Meet The 88-Year-Old Man Taking Care of Lebanon's Abandoned and Poisoned Dogs During the Coronavirus Crisis

Animal hero Mahmoud Youssef lives in a shipping container with around 80 rescued dogs, helping to give them a crucial lifeline during the coronavirus pandemic.

During times of crisis, it’s important to highlight the rays of hope that shine through. As Lebanon is hit with a hunger pandemic amid the spread of coronavirus, one extraordinary man is helping the animals who have been forgotten. 

Mahmoud Youssef, an 88-year old who lives in a shipping container on the outskirts of the Lebanese city of Tripoli, has long looked after stray and abandoned dogs. He feeds them, nurses them, and has a team of volunteers who help get these abandoned dogs adopted.

But with the current pandemic, word has spread the mistaken belief that dogs can carry the coronavirus to humans, meaning many pets have been abandoned. Youssef has taken in more than 20 dogs in the last two months, bringing the total number of dogs he cares for to over 80 abandoned canines. 

Watch Youssef tell his heartwarming story to Middle-Eastern news station The National below:

Youssef shows the impact that one person can have, and serves as a reminder of how caring and compassionate humanity can be towards animals, even in times of unprecedented crisis.


Species Unite

A collection of stories of those who fight the good fight on behalf of animals.


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