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.
Dog, paralyzed and severely injured, stuck in a river, sobbed profusely after being rescued
Broddick’s story was heartbreaking and moving to the bone. Some dogs followed the unfortunate dog, and while escaping, he slipped into a river and became caught in it.
He had several bruises and swellings on his neck, head, ears, and cheeks. His left eye was injured and only partly closed. There were no words to convey how desperate he appeared at that moment.
A nice Samaritan arrived around six o’clock in the morning and brought him to the emergency vet. Brodick’s herniated discs were causing him a lot of difficulties and pain, so the doctor started treating him for spinal block.
Brodick was a bright and understanding dog, but he was unlucky in life. Surely, the days of pain will come to an end.
His scratches and bites on his body had nearly totally healed, and his skin had smoothed out. He was taken off the wing and guided with a support belt. He was eating properly, but his weight had dropped.
Brodick was able to breathe fresh air when the wheelchair was significantly changed. The bad news is that the lining is flowering and the parallel gland may have decayed.
Brodick’s basic health remained unchanged; he was eating, drinking, and defecating mainly formally. Throughout the night, there were violent seizures. The cause was necrosis, which was spreading rapidly. Despite regular therapy with chymotrypsin, it can spread throughout the body.
Brodick also had a huge tumor in his spine that had developed into soft tissue; unfortunately, this tumor is cancerous. Sepsis had begun, according to blood tests. Stronger pain medicines barely worked for a few hours.
Vets chose to let Brodick go where he was confident there would be no more pain after several days of thought.
“Soft clouds to you in paradise, our sweet Brodick.”
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