In the village of Kfaroue, southern Lebanon, animal rescuer Hussein Hamza is working to care for pets and livestock left behind as residents flee the ongoing conflict. The number of animals in his care has grown since the latest Israel-Hezbollah war began, with hundreds of thousands of people evacuating and unable to take their animals.
Hamza's daily routine involves feeding and checking on dozens of dogs, chickens, and even camels. Some animals arrived wounded, while others were left behind by owners who fled suddenly or were killed in airstrikes. "During the war, people contacted us and told us they had left their chickens behind because everyone had to evacuate suddenly," Hamza stated. He explained that he attempts to rescue animals from areas that are relatively calm, but access can be limited by intense fighting.
Kfaroue has experienced some airstrikes, but it remains less affected than areas closer to the Israeli border, which have seen extensive destruction and occupation by Israeli troops. As a tentative truce is in place, Hamza is awaiting the return of the animals' owners to reclaim them.
Hamza's animal shelter, named Mashala, has been operating for seven years. He has been involved in animal rescue since 2006. The increased demand on his shelter due to the war has put a strain on his limited budget. Initially, he funded the operation himself until he declared bankruptcy from his agricultural business. He later established a Facebook page to solicit donations.
He estimates his daily expenses for food, medical care, spaying and neutering, wages, fuel, and repairs range from $400 to $500. Hamza acknowledges the difficulty in raising funds given the numerous pressing humanitarian needs in the country, with many donors prioritizing aid for displaced or wounded people. However, he believes humans have an obligation to care for dependent animals, stating, "We shouldn’t neglect these responsibilities because of wars or because of the poverty we face."
While uncertainty about the situation in Lebanon and fears of escalation have deterred some potential adopters, a few of Hamza's dogs have found new homes. Abbas Shoeib, for instance, adopted a pit bull mix whose owners were killed in an airstrike, saying, "A dog needs someone to take care of him, and when you take care of him, he will take care of you."