Animal fanatics are barking mad over evacuating pets from Lebanon

Lydia Lovric, The Province
Published: Monday, July 31, 2006

T here must be a full moon, because the animal fanatics are at it again. PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) is barking mad after learning that some of the citizens being evacuated from Lebanon are being asked to leave Fido behind in order to make room for less cuddly evacuees, like human beings.

"U.S. citizens evacuating Lebanon are facing a second disaster right now, as military commanders are directing them to abandon their dogs, cats, birds and other animal family members to starve in the rubble," decries PETA in a recent press release.

"Petrified family dogs and other beloved domestic animals are being ordered out of people's arms. Although French forces have made provisions for animal evacuations, the U.S. is behaving as if it learned nothing in the wake of Hurricane Katrina."

Canada and the United Kingdom are also enforcing a "no pets" policy.

Obviously PETA's raison d'etre is to protect the interests of animals. So it's not surprising that the group is concerned about our four-legged friends in Lebanon. But how about some concern for our two-legged friends as well?

The rescue efforts in Lebanon have been harried and hurried. Governments from many countries have had trouble organizing a quick and seamless evacuation. People have been forced to wait hours, even days, before being lucky enough to get out of harm's way. Had governments allowed every dog, cat, bird or other animal family member to tag along, it would have slowed the rescue of human evacuees.

Can you imagine telling your child or spouse that he or she had to endure another day of bombing because the rescue boats were filled with pets? "Sorry, hon, Fluffy beat us to it."

Evacuees have already complained about how crowded and unsanitary it was onboard and how little food and water were available. Can you imagine being denied more food or drink because Rover and Spot needed their share? And where exactly were the pets supposed to do their business? Also, what about passengers who are highly allergic to these "animal family members?"

Obviously, people have a right to stand by their pets and refuse to flee without the family dog, cat, bird or pot-bellied pig. That means they stay put and take their chances with the bombs.

What they do not have a right to do is demand that their pets take precedence over people. But that's precisely what PETA is saying.

Although I love our cat very much, I cannot imagine insisting that he be allowed on a vessel, knowing that there are still human beings awaiting rescue, even if they were all strangers to me.

A survey of pet owners in Canada and the U.S. found half would choose their pet over a human being as their sole companion on a deserted island. It shows just how much pet owners value their fluffy friends. It also shows how little we think of human companionship.

Maybe society really is going to the dogs.