In the impoverished Gaza Strip, where most people struggle to make ends meet amid a crippling blockade, the suffering of stray dogs and cats often goes unnoticed.
Said el-Er, who founded the territory’s only animal rescue organisation in 2006, has been trying to change that. He and other volunteers rescue dogs and cats that have been struck by cars or abused and nurse them back to health – but there are too many.
So in recent weeks they have launched Gaza’s first spay-and-neuter programme. It goes against taboos in the conservative Palestinian territory, where feral dogs and cats are widely seen as pests and many view spaying and neutering as forbidden by Islam.
“Because the society is Muslim, they talk about halal (allowed) and haram (forbidden),” Mr El-Er said. “We know what halal is and what haram is, and it’s haram (for the animals) to be widespread in the streets where they can be run over, shot or poisoned.”
Islam teaches kindness towards animals, but Muslim scholars are divided on whether spaying and neutering causes harm. Across the Arab world, dogs are widely shunned as unclean and potentially dangerous, and cats do not fare much better.
Mr El-Er and other advocates for the humane treatment of animals face an added challenge in Gaza, which has been under an Israeli and Egyptian blockade since the Islamic militant group Hamas seized power in 2007. Gaza’s two million residents suffer from nearly 50 per cent unemployment, frequent power outages and heavy travel restrictions.
With many struggling to meet basic needs, animal care is seen as a waste of precious resources or a luxury at best. Mr El-Er’s group, Sulala for Animal Care, relies on private donations, which can be hard to come by.
Mr El-Er says his team can no longer keep up with the number of injured animals that they find or that are brought to the clinic. “The large number of daily injuries is beyond our capacity,” he said. “That’s why we resorted to neutering.”
On a recent day, volunteers neutered a street dog and two cats that had been brought in. There are few veterinary clinics and no animal hospitals in Gaza, so they performed the operations in a section of a pet store that had been cleaned and disinfected.
“We have shortages in capabilities, tools, especially those needed for orthopaedic surgeries,” said Bashar Shehada, a local veterinarian. “There is no suitable place for operations.”
Mr El-Er has spent years trying to organise a spay and neutering campaign but met with resistance from local authorities and vets, who said it was forbidden. He eventually secured a fatwa, or religious ruling, stating that it is more humane to spay and neuter animals than to consign an ever-growing population to misery and abuse.
Once the fatwa was issued, Mr El-Er said local authorities did not object to the campaign as a way of promoting public health and safety. The Hamas-run health and agriculture ministries allowed veterinarians to carry out operations and purchase supplies and medicine, he said.
The Gaza City municipality provided land for a shelter earlier this year. Before that, Mr El-Er kept the rescued animals at his home and on two small tracts of land that he leased.
The new shelter currently houses around 200 dogs, many of them blind, bearing scars from abuse or missing limbs from being hit by cars. At least one was adjusting to walking with a prosthetic limb. A separate section holds cats in similar shape.
The group tries to find homes for the animals, but here too it faces both economic and cultural challenges. Very few Gazans would keep a dog as a pet, and there’s little demand for cats. Some people adopt the animals from abroad, sending money for their food and care.
Over the past decade, international animal welfare groups have carried out numerous missions to evacuate anguished animals from makeshift zoos in Gaza and relocate them to sanctuaries in the West Bank, Jordan and Africa.
But there are no similar campaigns for dogs and cats, and Gaza has been sealed off from all but returning residents since March to prevent a coronavirus outbreak.
Mr El-Er’s phone rang recently and the caller said a dog had been hit by a car. Volunteers from Sulala brought it back to the shelter on the back of a three-wheeled motorbike and began treating it. Mr El-Er says they receive around five such calls every day.
“After 15 Years, Dog’s Tearful Birthday Celebration with First-Ever Cake”
Amidst the charming locality where cheerfulness reverberated in every nook and cranny, a delightful event was taking place. A furry companion, who had been waiting for this moment for 15 years, was finally getting to relish the enchantment of a birthday gala – complete with a cake decked with twinkling candles.
At the appointed hour, a group of loved ones had gathered around in eager anticipation to witness a momentous event. At the center of attention was a faithful dog whose eyes shone with excitement and curiosity. The atmosphere was electric as everyone joined in singing the classic song of “Happy Birthday.”
The dog seemed to sense the importance of the occasion and responded with a contagious wag of its tail. The room was filled with an undeniable sense of happiness as the cake, complete with decorations suitable for dogs, made its way to the center of the gathering. Excitement reached its peak as the birthday girl blew out the candles, signaling the beginning of a new phase in her life. Love overflowed from every corner of the room.
But it wasn’t just the flickering candles that caught everyone’s attention. It was also the unexpected sight of a solitary tear rolling down the furry cheek of the dog. The room fell into a hushed silence as the observers exchanged glances filled with a mix of surprise and tenderness. This tear was a silent testimony to the years of unconditional loyalty and the simple desire for a moment of celebration, conveying a heartfelt message.
As the birthday cake was presented to the dog, the room erupted in cheers and applause. The dog, now surrounded by its loved ones, cautiously sniffed the cake before taking a tentative bite. The taste of the special treat seemed to transport the canine companion to a world of ecstasy, and in that magical moment, all the waiting became irrelevant.
The birthday festivities continued well into the evening, with plenty of merriment, amusing anecdotes, and the delightful sound of a dog’s happy barks. This was no ordinary party; it was a touching tribute to the passing of time and the unbridled joy that our furry friends bring into our lives. The celebration was a testament to patience, love, and the power of long-awaited reunions.
As the night wound down, the dog snuggled up in a cozy bed surrounded by the remnants of a joyous occasion. The earlier tears had melted away, replaced by the radiant glow of contentment shining from the canine’s eyes. It was an unforgettable gathering that would be treasured by all who were present, serving as a reminder that our loyal companions deserve their moment in the spotlight, regardless of how long it takes to arrive.
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