An animal shelter in Gaza reported the death of one of its employees, the 19-year-old Loay, who was killed in the war between Israel and Hamas, which has seen heavy fighting and bombing since Saturday.
“Loay was working with us for two years and took care of the dogs in the shelter on a daily basis,” Sulala Animal Rescue said on Facebook on Monday.
“He worked every day to help care for the hundreds of animals who sought sanctuary there. He was described as ‘a kind and gentle young man’ by his colleagues, and was dedicated to protecting and caring for animals in Gaza,” animal welfare organization Animals Australia, which supports Sulala Animal Rescue, said.
The shelter in Gaza said it feared for its rescued dogs and cats. “The dogs got very scared from the explosion noise, and they broke the fence of the shelter and escaped,” the shelter said, adding that they were able to find the dogs and bring them back to the shelter.
However, there are rising concerns for their safety due to the shelter’s open space, which leaves the animals exposed and vulnerable.
“They are in an open space that is dangerous, and we really hope we will continue to be able to reach them to give them food and to comfort them,” the shelter said, adding that they also fear for street animals. “The streets are completely empty because it’s dangerous. But dogs have nowhere to hide.”
“We took some of the most vulnerable disabled dogs to our house today, and we are working to get the other dogs that wouldn’t be able to survive in the street to other places that are (hopefully) safer than the shelter,” the shelter said.
Sulala Animal Rescue is one of the few organizations in Gaza that helps animals in the region with emergency care, rescue and shelter.
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