It is the unfortunate reality that throughout history, animals and pets suffer greatly during human-based conflict—whether that’s zoo animals languishing behind bars, abandoned pets left to fend for themselves, or wildlife trying to survive in dangerous or destroyed habitats.
It is hard to look for hope in these situations, but, as NPR reports, one organization, Kabul Small Animal Rescue, is praying for a miracle and doing just that: The group is currently “working around the clock” to buy and build travel crates that will carry more than 200 dogs and cats out Afghanistan, along with the nonprofit’s staff and their families, and attempting to raise over a million dollars to help secure the astronomical costs of a cargo plane that will shepherd them all to safety.
The group is trying to leave Afghanistan by August 31st, which as of right now is the deadline for the withdrawal of foreign troops, according to NPR and other sources such as the New York Times.
In spite of the mass evacuation of the city, the group continues to take in dogs and cats that fleeing residents are unable to take with them.
“We are a little overcrowded right now, but we are still working to manage it all until we can leave,” Charlotte Maxwell-Jones, the American director and founder of the rescue, told NPR.
On the group’s Facebook page, Maxwell-Jones added this recent update: “While things are still difficult here and we would all like to sleep as peacefully as our crashed out puppies, our staff are working hard to collect the animals from rescues throughout the city that have fewer transport options and working on intake of those animals that have been dropped off in anticipation of evacuation flights.”
To read the full story, see the NPR article here: An Animal Rescue Group Is Racing To Get Hundreds Of Pets Out Of Afghanistan By Aug. 31
You can donate to Kabul Small Animal Rescue’s evacuation efforts here: Dog & Kitty Evacuation From Afghanistan and here: Help the Dogs and Cats in AFG
Images and story shared at request of Kabul Small Animal Rescue