One thing we know about Lebanon is that it is full of heroes without medals. Not all heroes wear capes… most are not even recognized or acknowledged.
They are those who are doing the best they can where little or none is done, sacrificing in the shadow of the unknown, at their own risk, seeking no glory, and making an important difference.
We are determined to give every hero his or her credit. After we’ve met the 88-year-old man from Tripoli who is sheltering dogs abandoned during the pandemic, we got introduced to Anthony Abihanna.
This down-to-earth man, a graduate from Collège des Frères Maristes Champville and Université de Bordeaux (France), has been dedicating himself to saving mistreated dogs, and sheltering and taking care of them.
His personal mission goes beyond an act of humanity, and his story is one of unlimited dedication, and you’ll see why.
Anthony has put all his material possessions into creating a shelter for stray dogs. He meets his dogs’ needs all on his own; it is never easy, but it is done with love.
If you would like to get a glimpse at how far Anthony is willing to go to take care of vulnerable dogs, watch this video:
Anthony takes to Facebook almost every day to update people about his dogs, their health, their medical journeys, and what those who would like to help can do.
Most of his rescues are dogs that are left in very poor shape. But lucky for them, Anthony nurtures them back to shape.
We get to watch these dogs go from sad and scared to happy and playful in no time under Anthony’s care.
The961 got in touch with this brave man, who let us in on his daily struggles to feed and take care of over 100 injured dogs:
“I cook a big amount of meat daily for my dogs. They are a lot of mouths to feed. It is costly and time-consuming, but I do it every day,” he told us.
“The thing I struggle to provide for most, however, is medications; especially worm medicine.”
Anthony used to receive help from a friendly vet and a pharmacist, but the current situation dried up sources of food, medicine, and cash.
Along with his struggle to keep his dogs and taking in new ones, Anthony struggled to keep his land. He used to have his shelter near his home.
This land was loaned to him by the Wakef of a local church, but his neighbors had a problem with the barking, so he moved his shelter a one hour ride away.
“I’ll do anything for my dogs,” Anthony told The961, “my dogs are the most important thing to me in life. It was crazy that the church asked me to move, after all, I’m doing a humanitarian action and all religions call on us to take care of the weak.”
“But I had to move, and I did. The main thing is that my dogs are safe. If I stayed where I was and someone hurt one of my dogs, I don’t know what I would’ve done.”
Anthony’s good deeds go beyond rescuing dogs. He also makes sure that dogs needing a warm home get adopted, and even helps lost dogs find their way back home.
He asks for nothing in return. He just wants his dogs to have the best of what they deserve.
If Anthony’s story has touched something in you and you believe you can lend him some support, he can be contacted on 70 984 797.
His most recent rescued puppies, he just posted them on his FB for people to adopt them:
It is by caring for the most vulnerable beings that we can know the full extent of our humanity.
The961