When you run a foster home, you get used to the unexpected. But Summer 2024 brought a unique situation to my door, one that beautifully highlighted exactly why I started this journey in the first place.
It started simply enough. My colleague, Jeff, was planning a family trip to France for a month. He needed a reliable, temporary foster home for his beloved cat, Leo, while they were away. Given my setup, I was more than happy to welcome Leo into the house! It was supposed to be a straightforward cat-sitting favor between colleagues.
But living in Lebanon means that reality can shift in the blink of an eye.
When the skies closed
While Jeff and his family were in France, the political situation here drastically escalated. The tensions between Hezbollah and Israel erupted into a new war. Almost overnight, the country was plunged back into uncertainty, and as the situation worsened, airlines began heavily suspending their flights to Beirut.
Suddenly, Jeff and his family were stuck abroad, unable to return home at the end of their trip. The stress of being away from home during a crisis is unimaginable, but amidst all that fear and logistical nightmare, there was one thing Jeff didn’t have to worry about: his cat.
A safe haven in the chaos
Of course, Leo’s temporary stay was immediately extended. He stayed safely tucked away with me, completely oblivious to the closed airspace and the news headlines. We kept him comfortable, loved, and distracted until the skies finally opened up enough for his family to return to Lebanon in early September.
Reuniting Leo with Jeff was an incredibly emotional moment. It was a bright spot in an otherwise dark and stressful time.
The heartbreaking reality is that every time war breaks out, a massive number of pets are left behind in the chaos. Whether families are forced to flee abruptly or get stranded abroad unable to return to their animals, it is the pets who often pay a silent, heavy price during conflicts. Looking at Leo, purring safely on his favorite blanket while the world outside felt completely upside down, deeply reinforced my mission. I am so profoundly happy and grateful that I had the space and ability to keep him safe and loved during those terrifying weeks.
If there is one thing I want you to take away from Leo’s story, it is this: fostering saves lives. Keep that in mind, always. Whether you are taking in a sick kitten off the street or keeping a beloved pet safe during a national crisis, opening your home makes all the difference in the world.
