Lebanon Emergency Support

FOUR PAWS supporting animals in crisis in lebanon

Emergency Support for Affected Animals in Lebanon

Support the project to help rescue displaced and abandoned animals affected by the crisis in Lebanon

The latest escalation of hostilities in Lebanon has triggered a rapidly worsening humanitarian crisis. More than one million people (one‑fifth of the population) were forced to flee their homes with little warning as airstrikes struck southern Lebanon and Beirut and are now living in displacement.

Amid this crisis, animals are also deeply affected, but their situation is often overlooked. Sudden evacuations are causing families and their animals to be separated. Many people are forced to leave their pets behind because they have no time, transport, or access to pet-friendly places to stay. Others try to bring their animals with them, but under very difficult and unsafe conditions.

Animals are directly and severely impacted by the crisis. Behind the headlines and the human toll, many animals are suffering alongside the communities they live in. Companion animals, stray animals, and working animals are all innocent victims of this situation and urgently need care and protection.

In response, FOUR PAWS supports Animals Lebanon who is working towards helping as many affected animals as possible. When it is safe to do so, teams are carrying out urgent actions on the ground, including:

Rescue operations in affected areas
When it’s safe, Animals Lebanon will enter high-risk areas to rescue animals trapped in damaged buildings or left behind during evacuations, and where possible, help reunite them with their owners.
Direct support to animals and their families
Animals Lebanon will help displaced families care for their animals with essential supplies, and support people leaving Lebanon by preparing pets and completing the travel documents needed for safe cross‑border movement.
Veterinary care for injured animals
Through a network of local veterinary clinics, Animals Lebanon will provide emergency veterinary care to animals injured during the conflict, including both owned and homeless animals.
Temporary boarding for animals in shelters
Animals needing immediate protection, including those separated from displaced owners and severe rescue cases, will be sheltered by Animals Lebanon until they are reunited with their families or safe alternatives are arranged.
Emergency feeding of stray animal populations
Animals Lebanon will distribute food to stray animals in affected and evacuated areas where communities have fled, working with local responders and small organisations to reach wider areas and hard‑to‑access locations.

Help support animals in Lebanon

April 2026

FOUR PAWS supports Animals Lebanon

FOUR PAWS has signed a cooperation agreement with Animals Lebanon to support animals affected by the ongoing crisis. Through this collaboration, FOUR PAWS is supporting rescue operations, emergency veterinary care, and providing essential supplies for animals and displaced families. Support also includes temporary shelter, food distribution for stray animals, and efforts to keep people and their animals together wherever possible.

Animals Lebanon's active support

The organisation Animals Lebanon is actively responding to the ongoing conflict. Since the escalation, the organisation has been entering affected areas when security conditions allow to retrieve animals trapped in damaged buildings or left behind during evacuations, while also supporting families attempting to flee with their pets. Within the first month, they had rescued 245 animals from impacted locations, reflecting both the scale of need and the operational risks involved. A significant component of their response focuses on assisting displaced households, as well as feeding of stray animals in severely affected areas. Animals Lebanon has supported 460 families with animals, including through the distribution of over 250 crates and cages to enable safe evacuation and temporary care. They have also provided more than 1398 kg of dog and cat food to families who fled without resources, helping them sustain their animals during displacement.Veterinary care remains a core pillar of their work. The organisation facilitates treatment for injured animals through local veterinary networks and supports community-based rescuers responding in their areas. In parallel, they continue to respond to complex cases, including missing animals and wildlife requiring specialised care or relocation. Animals Lebanon is supporting individuals leaving the country with their pets, having already facilitated 50+ cases of travel assistance, including preparation and documentation required for relocation.

2024

FOUR PAWS' previous support in Lebanon

FOUR PAWS has supported animals in Lebanon through several rescue and relief missions in recent years. In 2019, the organisation carried out an emergency mission to rescue wild animals, including bears, lions, and hyenas, from two zoos in southern Lebanon where they were kept in poor conditions. After the Beirut explosion in 2020, FOUR PAWS provided emergency relief by supplying 10 tons of food to shelters and stray animals, helping around 2,000 dogs and cats. In 2021, together with Animals Lebanon and The Wild Animal Sanctuary, FOUR PAWS rescued two Syrian brown bears from a private zoo and relocated them to a sanctuary in the United States. For more information on our latest actions towards supporting the animals affected by the crisis, check out this page here.