PAWS Rescue Qatar is one of the few animal shelters in the small Middle Eastern country of Qatar. We have been operational for coming on 3 years, and have rehomed upwards of 400 dogs, and 200 cats in that time. We are not yet registered as a charity, because the government will not support animal causes, but we are in the process of registering as a charity in the UK, and will have a branch operating in Qatar. 

We recently found out that KLM Royal Dutch Airlines will discontinue direct flights to Doha, which will prevent us from being able to fly some of our biggest or heaviest dogs out of Qatar. Normally, these 'giant' dogs would fly with KLM as accompanied baggage, which is much more affordable than cargo costs, and KLM is the only airline flying out of Qatar which allows giant size crates, and a weight limit of up to 75 Kgs. If we don't get our giants out before March 24th 2017 on KLM, chances are these big dogs will be trapped in Doha. As an unfunded rescue, we will not be able to afford the costs of cargo shipments.

The treatment of dogs in the Middle East is abysmal, and our goal is to get as many animals out of here as possible, especially those that are not suited to the extreme climate (with temperatures exceeding 56 C during the summer), and those that face very poor chances of adoption. There are no welfare laws protecting animals in Qatar, and as a result the levels of abuse and neglect are through the roof. Add to that the disregard for the value in another living creature, and pets are dumped left right and centre, contributing to the vast number of street dogs and street cats, which soars into the thousands. Those animals that we are unable to take off of the streets are at a risk of being shot by private citizens as a game, or by the police because they are regarded as pests. In order to see our goals met, we have created (and continue to build) many relationships with international rescue partners, who assis us globally, in homing our animals. Our partners are located in the UK, Toronto, Montreal, Tampa Bay, Atlanta, Chicago, New Jersey, Boston, and Spokane, to name a few.

We are now on a short deadline and unable to raise the required funds on our own before KLM stops flying here. It will cost $20 000 USD for us to be able to purchase airfare and crates for the 21 oversize dogs we are trying to get out before March 24th.

Each flight costs $400 USD, and each crate costs roughly $462 USD.

We are cautiously optimistic about our fundraising abilities via social media and online networking, but will of course continue to undraise on the ground in Qatar, and seek better crate options to make this endeavour more attainable.

Every little bit will help and go straight to helping Mac, Gibbs, Angus, Rocky, Woody, Petra, Jolly, Bruce, Cara, Cookie, Levi, Shermy, Jackson, Ashanti, Chewy, Luisa, Romeo, Juliet, Toby. Jemimah and Wren get their golden tickets out of Qatar, and on to the next adventure which awaits them!

For more information about PAWS Rescue Qatar, and to see pictures of our dogs, cats and more, please find us on Facebook: PAWS Rescue Qatar.

Thank you, *Woof* (& *Meow*)