PETA Media Center > Recent News Releases : PETA CALLS ON U.S. MILITARY TO ALLOW LEBANON EVACUEES TO TAKE THEIR DOGS, CATS, AND BIRDS WITH THEM

For Immediate Release:
July 18, 2006

Contact:
Dan Paden 757-622-7382

Beirut � 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. 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.

PETA has just faxed an emergency plea to Brigadier General Carl Jensen, who is in charge of evacuations of U.S. citizens from Lebanon, asking him to order commanders on the ground to stop forcing evacuees to abandon their companion animals.

The fatal consequences of barring evacuees from taking their animals with them were seen following Hurricane Katrina, as thousands of animals died and many people perished after refusing to head to safety without all their family members.

PETA�s letter to Gen. Jensen follows.

July 18, 2006

Brigadier General Carl Jensen, USMC
Commander, Task Force 59
c/o Commander Jeff Breslau, Public Affairs Officer
COMUSNAVCENT PAO/N012
FPO, AE 09501-6008

Dear General Jensen:

This is an urgent plea. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has more than 1 million members and supporters, and we respectfully request your immediate attention.

Our office has been flooded with calls on behalf of desperate Americans in Lebanon who are being forbidden by American officials from taking along their dogs, cats, and other animal companions�often all they have left in their lives�when evacuating. They are being told that they must abandon the animals they care for deeply�an illegal act. Even elderly residents�who, in some cases, have suffered amid the rubble for days, just so that they could safeguard animals whom they consider to be members of their families�are being told that they must leave their animals behind to starve to death. People are upset enough without this complication. And America can surely do better.

The U.S. government�s response vis-�-vis animals in Hurricane Katrina was supposed to change policy on this matter.

Please, immediately issue whatever order to your subordinates is necessary in order to assist people in evacuating with their animals.

Thank you for your consideration. Please let us hear back from you.

Sincerely,

Dan Paden, Researcher
Domestic Animal and Wildlife Rescue & Information Department

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