A dog roaming the Corniche of the coastal city of Sidon for nearly an hour frightened bystanders early Thursday morning before a policeman subdued the animal and took it away.

…

Sidon Municipality Police arrived at the scene and were about to sedate the animal using a stun gun. However, a policeman from the Internal Security Forces who is a longtime pet owner was able to calm the dog without using force and put a chain leash on it.

Hard to believe no one tried to shoot it or run it over. Even the cops were planning to use a stun gun and not real bullets. I’m impressed. [Link]

I pass by every morning near this pet store and hear animals locked up inside screaming and making the weirdest noises. I honestly don’t know how this store is allowed to stay open that way. It’s more of an animal prison than a pet store. I will report it to Animals Lebanon, a group that has been fighting to make animal abuse illegal and managed to prepare and present a draft animal welfare and protection law to the Minister of Agriculture and all parliamentarians on November 24th.

You can support their cause by signing their petition [Here].

The treatment of animals is a reflection of how we treat ourselves and each other. There’s a lack of awareness in Lebanon on how to treat animals and endangered species and there’s an imminent need for a National animal protection and welfare legislation.

This is where Animals Lebanon have been doing an incredible job over the past two years and have finally managed to prepare and present a draft animal welfare and protection law to the Minister of Agriculture and all parliamentarians on November 24th. [Link]

In order for that law to become a reality, Animals Lebanon needs to secure 25,000 signatures and meet individually with Parliamentarians, while cooperating with the Ministry of Agriculture to see the draft proceed as quickly as possible.

There are 6317 signature so far, so I ask you all to spread the message and sign the online petition [Here].

We sent our team to the location and explained that we needed to take the hyena for treatment, rushing the animal to a veterinarian where x-rays revealed the extent of her injuries. We were shocked to find that her body was riddled with shot gun pellets. The hyena had an open wound on her lower thigh and a badly broken leg. Immediate surgery was needed to clean her infected wound and a further operation was planned to fix her leg.

The story doesn’t have a happy ending but it’s a must read. [Link]

One would think Lebanese are more worried these days about getting 24/7 electricity and water than grooming their pets, but this whole pet care business is booming lately and there are even Spas dedicated mainly to cats and dogs.

However, some people still can’t find time to pick up their dogs’ poop off the sidewalk.

You can check out more about DogRoom mobile grooming service on their [Website].

A Nabatieh resident decided to use the parking meters to park his donkey. I assume he put the plate number on the donkey’s ass to make sure he never gets any ticket.

Thanks Chay

One must have some guts to go after a hyena and kill it. They are very dangerous and deadly animals. You can check out the hyene’s picture [Here].

We organize Jeep Safari in Lebanon, heading to four extraordinary destinations: Chouf Mountains, North Area, Byblos District, and Kfardebian – Sannine Region. This is the chance for people who would like to discover real Lebanon (The land that is called “Heaven on Earth”). Doing that in a jeep safari adds adventure and fun to such excursions.

I found out about Safari Lebanon by mistake when I spotted one of their Jeeps on the highway. The pictures are amazing and the tours look pretty exciting but I am not sure how wild they are.

You can read more about Safari Lebanon [here].

I thought nothing could beat UFC’s action but it looks like we are one step away from having gladiators again.

In an unusual move to revive Egyptian tourism, a young Egyptian man has announced he will fight an African lion. Al-Sayed al-Essawy said he bought the lion, which weighs 280 kilograms, for $4,200 and he’ll use only an iron shield and dagger to defend himself… but will kill the lion with his own hands. [Link]

Not even Lebanon’s Chamchoun dared such a thing.

I truly hope the local authorities will stop him from this barbaric act as I don’t see how killing a lion could revive Egypt’s tourism.

Gino’s post on the 8 reasons why AUB Cats are more awesome than you reminded me of how much I hated the cats back when I was a student at the American University of Beirut.

They were everywhere and always hungry and trying to kick them away could have cost us a dean’s warning. I did however push one into the fountain. Cats in AUB Rules & Policies and Cat’s Program

Cats are so popular in AUB that there are two Facebook groups dedicated to loving or hating them:
I love the way AUB has more cats than students
I hate cats especially AUB cats

A truck that probably can hold 5 cows carries 10 or more in Lebanon. Not only the way people treat animals is brutal in Lebanon, but the smell that comes out of leaving the cows for days in the same tiny spot does not seem to bother anyone.

Imagine that sometimes the smell spreads to all over Beirut when boats filled with cows and sheep are left for days at the sea port.

I’m a HUGE fan of Bourj Hammoud and I’ve mentioned it a number of times before but I have to say this is just horrible. The Bourj Hammoud municipality has put up flyers around the area telling residents if they hear sounds of gun shots not to worry they’re just hunting down stray dogs!

BETA (Beirut for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) contacted the mayor of Burj Hammoud telling him there are other more humane methods of capturing the strays and solving the problem for the long run and that they would be willing to help but the reply they got from the mayor was that bullets are cheaper.

So if you can please politely contact Mr. Antranig Missirian, the head of the Burj Hammoud Municipality on 01 260155 ext 147 or send him a fax to 01 260156 and let him know that you are against the shooting of animals.

Every year during Easter holidays, i spot non-Lebanese(mainly Syrians) workers selling coloured chicks for 1500 LL (1 $) on the streets.
I was walking right past one yesterday when i had the curiosity to ask him if those chicks live or not and how he colours them. He told me he doesn’t colour them, he has a “supplier” that does that and he is not sure whether they live or not.

“If the chick lasts more than a day, then it may live a bit longer, else it’s no good.” he replied.

The sad part is that Lebanese still find it amusing to buy their kids a small chick and let them play with it, drown it, throw it as if it is some small toy.

Update: I just read this in the news: Granny Fined $1,500 for Selling Goldfish to Child, kind of shows where we stand as a country.