of the outside world. Protected from harsh elements and potential predators, they would cautiously peek out from their secure den to observe the world beyond. Safely ensconced, they would watch the world go by, their tiny hearts racing at the sight of a distant human figure.
Their presence illustrated the potent influence of fear and survival instincts in the animal kingdom. They knew that to thrive, they had to remain concealed from the outside world, their small hearts quivering with trepidation. The stone, perhaps a relic from a bygone era, became their sanctuary, shielding them from the unseen dangers lurking beyond.
Over time, the transformation of these puppies was nothing short of extraordinary. Their initial dread of humans, born of past experiences and deeply rooted fears, gradually began to dissolve. Their encounters, filled with love and kindness, altered their perspective, and happiness began to supplant their previous apprehension.
The tale of these puppies served as a potent testament to the resilience of fear and survival instincts in animals. Their initial fear of humans was a defense mechanism, forged through past experiences and a deeply ingrained instinct to shield themselves from danger.
However, the unwavering patience and compassionate efforts of individuals determined to alter the course of these puppies’ lives began to yield fruit. Slowly but surely, the puppies began to conquer their fear and apprehension, forging trust and companionship between humans and their animal counterparts.
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