2010 has been an exceptionally difficult year for the animal welfare community in Kuwait. In March, K’S PATH experienced a deadly fire that took the lives of 42 animals and destroyed the majority of our shelter complex. 43 dogs had to be evacuated by air to the United States and an additional 20 dogs were placed into foster care due to a lack of temporary shelter space. 35 cats had to be placed in foster care as well. At the same time, the temperature soared and our wild and farm animal population continued to grow and receive care. In October, at long last, construction was completed and K’S PATH again began to accept animals.
Meanwhile, the other animal welfare organization in Kuwait, the Protecting Animal Welfare Society or PAWS, was facing problems of its own. In early 2009, PAWS received notice that they would be forced out of their facility by the end of 2010. In November of this year they vacated their space in Old Wafra and moved to a new space near Kebd.
On the 28th of November 2010, K’S PATH management was informed that PAWS would likely be evicted from their new space by interior ministry police forces responding to noise complaints. It was initially reported to K'S PATH that PAWS received notice on or around the 22nd of November that the nearly 80 dogs being housed outdoors in temporary caging were causing an unacceptable noise level and that police forces would respond by the 29th of November to “shoot the dogs.” History has shown us that police forces responding to noise complaints involving dogs frequently use the threat of lethal support to effect a rapid change. The most common method of actually dealing with the problem is to release the animals onto the streets so that they are no longer confined. Obviously the likelihood of that many pet animals surviving on the streets is nonexistent in Kuwait.
Though 80 dogs and 80 cats would more than double our current population of companion animals, K’S PATH stands ready to assist the animal victims of this unfortunate circumstance.
K’S PATH volunteers that have completed our volunteer orientation course can email [email protected] to find out how they can help. Should we be formally asked to accept these animals, we will need emergency financial support as well. The medical costs of doing intake on 160 animals will be staggering, not to mention the additional cat litter and food. We will put out specific pleas in the coming days should they be necessary.
If you are trying to contact us by phone, please be patient as our staff is overwhelmed at the moment. If we miss your call, we will call you back as soon as we can. If you are accidentally missed, please call back. Your call is important to us. Thank you for your support.