Blog
How portable solar fences are restoring peace between people and elephants in rural Zambia
Read moreIFAW rushes aid to partners in Syria
IFAW rushes aid to partners in Syria
April 1, 2025
A hopeful future for Syria
April 1, 2025
In the months following the fall of the Assad regime, IFAW’s partners have a new sense of hope for their country and the future of animal welfare.
The House of Cats Ernesto team travelled to multiple cities throughout the country to offer veterinary care for pets, including vaccinations, sterilisations, and treatments for wounds and other ailments. This includes vaccinating 260 cats, 130 adult dogs, and 213 puppies in Latakia, in addition to treating 200 cats with ailments and injuries and neutering 51 animals. In Hama, the team treated 312 cats, vaccinated 268, and neutered and spayed 24. Similarly in Tartous, they treated 246 cats and dogs, vaccinated 275, and neutered 24 cats.
The House of Cats Ernesto team cares for a cat during an open clinic day. Photo: © House of Cats Ernesto
For years, families lived without access to quality care for their pets as services in many areas didn’t exist, or supplies were unavailable; travel restrictions limited animal care options, creating hopelessness when pets needed help. Families queued by the dozens with their pets, grateful for the opportunity to ask questions about their pet’s health and receive much overdue exams and treatments.
Veterinary students worked side by side with the House of Cats Ernesto team at these clinics to learn from their experience so they can build their skills to provide quality pet care.
In Aleppo, with IFAW’s support the Refq Animal Shelter team was able to make critical repairs to their shelter after it had been damaged during the offensive in late 2024. The donkeys and horses received a new paddock and barn, the ducks a place to swim, and the cats have a secure space with heat and protection from the elements. The shelter returned to a comfortable place for Refq volunteers to spend time with the animals.
The House of Cats Ernesto team cares for a dog with three legs during an open clinic day. Photo: © House of Cats Ernesto
Despite these advancements, Syria’s animal welfare organisations continued to face immense challenges. Years of conflict and ongoing sanctions had severely limited access to essential medicines, supplies, and funding. Animal shelters, already struggling to provide adequate care, had to navigate security risks, damage to facilities, and loss of animals due to displacement and neglect. In many cases, teams were forced to rebuild from the ground up, threatening not only the survival of animals but also the sustainability of their operations.
While the road ahead remains uncertain, the resilience of those working on the ground and a renewed sense of optimism are driving change. As Syria rebuilds, IFAW’s partners and community members remain hopeful that infrastructure for animal welfare will strengthen, ensuring all animals receive the care and protection they deserve. Their determination, coupled with growing awareness and support, signals a promising future for Syria’s animals and the people who care for them.
IFAW supports partner organisation to help repair shelter and care for animals in Syria
December 19, 2024
In response to the ongoing crisis in Syria, IFAW has awarded an emergency grant to Stichting CatConnect, a Netherlands-based organisation supporting animal welfare in Syria. This grant will help repair and replenish the Refq shelter in Aleppo, which has suffered severe damage due to recent attacks as rebel fighters overthrew the existing regime.
Volunteers were unable to access the Refq shelter for days due to sudden escalations in the conflict. Upon their return, the shelter was found vandalised, with animals in dire conditions and requiring urgent care.
Emergency funds will support repairs to the shelter, as well as critical resources such as animal food, veterinary supplies, and daily care. The team at CatConnect is also working within the community to help keep animals with their families during this tumultuous period by providing animal food to households in need.
CatConnect is a familiar partner to IFAW in Syria. Our collaboration dates back to 2016, when we worked together to close a dog shelter heavily impacted by escalating violence. This renewed support focuses on restoring the Refq shelter as a local resource for the Aleppo community, ensuring animals can once again be safely housed and given the care they need.
IFAW supports animal rescue in Syria amidst conflict
December 12, 2024
House of Cats Ernesto in Idlib, Syria, continues to provide critical care for animals in need in the midst of conflict, supported by an emergency grant from IFAW. The sanctuary houses over 2,500 animals, primarily cats, and operates a veterinary clinic in the city to extend much-needed care.
The House of Cats Ernesto team rescues a dog injured in the ongoing conflict in Syria. Photo: © House of Cats Ernesto
Supporting its neighbors in the nearby city of Aleppo (located 70 kilometres away) this week, the House of Cats Ernesto team launched a free mobile veterinary clinic to provide treatment for animals suffering from long-term injuries, diseases, and malnutrition—conditions that had gone untreated due to the lack of accessible veterinary services. During these missions, they also distribute essential dry food for cats and other animals, offering relief in an area where food scarcity remains a critical issue.
Aleppo’s community, renowned for its love of cats, welcomed House of Cats Ernesto’s team with gratitude. The mobile clinic treated a variety of cases, including cats with diarrhea, disabilities, and chronic illnesses. The team even extended their care to larger animals, such as a donkey requiring urgent x-rays and medical attention.
The House of Cats Ernesto team with a rescued dog injured in the ongoing conflict in Syria. Photo: © House of Cats Ernesto
Ernesto’s team is planning broader outreach efforts, aiming to bring aid to other Syrian provinces. Requests for assistance continue to grow, underscoring the immense need for resources that IFAW is proud to support.
IFAW’s emergency grant, in collaboration with Gunther’s Family, supports the purchase of essential veterinary supplies, animal food, and other daily care needs. It also covers expenses for Ernesto’s dedicated responders, ensuring their capacity to operate under challenging conditions.
IFAW is rushing aid
December 3, 2024
In the midst of conflict in Aleppo, Syria, IFAW is rushing aid to our partner House of Cats Ernesto. While their own shelter is overwhelmed and their veterinary clinic has been damaged due to a recent nearby bombing, the House of Cats Ernesto team is helping other animal shelters that sadly had to be abandoned, providing medical treatment, food and water.
House of Cats Ernesto veterinarian Ahmad Al-Yousef examines a puppy rescued from the rubble in the aftermath of the February 2023 earthquakes in northern Syria. Photo: © House of Cats Ernesto
One of these shelters is currently caring for more than 530 animals, many of which are in desperate need of food and emergency veterinary care.
House of Cats Ernesto serves as a beacon of hope for these animals in the face of violence and destruction. Since 2020, IFAW has supported the sanctuary, helping them to secure crucial supplies like animal food, antibiotics, vaccines, parasite treatments, and medical equipment.
House of Cats Ernesto has been in operation for nine years—it all began with one man feeding cats in the midst of civil war. Today, they have the capacity to care for more than 2,500 animals.
Help us bring hope to these brave rescuers and animals in dire need.
Related content
Our work can’t get done without you. Please give what you can to help animals thrive.