Beirut For The Ethical Treatment of Animals: The Interview

by Claudette Vaughan

BETA's MISSION

Beirut for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (BETA) is a Lebanese Registered Charitable Organisation. Through education and direct action, BETA rescues and rehomes stray and abused animals, while combating abusive pet shops and the illegal trade in wildlife.

BETA's GOALS

• Find good, lasting homes for the homeless animals we rescue.
• Combat abusive pet shops and their illegal trade in wildlife.
• Combat the smuggling of all animals.
• Spread awareness about responsible pet ownership and the importance of spaying/neutering.
• Promote humane values and the ethical treatment of animals.
• Promote a vegetarian diet.

BETA'S NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS SO FAR

Since it's inception in 2004, BETA has:

• BETA founded Lebanon 's first dog and cat shelter
• Rescued over 500 stray and abused cats and dogs.
• Rescued 2 Baboons from appalling conditions and sent them to a primate sanctuary in Wales .
• Spay/Neutered almost half of their rescued animals.
• Created and launched their own website http://animals.beirut.com
• Spread awareness in Beirut on animal protection and responsible companion animal ownership through local awareness campaigns and their mail-outs.

Abolitionist: How did the 9 of you meet and get started with BETA? BETA: Each of the nine co-founders of BETA used to conduct rescues on their own, and each of us has always believed that compassion is limitless, and it was through this relief of the suffering animals endure that BETA co-founders met. That said, while some of us met through animal rescues, others stumbled upon each other while browsing on the Internet, in search of like-minded people, ending up finding out about BETA's website that was launched in 2004. The nine of us joined forces and sacrificed huge parts of our personal lives in order to make this city, and the world, a better place for animals.

Dr. Ali Hemadeh, Vet and Co-founder of BETA

Abolitionist: Most people reading this won't know so can I ask what specific problems do activists in Beirut face with regards to animals?

BETA: The problems we face are many, but the main issue is the lack of general awareness, as well as a shortage of animal-friendly people.  As a result, there are few adoptions, and a lot of abandoned pets on our hands. Another setback is an almost complete lack of government involvement and animal welfare regulations.

We are aware of only two such laws, which are nonetheless not enforced. Also, the means of animal control used by the government is utterly inhumane, and include poisoning and shooting.

Additionally , BETA receives few donations from locals, and being a charity, most of our work is dependent upon donations.

Abolitionist: Are there many groups or individuals working on animal issues in  Beirut ?

BETA: There were other groups but they are now either inactive or are simply a website but do not do any direct action. BETA founded Lebanon 's first dog and cat shelter.

Abolitionist: How many rescues have you achieved so far?

BETA: In the last couple of years, BETA has rescued over five hundred cats and dogs, and two baboons.

Tom Before

Tom After

Our rescues involve various circumstances, meaning that some of the animals have been hit by a car in the middle of the highway, some get stuck in ceilings, some are abandoned, some are found gravely ill. There have been many incidents where we've had to jeopardize our own safety to rescue a cat or a dog. To elaborate more on that, here is a little story on one of our rescues:

‘'Teddy Bear, He was lying down low on the inner edge of the highway on the night of February 13. He looked injured. Blood trickled out of his ears, and he was unable to stand up. We were certain he had been hit by a car. His head rested heavily on his paw, and the reason he looked frozen was because he was terrified. Only a hair's length separated him from the cars zooming by, not a single one caring to stop or slow down, to wonder at the large shivering frame below. Literally stranded between life and death, he was about to be hit again. Unless we did something, something drastic. Unless we put ourselves in the exact same position he was in. Isn't that what empathy is all about?

Our rescue team crossed the highway on foot, attempting to wave by the cars away from the dog while hesitant to touch him, for fear of startling him and causing his sudden movement, which would most certainly turn him to shreds under the wheels of one of those racing cars. We could feel the force of the highway, the wind, the lights, the speed, the indifference. And this was for about 10 minutes, while the dog had been bearing this for much longer, we presume.

Suddenly, the dog stood up, barely able to hold his ground, and about to tilt over to the flashes of death staring him in the face. Desperate situations require desperate measures. We risked startling him by coaxing him over to the cement separator in the middle of the highway. We were stuck, unable to carry him due to the speeding cars and to his sheer weight. We called the police department, and they referred us to the fire department. As we couldn't cross the high anymore, we got stuck with the dog, so we called the fire department, and they laughed at us. There was no way out in sight. But then, an angel appeared.

It appeared in the form of a taxi driver, who pulled over on the other side of the road and crossed over to where we were standing. With complete faith and courage, he carried the dog, his face facing his, not for one second considering that the dog might bite due to the pain it was in or might struggle away and land in the middle of the road. He carried him like he was the lightest thing ever born, depositing him on the pavement in complete safety''

Abolitionist: What's BETA's modus operandi?  

BETA: Through education and direct action, BETA rescues and relocates stray and abused animals, while combating the existence of abusive pet shops and the illegal trade in wildlife animals. The latter is part of BETA's mission statement; hence our primary goal is to find the best possible place for stray and captive animals, and try to stop the proliferation of pet stores and illegal trade of animals.

Lucky Before

Lucky After

Abolitionist: How are you funded?

