BEIRUT: There are thousands of stray dogs roaming Lebanon's streets. They often suffer deplorable abuse, malnourishment and agonizing disease when left to fend for themselves. Seen as a nuisance, they are helpless against poisoning or shooting by the municipalities and even local residents. Over the years we've worked to lower the animal population and we've come a long way with your support. We are now working in collaboration with the Beirut municipality, but we still need your help to reach our goals. Please consider becoming a part of the solution by donating to our newest initiative, the 2011 Internship Program. BETA is taking additional steps to end overpopulation and improve conditions for our country's animals by partnering with AniMedics for this in-depth educational program. Holland-based AniMedics specializes in trap, neuter, return programs (TNR) to sterilize animals and return them to the area they were trapped. AniMedics was previously in Lebanon to neuter the dogs at our shelter, an initiative sponsored by Best Friends Animal Society. Such programs control the animal population in a safe and humane way. Over the past few months, AniMedics has trained four wildlife management and ecology students on assessment techniques appropriate for Lebanon. BETA is now hosting the students for 10 weeks, while they collect data about the stray dog population in the greater Beirut region. BETA volunteers will train alongside them in the field. Once we have conclusive data, BETA and AniMedics will take the information straight to the Beirut municipality and other governmental bodies. The government has traditionally turned to poisoning or shooting without concern for the long, drawn out deaths the animals suffer – or for the unhygienic way their carcasses are left rotting on the streets. Our primary goal is to demonstrate safe, humane alternatives to combating animal overpopulation. Urging the government to allow and support an ongoing TNR program will be the final step in the first phase of our long-term TNR strategy. At the start of the 2011 Internship Program, we would like to thank the Mayor of Roumieh, Mr. Louis Abi Habib, for his previous support of our TNR work. We hope other government officials will follow in his footsteps. We would also like to thank the Brigitte Bardot Foundation and the Marchig Trust, who have generously funded BETA's past TNR projects. BM
