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.
Emotional Reunion: Touching Moment as Mother Dog Tearfully Reunites with Her Lost Puppies, Melting Hearts Everywhere.
On the side of the road, 9 precious puppies were found, hungry and scared. A compassionate group of animal rescuers provided them with food and even set up a tent for shelter. As the puppies happily devoured their meals, tails wagging wildly, the rescuers faced a heartbreaking challenge – they were overcrowded and unable to take them in.
Amidst the wagging tails, one puppy, later named Chucky, caught their attention. He seemed unwell, so they rushed him to the vet. Chucky, with a sore intestine likely from street scavenging, received dedicated care until he recovered.
The rescuers shared the puppies’ story online, and a heartwarming twist unfolded. A family recognized the adorable faces and rushed to meet them. It turns out, a stray dog had given birth to the pups in their backyard, and they had lovingly cared for the mother and her little ones for a month and a half.
Tragically, an unhappy neighbor had separated the puppies from their mother, leaving her heartbroken. Now, as the family picked up each puppy, the mother dog’s cries turned into joyful whimpers. The reunion was magical, with the mother running straight to her lost ones.
After a few days of tender care, Chucky, now fully recovered, was joyfully reintroduced to his family. Witness the power of love and compassion as this tale unfolds, proving that even in the face of adversity, reunions filled with tears of joy are possible.
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