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.
“The Heartwarming Tale of a Young Hero: 7-Year-Old Rescues Homeless Dog, Proving the Miracles of Empathy”
A torrential rainstorm unleashed its fury upon the town, drenching everything in its path. The relentless rain seemed to have caught everyone off guard, as people hurriedly sought shelter and protection from the elements. Amidst the chaos, a seven-year-old boy named Ethan found himself caught in the downpour, with his loyal canine companion, Max, by his side.
With tears streaming down his face, Ethan clung tightly to Max, refusing to abandon him in this moment of adversity. The little boy’s determination was evident as he navigated through the flooded streets, searching desperately for a safe haven. Passersby looked on, their hearts swelling with a mix of concern and admiration for the brave young boy.
Ethan’s devotion to Max was unwavering, and he wouldn’t let the heavy rain deter him from finding a place of refuge. Despite his small stature and the weight of the dog in his arms, Ethan pressed forward, his only goal to keep Max safe and dry. The sight of this small figure carrying his furry friend became a poignant symbol of love and compassion.
Word of Ethan’s brave act quickly spread throughout the community, and before long, a crowd had gathered to witness the inspiring scene. Strangers were moved to tears by the profound bond between a young boy and his loyal companion. The image of Ethan’s determination and selflessness resonated deeply with everyone who witnessed it, reminding them of the power of love and the importance of standing by those we care about, even in the face of adversity.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Ethan spotted a small sheltered area beneath a nearby tree. With renewed hope, he made his way towards it, shielding Max from the relentless rain as best as he could. The crowd watched with bated breath, their hearts pounding in unison, as the boy and his dog reached the shelter.
The collective sigh of relief that escaped from the onlookers was palpable as Ethan and Max found respite from the storm. The crowd erupted in applause, their tears mingling with the rain on their faces. In that moment, the bravery and love displayed by a seven-year-old boy had touched the souls of many.
News of Ethan’s remarkable act spread beyond the local community, reaching far and wide. The story of a young boy who carried his dog through a torrential rainstorm became a symbol of resilience, compassion, and the unbreakable bond between humans and animals. Ethan’s act of selflessness served as a reminder to all that even in the darkest of times, acts of love and kindness have the power to bring hope and unite people in a shared sense of humanity.
Conclusion: The story of the seven-year-old boy who carried his dog through a fierce rainstorm left a lasting impression on all who witnessed it. It served as a powerful reminder of the indomitable spirit of love and the extraordinary lengths we are willing to go to protect those we cherish. Ethan’s unwavering determination and selflessness became an inspiration to many, reminding us all to hold on to compassion, even in the face of life’s harshest storms.
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