Going back home
Photo: Tzvika Tishler
'Airport pups must return to Uzbekistan'
25 pups smuggled into country in April denied entry by airport vet; court says pups were allowed to remain in country to gather strength for flight back
The Rishon Lezion Magistrates Court ruled Tuesday the pedigree pups that were smuggled into the country on a flight from Uzbekistan are to be sent back to their native country this coming Thursday.
In the nick of time
By Eli Senior and Dan Bentsur
Airport authorities working to send unvaccinated smuggled canines back to their native Uzbekistan, but animal rights groups fighting the decision claim the pups would not survive the flight back
The court explained the plea submitted by Let Animals Live to delay the return of the dogs to Uzbekistan had initially been accepted by the court so the pups would have ample time to gather strength for the flight home.
The 25 puppies were smuggled into the country in the beginning of April, but their entry was denied by the Ben-Gurion Airport veterinarian under the claim that international laws prohibits the entry of unvaccinated animals.
Subsequently, the pups were quarantined at the airport’s cargo terminal, where they were placed in a sealed container. Five of the pups died due to the harsh conditions, and three more became severely ill.
Nehama Ronen, the CEO of the company in charge of airport cargo services, released the dogs following a public outcry. The dogs were placed under the care of a veterinarian, but Vet Services officials obtained a court injunction, and the dogs were quarantined at an Agricultural Ministry complex.
Ben-Gurion Airport authorities had already boarded the pups on a plane en route to Uzbekistan when the control tower received word of a restraining order issued by a Rehovot judge following the plea by Let Animals Live.
The plea, which claimed the pups would not survive the flight back, kept them in the country for an additional month.
