WOMAN FLIES 50 STRAY DOGS TO UK FROM CYPRUS DURING PANDEMIC
Source: Metro (Extract)
Posted: April 12, 2020
A ‘brave and selfless’ woman has helped save 50 near-starving stray dogs amid the coronavirus crisis.
The charity Dogs 4 Rescue posted on its Facebook page that one of its helpers, Andrea Siddons, arranged for a Boeing 747 cargo flight to take the animals from Cyprus to be sheltered back in the UK.
Andrea works with Cyprus Dog Rescue to help tackle a problem in the country, which has about 200,000 stray dogs and close to two million stray or feral cats.
The post read: ‘When the virus stops passenger flights and no dogs can leave Cyprus the number of skeletal dogs on the streets and in the pounds increases and they are also the lives lost due to corona but Andrea Siddons went to extraordinary lengths at huge personal cost both financially and emotionally as she arranged for a 747 to fly 50 dogs to freedom.’
Some of the dogs she saved who were starving a few weeks ago have landed here in the UK safe and ready for homes.
‘We are in constant awe at her ability, will and determination. These are the luckiest dogs – almost as lucky as those waiting in the pounds that will now be rescued as there is room for them.’
Dogs 4 Rescue said it was proud of Andrea and thanked others involved in arranging the cargo flight, including ‘Amanda of 101 Pet Express’ who drove through the night to help deliver the dogs to safety.
The post added: ‘The behind the scenes level of organisation and stress to make it happen is hard to comprehend. So brave and so selfless.’
In a later post, the trust wrote: ‘She transforms them with love, care and wills them to make it. It’s incredible that dogs so close to death can look like all the others again in such a short time and that’s all down to her determined dedication to make a difference. Sadly dogs like this is the norm for Andrea – not the exception.
The dogs were flown to the UK on board a British Airways 747 cargo flight and cared for by trained animal handlers who provided specialist care and attention while in the air.
British Airways Captain, Paul Walker-Northwood, a member of the flight crew operating the flight told Mailonline: ‘We were pleased to support this mission to bring these new four-legged family members to the UK to give them the chance of better, more comfortable lives here with their new owners.
Airbridge International Agencies’ Mark Andrew, said: ‘We’d like to offer a special thank you to all of those involved in arranging this special flight and are proud to play our part in delivering these pets to their new home.’
