"Still rescuing every soul we can"

  


Cats & Their People: Stories from Conflict Zones —
Animal Friends Shelter and the Skaik Brothers

🥀🐾

Here is how the Skaik brothers describe their situation and their X presence: "Destroyed shelter. Displaced family. Sharing real moments from Gaza with our rescued cats." 

Tamer and Samer Skaik and their families were caring for 50+ cats in a shelter they created when the bombs came to Gaza. They moved the cats when one building was bombed; they live in bombed out buildings and they go to the outside to feed the cats who always come looking for their meals--but they do not always have the means to do so without the help of kind people across the world, supporting them through the Internet and a GoFundMe site. 

Their story over the past two years has been one of family and cat population displacement. Through it all, they have maintained the steadfast relief to cats -- and even an occasional dog that comes by. In spite of limited and dwindling resources, they are "still rescuing every soul [they] can."

Here is their story:

Tamer and Samer who to evacuate their cat shelter in order to continue caring for the animals amidst the bombing and blockades. 

Tamer and Samer have refused to evacuate from Northern Gaza, because they have vowed to stay and take care of their animal shelter. They have upwards of 60 cats they feed and medicate, keep alive, and comfort. If they were to leave them, the animals would perish. Their duty by Allah is to care for those who cannot care for themselves, and they live by this.
Every day, amidst the bombing and blockades, Tamer and Samer venture out into dangerous areas to feed cats that don't even live with them. But they know the little creatures are starving and helpless.

When the bombing intensified and the IOF invaded in 2024, Tamer thought it best to send his wife and 4 kids to Rafah to try to escape. Supporters actually successfully bought them visas to leave through a Gofundme account, but as they were on the waiting list to cross, Israel invaded Rafah and the borders were closed. It's been a year since then, and they need to start all over with the visa process and purchase brand new ones, but there is hope. 

You can follow Animal Friends Shelter at @AnimalFriendsSh on X/Twitter.


Tamer's family
 If you wish to donate (even $5 helps and even $1 helps), you can do so safely through these links: 
‼️🐾 AFS FAMILIES: gofund.me/90e5d059 ‼️🐱 AFS FURS: gofund.me/95cc0af2 ‼️💙 PAYPAL: Link is placed in our bio.



Please share the story of Animal Friends Shelter and the Skaiks!

This post continues a weekly Caturday series, Cats and Their People: Stories from Conflict Zones. Each installment will follow one person and their animals — in Afghanistan, Gaza, Israel, Syria, Ukraine, or wherever survival has become a daily act of devotion. Every story is told with the owner’s request to share. The aim is simple: to bring humanity into places where life has been stripped to its barest essentials, and to show how people and animals hold on together. When appropriate, each post will include ways readers can support the individuals featured.


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