Save the Jordanian Cave Puppies

One week ago, we found six stray puppies in a cave in Little Petra, Jordan. At first, they were terrified, trying to hide on top of each other in the corner of the cave, defenseless and starving. When we fed them, they were trembling as they tried to eat. We picked each one up in our arms and held them until they felt safe. After several hours of some much needed love, they opened up and slowing started playing with us like little puppies do.


We wanted to see if the mother would return, but after three days with the pups, there was no sign that she did. We could not leave them, and there's nothing like an ASPCA to help them out. Animal care is essentially nonexistent in this region of the world. Dogs are widely considered a dirty nuisance. The best future for these puppies is either being taken as a sheep dog or stay a stray. Both are sad and painful prospects. There are also far worse fates, such as being used as bait in dog fights. I shudder to think what could happen to these sweet, little, defenseless pups.


The best option for these pups is to get them to the United States or to Israel where we can find them good homes, which will require passports and travel expenses. Before that, these pups need proper veterinary care, and it will require health tests, vaccines, potentially spaying and neutering, certified paperwork, and money. To help with these expenses, a crowdfunding campaign is critically necessary. Please consider chipping in to help save these puppies. There are so many problems in this world, and animal cruelty is a massive issue, but -- here, together -- we have an opportunity to make real difference in the lives of these six puppies, and to spread awareness.

Before launching this campaign, we wanted to make sure we had a concrete plan. After the mom didn't return, our immediate next steps were to, 1) find someone to look after the pups while we returned to Israel, where we needed to regroup with reliable internet access and phone service (which we didn't have in Jordan), and 2) find a certified veterinarian. Luckily, our guide, Jamal, who has a heart of gold, agreed to care for the pups in our absence, and we are paying him to do so.


The cave where we found the pups is a popular spot where locals build a fire and picnic, right off the main road. We needed to move the puppies to a new location to keep them safe. Jamal's cousin offered us a piece of land surrounded by a cement wall in what looks like an abandon construction site. It's basically a giant sand box (dirt box, more accurately) with a cement hut that offered the pups a cooler hideout from the sun. Not an ideal situation but a relatively acceptable temporary solution. Jamal looked after the puppies, giving them food and water twice a day and sending us daily photo updates. With reliable food and water, the puppies seem to be growing before our eyes!

Finding a proper vet was the bigger challenge. We could not find a certified vet in the entire region, from Petra to Aqaba (2-3 hour drive distance). There is a "veterinary service" in the Petra historic site for the horses, but they're not certified. Back in Tel Aviv, I was able to work through various channels via embassies, UN agencies, international animal welfare organizations and, most helpfully, local Israeli vets, to find a reputable veterinarian just outside of Amman, about a 3 hour drive from Little Petra, to take the puppies in while they get their medical exams, treatment and certifications. Headed up by Margaret Ledger, the Humane Center for Animal Welfare of Amman, located near the King of Bahrain Kingdom Forest, also has experience getting animals to new homes in the United States.

Yesterday, Jamal drove the pups to the Humane Center for Animal Welfare where they are keeping them safe and where they will be seen by a certified vet! I will return to Jordan this week to check on the puppies, the facilities and the process. The most important thing was to get these pups to a good, clean facility and begin the lengthy process of tests and vaccinations. We may have overcome this major hurdle, but this story is not over.

Receiving medical tests, vaccinations and certifications will be expensive. It will be even more expensive to get these puppies to good homes in the United States or in Israel. We've already contributed more than $1000 of our own money to the care and wellbeing of these pups. We would be so grateful if you could help by donating. We may not be able to save all the animals in Jordan, but, with your support, we will save these six pups.

Thank you for listening,
Meredith & Friends of the Jordanian Cave Puppies

















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