By Patrick Galey
BEIRUT: A leading animal rights organization has slammed as “barbaric” methods used by security forces in Beirut to cull the city’s stray dog population which have left the streets of the capital strewn with dozens of dog corpses.
Beirut for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (BETA) accused Internal Security Forces (ISF) patrols of “undermining the health of the public, causing tremendous environmental damage and directly harming tourism,” during recent operations to cull stray dogs, the most recent of which saw several shot in Horsh Beirut.
“BETA condemns such practices, which have been occurring under various pretexts and which have chosen primitive killing methods consisting of poisoning animals or of shooting them in clear sight of the people,” it said.
Although no concrete statistics exist about the number of stray cats and dogs on Beirut’s streets, it is thought the capital is home to thousands. Many were left behind by owners fleeing conflict; many are simply born on the streets.
The problem of overpopulation of stray animals, which some residents have complained intimidate and occasionally attack humans, has long been an issue for Beirut’s municipality heads.
BETA said that simply killing the animals was not the solution and risked denting Lebanon’s burgeoning tourism sector if it is allowed to continue unchecked.
“BETA has been constantly receiving condemning phone calls and complaints, and a number of tourists have expressed their desire not to return to Lebanon because of the horrible scenes they were subjected to,” the statement said.
“BETA has been constantly receiving condemning phone calls and complaints, and a number of tourists have expressed their desire not to return to Lebanon because of the horrible scenes they were subjected to,” the statement said.
“BETA had previously contacted the concerned authorities, expressing its readiness to support municipalities in solving problems related to stray animals,” it added.
The organization supports spaying stray dogs as a means of controlling Lebanon’s stray population and has repeatedly warned of the risks of killing animals and leaving them to rot.
Last year, prominent Shiite cleric, the late Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah, issued a fatwa authorizing the killing of stray dogs by civilians after a formal letter of complaint was received from residents of Nabatiyeh.
“Once more, BETA confirms that the barbaric and violent methods that were used contradict with the values of kindness and tolerance the Lebanese people pride themselves on and with the image of a civilized country they so cherish,” the organization said, adding that the method was ineffective.
“The most evident proof of this failure is that these practices have been going on for several years and have clearly not been able to remedy the problem.”
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