BAGHDAD CAT SHELTER: Meeting the local man caring for over 170 disabled animals

By Sara Al-Qaher in Baghdad
At Meethaq al-Obaidi’s apartment in Baghdad, animal lovers will see some horrible sights: Cats missing eyes or limbs, others without tails, some needing nappies.
But amid the heartbreaking scenes of disabled animals, there is some relief. The creatures find comfort around Al-Obaidi, the young Baghdad man in his thirties, who has become their savior and protector. They approach him affectionately or playfully, demanding treats and attention.
Since 2016, Al-Obaidi has taken in over 170 injured cats and also several dogs.
“It hurts me deeply to witness anyone harming a cat, hitting or mistreating it,” al-Obaidi says. “That’s why I rush to rescue these injured animals. I would bring them home to provide them with medical treatment and food.”
As the number of rescued animals grew, al-Obaidi needed more space. “So I rented a 150-square-meter apartment and set it up with suitable spaces for the cats and dogs,” he explains.
Caring for such a large number of injured animals is challenging especially when they need veterinary care. Sometimes the vets have to amputate animals’ limbs, if these cannot be saved.
“A lot of the animals have been injured after being hit with hard objects on their heads, which can cause internal bleeding,” al-Obaidi explained.
Because of the number of animals, they need almost constant care. “I change their litter and feed them three meals a day,” the young man recounts. “And there are cats with severe disabilities that I outfit with special diapers, changing them up to four times a day.”
The animals also undergo regular medical checkups and receive vaccinations.
Al-Obaidi doesn’t get any government funding even though stray animals are considered a societal problem in Iraq. But al-Obaidi gets a lot of support from his followers, fellow animal lovers, on social media and they contribute to help him cover his costs.
In the long run, he would like to see if he could get some support from local authorities with a view to setting up a larger animal home on a piece of land somewhere in the city so he could gather more of the abused animals there and take care of them.
He would also like the local authorities to enforce animal rights laws and put an end to the extermination of stray animals. He’s hopeful that his own initiative might inspire others in Iraq to do similar.
For al-Obaidi, he is rewarded by the affection the animals show him. “I find great joy in caring for them,” he says simply.
He says he also feels immense joy when he hears people praying for him and his mother. “These prayers are enough for me, and they protect me from all hardships, filling me with great happiness,” he added. “Compassion is a fundamental part of who we are as human beings and I’m just grateful to be able to translate that compassion into meaningful action.”