The aging dog had been a loyal companion to its owner for 15 years and a significant part of their life. The owner wanted to show gratitude for the dog’s unwavering companionship and decided to throw it a memorable birthday party. The party preparations were filled with anticipation and thrill, as the owner carefully selected decorations such as colorful balloons and streamers to create a joyful ambiance. A large banner flaunted on the wall, proudly announcing “Happy Birthday to our beloved companion!”
With a wildly wagging tail, the dog watched in pure joy and excitement as the celebration in honor of its existence unfolded. It was beyond thrilled that its owner had invited close friends and relatives who had witnessed its unwavering loyalty and attachment to its human over the years.
The scent of delicious snacks wafted through the air, tempting both the guests and the furry friend in attendance. The host had gone above and beyond to offer an array of tasty treats that catered to both human and canine taste buds. Plates were piled high with mouth-watering food, and a one-of-a-kind dog cake stole the show, complete with crunchy biscuits and a single candle.
As the time came to cut the cake, cheers and well-wishes filled the room. Surrounded by loved ones, the dog soaked up the warmth of the attention showered upon it. With a gentle paw, the pup even helped guide the knife, playing an active role in this special moment. The cake was divided and enjoyed, a thoughtful gesture symbolizing the bond between the dog and its human companions.
Throughout the day, the pooch relished the love and affection lavished upon it. It was treated to affectionate cuddles, indulgent tummy rubs, and heartfelt expressions of gratitude. The dog was filled with a deep sense of satisfaction, aware that its mere presence had made a difference in the lives of those around it, just as they had left an indelible mark on its own being.
The festivities carried on throughout the night, with fun and entertaining activities that brought smiles and happiness to all those in attendance. Despite being older and moving at a slower pace, the dog fully immersed itself in the festivities, cherishing every moment with pure joy. It seemed as though all of its troubles and worries had vanished, replaced with an overwhelming feeling of contentment and belonging.
As the party drew to a close, the dog cozied up next to its owner’s feet, overwhelmed with a profound sense of pleasure and adoration. Tears of happiness sparkled in its eyes, a testament to the depth of its emotions. This was a moment 15 years in the making, a celebration of its very existence, and one that would forever be etched in its memory.
In the end, it turned out to be more than just a regular birthday celebration. It was an occasion to commemorate the unwavering love that a dog has for its owner. It was a tribute to the enduring affection, loyalty, and happiness that a beloved pet brings into our lives. Moreover, it served as a gentle reminder to the elderly dog that it was still valued and that its journey had been exceptional.
As the night drew in, the dog drifted off to sleep, wrapped in a cocoon of love and gratitude. In its slumber, it relived the day’s events, the laughter, and the shared moments of joy. A smile crept onto its snout as it realized that it had borne witness to a remarkable milestone: a birthday bash that celebrated a lifetime of cherished memories.
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Animal rescue volunteers launch Gaza’s first spay-and-neuter scheme
In the impoverished Gaza Strip, where most people struggle to make ends meet amid a crippling blockade, the suffering of stray dogs and cats often goes unnoticed.
Said el-Er, who founded the territory’s only animal rescue organisation in 2006, has been trying to change that. He and other volunteers rescue dogs and cats that have been struck by cars or abused and nurse them back to health – but there are too many.
So in recent weeks they have launched Gaza’s first spay-and-neuter programme. It goes against taboos in the conservative Palestinian territory, where feral dogs and cats are widely seen as pests and many view spaying and neutering as forbidden by Islam.
“Because the society is Muslim, they talk about halal (allowed) and haram (forbidden),” Mr El-Er said. “We know what halal is and what haram is, and it’s haram (for the animals) to be widespread in the streets where they can be run over, shot or poisoned.”
Islam teaches kindness towards animals, but Muslim scholars are divided on whether spaying and neutering causes harm. Across the Arab world, dogs are widely shunned as unclean and potentially dangerous, and cats do not fare much better.
Mr El-Er and other advocates for the humane treatment of animals face an added challenge in Gaza, which has been under an Israeli and Egyptian blockade since the Islamic militant group Hamas seized power in 2007. Gaza’s two million residents suffer from nearly 50 per cent unemployment, frequent power outages and heavy travel restrictions.
With many struggling to meet basic needs, animal care is seen as a waste of precious resources or a luxury at best. Mr El-Er’s group, Sulala for Animal Care, relies on private donations, which can be hard to come by.
Mr El-Er says his team can no longer keep up with the number of injured animals that they find or that are brought to the clinic. “The large number of daily injuries is beyond our capacity,” he said. “That’s why we resorted to neutering.”
On a recent day, volunteers neutered a street dog and two cats that had been brought in. There are few veterinary clinics and no animal hospitals in Gaza, so they performed the operations in a section of a pet store that had been cleaned and disinfected.
“We have shortages in capabilities, tools, especially those needed for orthopaedic surgeries,” said Bashar Shehada, a local veterinarian. “There is no suitable place for operations.”
Mr El-Er has spent years trying to organise a spay and neutering campaign but met with resistance from local authorities and vets, who said it was forbidden. He eventually secured a fatwa, or religious ruling, stating that it is more humane to spay and neuter animals than to consign an ever-growing population to misery and abuse.
Once the fatwa was issued, Mr El-Er said local authorities did not object to the campaign as a way of promoting public health and safety. The Hamas-run health and agriculture ministries allowed veterinarians to carry out operations and purchase supplies and medicine, he said.
The Gaza City municipality provided land for a shelter earlier this year. Before that, Mr El-Er kept the rescued animals at his home and on two small tracts of land that he leased.
The new shelter currently houses around 200 dogs, many of them blind, bearing scars from abuse or missing limbs from being hit by cars. At least one was adjusting to walking with a prosthetic limb. A separate section holds cats in similar shape.
The group tries to find homes for the animals, but here too it faces both economic and cultural challenges. Very few Gazans would keep a dog as a pet, and there’s little demand for cats. Some people adopt the animals from abroad, sending money for their food and care.
Over the past decade, international animal welfare groups have carried out numerous missions to evacuate anguished animals from makeshift zoos in Gaza and relocate them to sanctuaries in the West Bank, Jordan and Africa.
But there are no similar campaigns for dogs and cats, and Gaza has been sealed off from all but returning residents since March to prevent a coronavirus outbreak.
Mr El-Er’s phone rang recently and the caller said a dog had been hit by a car. Volunteers from Sulala brought it back to the shelter on the back of a three-wheeled motorbike and began treating it. Mr El-Er says they receive around five such calls every day.
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