BETA: BETA gets no government funding so all our work depends entirely on personal funding, donations and fundraising events, organised by BETA members. Our fundraising events take various forms as follows: Last summer, BETA organised a beach party where all proceeds went to the animals under our care. Many other events include a raffle at a secondary school, flea markets, selling movie tickets where we get a percentage of the proceeds. However, one must be aware that BETA's expenses exceed its income by a large margin. On a monthly basis, BETA's expenses are $9,000, 25 % of which is covered by BETA co-founders.

These expenses include the dog shelter/cat shelter rent, veterinary care expenses, and miscellaneous provisions for the animals. We have a few regular and devoted donors, and more which donate sporadically.

We also have one local restaurant who is supporting BETA on a monthly basis. 

Abolitionist: Is it difficult to find foster-carers in Beirut ?

  BETA: Again, due to an immense lack of awareness, peoples reluctance to even come into contact with animal, and mainly a very irresponsible attitude when dealing with animals, it is extremely difficult to find foster- carers in Lebanon. BETA also has a strict and well-defined procedure with regard to adoption. A prospective guardian is required to fill out an adoption form and sign an adoption agreement. Consequently, a BETA member conducts a home check. After a certain amount of time has elapsed, another residence check is conducted. This procedure is a necessity to insure the safety of our animals.

Abolitionist: How are animal rights progressing in Beirut ?

BETA: Not well, because the concept has not yet been grasped.  Many people know about BETA but there is an enormous problem since people still want to dispose of animals by simply putting them to death. Many still want to buy animals instead of adopting them, and there is an outdated way of thinking when concerning animals in general.

Despite laws in place to prevent this and rectify it if it happens there are animals being smuggled into the country.  Hunting is illegal but people still do it. Dog fighting is a trend also. BETA has a long way to go, but we believe that when there is a will there is way. We will always tirelessly be the voice of all animals in Lebanon .

Abolitionist: What's the biggest obstacle BETA faces?

BETA: A lack of funding. Lebanon is country in dire need of improvement with regard to animal treatment. Founding laws, trying to get existing laws enforced, spreading awareness, fighting against the country's elites who are still able to smuggle in endangered animals and seem to be above the law, as well as general mistreatment of animals. For BETA to be able to act on the provisions of its mission statement, resources are obviously necessary. BETA is now only able to continue helping some animals and caring for the ones we currently have, but unfortunately not enough extra funding to tackle some of these other problems.

Abolitionist: Do you do any humane education work?

BETA: Humane Education is on of our goals.

Firstly, our website ( http://beta.beirut.com ) contains a lot of humane education material. To put this program into action, BETA team holds speeches and presentations in a variety of communities, such as our last presentation for juveniles. Also, BETA has numerous programmes with schools through which we promote humane education and introduce children to good relations with companion animals. We have scheduled dog and cat shelter visits, where students can come and interact with our animals. Some classes foster dogs/cats. We also introduce our work to people through posters and fliers.

Abolitionist: Any last thoughts?

BETA: As mentioned above, BETA faces a lot of obstacles in Lebanon , and to be able to go on, we sorely need donations, frequent or one-off, any contribution will make a difference to the animals. 

To contact us, people can either write to animals@beirut.com or check out our website: http://animals.beirut.com

Also, please note that recently, BETA has been certified as a Registered Charitable Organisation.

EMERGENCY APPEAL FOR FUNDING War in Lebanon threatens the lives of hundreds of rescued animals Beirut for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (BETA) is a registered charity actively working on animal welfare issues in Lebanon. Since its inception, BETA has been at the forefront of the battle to ensure animals are respected and cared for in Lebanon. Now a registered NGO, BETA has rescued over 500 stray and abused cats and dogs, founded Lebanon's first cat and dog shelters while spaying / neutering almost half of its rescued animals. A pioneer in its field, BETA has also found homes for many of its rescued animals. We now have three separate shelters caring for more than 130 dogs and 100 cats. As we hope you are all aware, sadly the country of Lebanon is now at war. The country is under attack and in the last two days the only international airport has been completely destroyed, foreign warships are now stationed in its sea ports, and the main roads to Syria are now in ruins. Lebanon is effectively cut off from the rest of the world, it is nearly impossible to enter or leave the country and trade has come to a halt. The necessary goods to care for our animals are becoming more difficult to find, and what is available is now becoming more expensive due to their scarcity. BETA and the animals in its care urgently need your help. With the country shut down, all of our in-country fundraising projects have been forced to stop. Many of us are quite literally risking our lives to visit each shelter and care for the animals early in the morning and again before nightfall. The dog shelter is located on the border of Dahye (a block street from Dahye), a suburb where many of the attacks are taking place. The shelter is in sustained danger and many of the dogs are visibly suffering due to the ongoing noise and near destruction. Trips to our cat shelters take us through a large part of Beirut and the attacks and destruction continue making this more difficult and dangerous. We urgently need funding to get the animals through this period, most of our normal fundraising options have been forced to stop, and we are now calling on you to help support these animals. While cash donations will be the most effective to get us through these days, we are also in need of cat and dog food as well as cat litter. Our vet is still donating his services for free but donations of medications are extremely helpful. While we realize this is a trying time for all people in Lebanon, we do ask that you assist with this urgent appeal and recognize the importance of the lives of these animals. Thank you for your support and with your help these animals will be able to get through this without having to suffer more than they already have. For bank details and more information on how to help, please contact us at maggy_sha@yahoo.com, joelle_k@idm.net.lb, animals@beirut.com, or view our website http://beta.beirut.com ''We exist solely on the kindness of your adoptions, donations and assistance"--BETA team BETA is a an officially recognized charity #205/AD