Gaza conflict: Pets stressed out by sirens, missile attacks
A dog walks near tanks in a deployment area on the Israeli side of the border with the Gaza Strip on Jan. 19, 2009. AFP PHOTO/MENAHEM KAHANA
The constant sirens and threat of missile attacks are taking a toll on Israel and Gaza's four-legged friends.
Lucky, a large Golden Retriever, used to look at his owners in confusion when sporadic sirens would send them running to their safe room. Now, his owner told The Jerusalem Post, he jets to the bomb shelter without hesitation.
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"He follows us to the shelter, he knows," Kineret Rozen-Edelman a teacher and Gea resident, said.
"Ever since the missiles began, (Lucky's) been very, very clingy. He's been following us wherever we go, sitting with us."
Close to the northern Gaza border, Nofar Gal's dog Pitzy is perpetually crying and needs medicine to calm her nerves from the stress of the conflict, The Post reported.
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"The situation in the South has been very difficult not only for us humans, but also for our pets," Gal said.
The article drew criticism from some on Twitter for focusing on animals when hundreds of humans are dying in the conflict, Al-Jazeera reported.
"100s of humans have died and @Jerusalem_Post has the nerve to publish a story on "Israeli pet dogs stressed from sirens," tweeted Bint Battuta.
"Are you writing for The Onion?" Israeli blogger Uri Horesh asked.
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