How you entered an animal shop at some point curious to see what animals are sold or simply stopped by curious to look inside? If you have, it is also likely that you have witnessed some form of mistreatment and neglect towards the animals. Many of us that visit these shops are in fact passive and ignorant witnesses of the abuse that is going on behind the scenes.
Animal abuse does not necessarily involve hurting an animal directly until cries in pain; it can mean keeping a dog in a cage that’s too small for its size, neglecting its alimentary and physiological needs and maintaining poor levels of hygiene and inadequate conditions for the animal.
Widely scattered around the Lebanese territory, these illegal, unregulated roadside shops are easily found by just going for a walk around the city and outskirts. Located on the main and busy road of Bourj Hammoud, is one good example of how these unregulated shops are like in the country. By just standing outside the shop at closing hours you will be shocked by the horrifying and revolting scene of a cardboard box filled with dead animals ranging from tiny turtles, fish, rabbits and birds that had not made it through the day. This is what people and cars routinely witness each day passing by the shop; animals that just like lifeless, broken objects, are brutally disposed of and mostly likely died from negligence.
Rabih, a university student walking by the same street, did not look as shocked as me at the view of that horrible sight. He explained that every day as he passes by the shop, he witnesses the same atrocious scene and has eventually turned into a common and normal sight. “Sometimes you will see much worse” he said. “I’ve gotten used to it, but I still get sad.”
A major problem related to animal mistreatment is the unrevised 70-year old laws that date back to 1943 when Lebanon was newly formed to be an independent country. Animal welfare law 762 states that a person who mistreats or oppresses a pet is sentenced to jail and maximum penalties of less than $15. Extensive research by the Animals Lebanon NGO has not shown this law used even once in the past twenty years.
So who is actually doing something about this issue? In Lebanon there are only two Animal Welfare NGOs that through lots of hard work and dedication are making the needed difference. BETA and Animals Lebanon were founded by Lebanese people and both share similar purposes; protect and help animals through legislation, education, campaigns, rescue and shelter activities. BETA focuses mainly on the rescuing and assisting animals with their shelters while Animals Lebanon efforts more on the legislation, education and campaigning.
Rima Barakat, who joined BETA in 2006 as a volunteer, said “I’ve always been interested in human welfare, but knowing that there are 14,000 registered organizations in Lebanon whereas there are only a few to defend animals’ rights, made me feel like I did the right choice”.
Barakat sheds light on the forms of abuse an animal can go through; these can be of psychological, emotional and physical nature. She gave examples of extreme real life scenarios ranging from dogs being dragged by cars, shot in the back and burned alive. In other cases dogs are used as bait in dog fights, over-chained or are just left alone to themselves without contact with other dogs or humans until obsessive behaviors develop like constant licking of the paws and back and forth movements.
Barak explained that scientific research have shown why abusers reach such levels of behavior; since childhood, they are brainwashed to believe that animals have no feelings and do not feel any pain. They are usually people who enjoy watching a helpless being suffer. She added: “It’s very hard to explain to these people that when you poke an animal he feels it and when you don’t feed him, he feels hunger, and when you don’t give him shelter in winter, he feels cold.”
Animals Lebanon was founded in September 2008 and has been working since to protect animals. They closed down three of the most abusive zoos in Lebanon, placing over 100 animals in sanctuaries around the world and working to closing the remaining zoos as none comes close to meeting the minimum standards set by the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums. An adoption center has been established six months ago and is now home to many cats and dogs that are in need of adoption or care.
Jason Miers, executive director of Animals Lebanon, says that “because of the miserable conditions of animal shops, 95 percent should close down if they had to meet with basic standards”. He adds that they “just need to buy a permit, without any regulation or legislation, to open up a shop and start selling animals to the public”, most of which are smuggled in the country illegally.
In response to these accusations, animal shop owner Bassam explained also on behalf of other animal shop owners alike that it is much easier, faster and cheaper not to abide to international regulations because of the lack of an official Animal welfare legislation in Lebanon clarifying what the laws are a lack of enforcement regulating them through sanctions and police. A second reason is that it is more profitable to own and manage an unregulated animal shop because the materials, the equipment needed and the valid sanitary papers for the animals and the shop are expensive. Smiling, he said, “I treat the animals I sell well without the need of a law and even if there was one you can be sure nobody would follow it without the proper enforcement.”
During November 2011, Animals Lebanon drafted the first comprehensive legislation for the protection and welfare of animals to the parliament after a year and a half of work and revisions by over 20 international organizations. The draft is 29 pages long and many laws proposed would drastically change and improve conditions in Lebanon and eventually close down many shops and illegal practices. One of the law states “Ensuring the proper equipment for the provision of food, water and a sufficient stock for at least one week of clean food and water.” Another law is to “undertaking the appropriate measures to preserve the general hygiene of the premises of the institution.” Miers said: “It could take around two years to pass the votes, but we will keep meeting regularly with the Lebanese Parliament and Ministry of Agriculture to ensure this legislation is enacted as well as conducting strong awareness campaigns.”
Rima Barakat and Jason Miers both agree and explained that the most appropriate course of action and attitude at this moment to help stop animal abuse is to work on campaigns and raise awareness and. More people should speak to friends, family and colleagues about organizations that help animals and to join in their efforts to make a change. This is easy and can be done by simple acts like reporting abuse to authorities or competent groups or making donations to NGOs helping those volunteers and staff that base their daily lives in protecting the rights and welfare of animals.
francescolaurenti 