Today, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) sent an urgent plea to Siyabonga Ponco, chargé d’affaires of the South African Embassy in Cairo, urging him to permit South African nationals who are currently being evacuated from war-torn Lebanon to take their companion animals with them rather than forcing them to abandon their animals in the rubble to starve. PETA’s plea stems from an e-mail which Ponco sent to the organisation in which he suggested that evacuees with animals should “not demand more than they could be given”.
This statement suggests that Ponco considers helping South African citizens to take their beloved cats, dogs and birds with them unlikely, even though French forces have made provisions for animal evacuations.
“It’s unconscionable that the South African government would condemn citizens’ beloved animal companions to a horrible death when they can easily be included in evacuation plans”, says PETA President Ingrid E. Newkirk. “We’re asking South Africa to take immediate steps to recognise that animals are part of some people’s families and that this betrayal will never be forgotten.”
PETA has made a similar plea to the military commander in charge of evacuating US citizens from Lebanon.
