The FIRST animal shelter in Iran

The Middle East does not really have a concept of pets or of treating animals with respect and compassion.

Some Middle Eastern taxi and limo drivers here in NYC refuse to take passengers with dogs because it is "against their religion". ... apparently, the Koran says something like that anyone who shows kindness to a dog will not go to heaven or that God won't come to a home which shelters a dog. And it was a source of great amusement to the Middle East when there was a newspaper photo of President Clinton giving his Labrador a kiss....

Anyway,

Fatemeh Motamedi in Iran has figured out that God made dogs too and they deserve kindness, love and respect. She opened the FIRST animal shelter in Iran with her own money. She provides shelter, food and veterinary care. Most Iranians dont understand what she is doing -- who would care about a dog ? So she gets little support from her community. I think Fatemeh's place in heaven is guaranteed.

check out Fatemeh's blog -- http://vafaanimalshelter.blogspot.com/

send a donation if you can. Adopt a dog if you can (yeah, I know -- it's far away -- but read Max's story at the bottom of the blog) . These dogs have had a rough life with little compassion shown to them at all. And there is just one woman in Iran trying to help them. So help Fatemeh continue to run her shelter... in any way you can.