This update from Dubai came in today, our pal "Fernando" has been reborn and is now living with a loving family...Thanks to all for the continued support. J.C. - IFAW
Gizmo our 2.8 legged dog lives with 1 cat, 1 dog, a chinchilla and sleeps in Brianna’s bed at night!
What a gift having him live with us!" I received an update in my inbox this morning including some photos about Fernando, the dog who had been injured and living with his injuries at a construction site in Dubai.
Here is the note from the vet team there:
"Here are some more photos of Fernando now called ( GIZMO) by the new family . He is doing much better and within few more days his stitches and his drain will be removed.
Surprisingly, he's running like he had 4 legs, he is loving and happy always looking for attention."
A nice ending to what started out as a sad tale...thanks to all the supporters who chimed in on his behalf on the IFAW Facebook Fan page!
J.C. Bouvier
International Fund for Animal Welfare
This article, originally published in the Gulf News, came into my inbox this morning from our Dubai office, and definitely brought a renewed sense of pride in working for the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). The organisation mentioned, K9 Friends is an IFAW grantee. J.C. Bouvier - IFAW.
Helping a poor dog to recover
By Montserrat Martin, Gulf News Reader
Published: June 28, 2009, 23:14
A few days ago, during my working rounds in an industrial area in Ajman, I found a white dog lying on the sand. By the way he slept, I received an indication that he was badly hurt.
When the dog tried to get up, I realised that his front leg was broken and his paw was literally twisted back to front. The bone in his paw completely jutted out and half of his paw on his rear leg was also missing.
He had scars all over his body, he was covered with tics and his eyes were swollen. Despite his condition, the dog was very friendly and had a pleasant nature.
With tears in my eyes, I thought of the kind of agony he must have gone through in his short life. I gave him a tin of tuna and water and had to leave him against my will, as I could not accommodate him in my car or home, where I had quite a few rescued cats.
However, I returned the next day. He was waiting for a Good Samaritan to come to his aid — for some worker to share his biryani or to receive water from a disposed water bottle.
What made me hesitate when rescuing the dog was not the costly bill from Dubai's veterinarians, but the post-operation recovery period and the lack of a clean place in which he could reside.
Continue reading "IFAW Dubai: Citizen Takes Action to Rescue Injured Dog" »
UPDATE: Sammy will be released...The U.K. Times Online is reporting that the order came just yesterday!
For some 47+ days, a wild whale shark dubbed "Sammy" has been swimming in circles around the aquarium in the recently opened Dubai Atlantis.
Apparently the developers of the hotel claim to have rescued her, and as such don't seem to mind having Sammy as a guest...and why not? The Atlantis garners some free global publicity to coincide with the grand opening of "an incredible world of aquatic wonders and luxury"...
The problem is that whale sharks are listed as a vulnerable species by the IUCN, some consider them endangered...and consensus seems to be that the longer this animal stays in the tank...the longer her chances are be returned to the ocean where she was found.
In an effort to sway the Atlantis developers, The International Fund for Animal Welfare's Azzedine Downes has written an impassioned opinion on the matter in The National of Abu Dhabi, pointing out that upon Sammy's release, the developers have a "unique opportunity to emerge as world-class conservationists."
It seems the only "incredible wonder" is why the developers haven't come to their senses and returned Sammy to the ocean where she belongs...The world is taking notice, there's even a Facebook group calling for her release...at this point, we're hopeful the developers come to their senses and arrange for Sammy to be released...as beautiful a sight as she may be.
Photo of Week is a feature that highlights the work IFAW does around the world everyday to rescue orphaned, injured, or mistreated animals.
Song of the Whale under sail off northwest Iceland.
Song of the Whale is currently on the way to Malta and is expected to arrive 6th May to start a sperm whale survey in the Eastern Mediterranean on 11th May. Recent projects included working with IFAW Netherlands, IFAW EU and IFAW France on public outreach events. (All went very well).
The Song of the Whale team will spend all summer in the Eastern Mediterranean working on the sperm whale survey with a break for a two week monk seal survey in partnership with the Turkish Monk Seal organization.
 A village in the Kangchenjunga Conservation Area (where the WWF staff were returning from) credit: myhimalayas.com. |
You never expect something like this to happen to your own team; a tragedy to happen so unexpectedly that takes the lives of devoted, compassionate and noble individuals. My thoughts and support go out to WWF in light of the recent news.
I cannot imagine the pain and remorse WWF staff must be feeling right now, receiving word that 7 of their staff have died in a fatal helicopter crash. The team was returning from a ceremony being held to mark a monumental step of the Nepalese government to accept responsibility of a community run conservation project in Kangchenjunga. The individuals that established this community project and worked hard to build the success of it have now left us with only a memory.
Shane Nickerson of Nickerblog worked first hand with the WWF staff in Nepal while filming the reality show Trippin’ and has provided a personal account of his experiences with two of the staff in particular.
It’s a truly heartbreaking story. Let’s hope the success of the Kangchenjunga Conservation Area project continues and the memory of the WWF staff lives on with the preservation of Nepal’s unique natural heritage.
CTV reports that the evacuation of Canadians from Beirut will resume on Sunday when 2,000 citizen board a chartered ship for Cyprus. Evacuees are allowed to bring only one peice of luggage and must leave their pets behind.
Tragically, owners are often forced to leave family pets behind during mandatory evacuations and the current crisis in Lebanon and Israel is no different. That's why IFAW is providing grants to the Beirut for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (BETA) and NOAH, the umbrella organization for animal welfare in Israel, to help rescue and care for abandoned pets.
There are as many as 40,000 Canadians currently registered with the embassy of Canada in Beirut. To date, 16,000 have already left the country. Would you be able to leave your pet behind, even if it was your only chance at safety?
While innocent civilians are moving out of the war zones in Israel and Lebanon into safe refuges, many have no choice but to leave their pets behind, alive and stranded. As reports of casualties flow in and the world continues to hope for a peace agreement, very little is reported on the safety of man’s best friend within this crisis.
Luckily, there is a glimpse of hope and I feel strongly that this is news worth reporting.
Two organizations, one on each side of the Lebanon/Israeli border, are sending in volunteers daily who are risking their lives to feed and rescue abandoned and roaming animals. Beirut for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (BETA) has been at the forefront of the battle to ensure animals are respected and cared for in Lebanon. The Israeli Association of Animal Welfare Organizations (NOAH) is an umbrella organization that is assisting with the rescue of abandoned pets and stray animals in the combat zone in northern Israel.
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