Jim Kevlin/AllOTSEGO.life  – Betty Steele, top, gives Snowy something he hasn’t had in a while: a kiss. Center, Bethoven gives an affectionate lick to foster dad Ian Laschell, with foster mom Wendy. Bottom, Stacie Haynes, who got back from Beirut at 9:30 Tuesday, March 4, worked until past midnight getting the 13 rescued dogs settled at the SSPCA Shelter

To BEIRUT and BACK

On Mission Of Mercy, SSPCA Duo Rescues 13 Dogs

By LIBBY CUDMORE

HARTWICK SEMINARY – It was a long day for everyone.
After 30 hours of travel, first by plane, then by van from JFK to Cooperstown, the 13 dogs Stacie Haynes and Sarah Haddad rescued from an uncertain fate in Beirut, Lebanon, were more stressed than usual.
“In Beirut, people throw rocks at these dogs, they hit them, they scream ‘go away,’” said Haynes, Susquehanna SPCA executive director. “They’re not used to humans being loving, and on top of that, they’ve been in a crate for all this time.”
But waiting for them in Cooperstown were the SPCA volunteers and foster families anxious to meet their new companions.
“When we got them into the shelter, you just watched them unwind,” she said. “They came out of their crates, they started to relax, then get excited, and by the time we left at midnight, their tails were wagging and we were getting doggie kisses.”
Haynes and Haddad, the SSPCA’s licensed veterinary technician, were invited to work with Animals Lebanon as part of a partnership with Dr. David Chico, a state Ag & Markets vet. The trip was paid for by Animals Lebanon, which works with organizations around the world to get stray dogs adopted into loving families.
In Lebanon, cats – even strays – are considered beloved pets, while dogs are considered pests, Haynes reported. “We were having coffee one morning and there were all these stray cats around. They’d get up on the tables and people feed them, they’re very friendly.”
Stray dogs, she said, have no chance of being adopted, and as such, are subject to abuse and abandonment. They can be hit by cars, shot or poisoned. Animals Lebanon fosters the dogs that they take in, but have no facility to house them long-term.
“It was so eye-opening for us,” Haynes said. “The only other shelter for dogs, Beta, is just a big compound with 900 loose dogs running around. It’s not ideal, but they’re doing the best they can with what they have.”
She shared with them their plans for the new shelter, including their surgical suite and the importance of proper drainage, heated floors and easy-to-clean surfaces.
“We had to be careful about how we said it,” she said. “We don’t want to be preachy because they’re doing a great job with the animals in their care, but it was really eye-opening to see how fortunate we are with what we have.”
And as part of the humanitarian mission, Haynes agreed to bring back 13 dogs to be adopted and fostered in Otsego County.
All but a few had families waiting to take them home. “We brought back Stella and Bella, who had been living on the streets,” she said. “They had a brother, Pepper, but when they went to get him, he couldn’t be found. They think he’s been killed.”
Siblings Blue and Bennetton are also looking for a home, as is Bucky, the very shy Sadie and the fluffy Snowy, who was rescued from a snowbank.
“When you meet them, you just fall in love instantly,” Haynes said.
Though the dogs are all vaccinated and neutered, Haynes does recommend to adoptees to quarantine the dogs for 10 days as a means of helping them adjust to their new life.
And Animals Lebanon has expressed interest in coming to visit the Susquehanna Animal Shelter to see their operations for themselves.
“We believe what we did was the right thing in helping these animals,” said Haynes. “And it was such a privilege to spend time with Animals Lebanon.”