Israel to rescue cats, dogs from Gaza settlements

[underpants]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050818/od_nm/gaza_pets_dc

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli animal rescuers will enter Gaza's Jewish settlements after they have been emptied of people to round up stray dogs and cats, an animal welfare group said on Thursday.

Avi Kuzi, who heads the Society to Protect Animals, said the pet catchers will move in once the 21 Gaza settlements are declared empty.

Israel is known for its many stray cats but some of the animals could be pets that got lost when owners left suddenly or were dragged away.

"Horses, dogs and cats and even chickens were wandering the streets," he told Israel's NRG website, affiliated with its Maariv newspaper. "There is no one to feed or care for them."

Animals found in the settlements will be put in shelters in Israel until new homes are found for them. Israel has put out public service announcements calling on people to adopt them.

"We were promised that if they do decide to put even one animal to sleep, they would let us know 24 hours in advance. I will then go and rescue it," Kuzi said.