A dog saved Houssein Hamze from a bomb. When war returned, he stayed to care for Lebanon’s animals

Houssein Hamze stayed to take care of animals during the 2026 Israel-Hezbollah war, despite the constant risk of death from Israeli drone and airstrikes. In normal times the Mashala shelter founder takes in strays, but in wartime, he is the only lifeline for animals in the area By William Christou in Zefta; photographs by Oliver Marsden D uring Israel’s 2006 war against Hezbollah, Houssein Hamze woke up one night to the sound of barking. Alarmed, he got up to check on the dog – his first rescue pet. Moments later, a bomb dropped next to his home and a piece of shrapnel landed right where he had been sleeping. “I swear to God, he really saved me from death. Animals always possess a sixth sense we don’t have,” Hamze said. Twenty years and two wars later, the 57-year-old is still repaying his debt to the dog that saved his life. Soon after his near-death experience, Hamze founded the Mashala shelter in the village of Zefta, south Lebanon, to take care of animals in the area. In normal times he takes in strays, and in wartime he is the only lifeline for animals in the area. View image in fullscreen Workers with the rescued dogs at the Mashala shelter near the village of Zefta, on the outskirts of Nabatieh in south Lebanon. On a recent morning, Hamze strolled through his small farm where the shelter is located, checking on fig trees as a line of dogs followed behind him, ears perking up with his every move. He opened an enclosure where two camels – rescued from the Bekaa valley last year – stood among chickens and geese. “This is Jamoola and her son, Jamool. She is so sweet. When I don’t visit for more than two days, she starts to cry. And when I come back, she wraps her neck around me as if she’s hugging me,” Hamze said, as the camel placed her head in his lap, nuzzling him as he scratched behind her ears. Jamool, a calf who was still nursing, hid his face behind his mother. View image in fullscreen Houssein Hamze, 57, hugs Jamoola, one of two camels rescued from the Bekaa valley last year. The donation-supported farm hosts an eclectic collection of rescues. About 200 dogs – some of them missing ears or tails – gnawed on donated chicken feet, while horses whinnied at guests by the entrance. Chickens ran between the camels’ legs while geese patrolled the perimeter of their enclosure. A small conspiracy of ravens flew rings around the forested valley of the farm, never straying too far from the shade in the intense summer heat. Hamze was one of about 20 people who stayed behind in his village during the last Hezbollah-Israel war that started on 2 March 2026 and forced approximately a quarter of Lebanon’s population to flee their homes. He stayed to take care of the animals, despite the constant risk of death from Israeli drone and airstrikes. View image in fullscreen Hamze has stayed to take care of the animals despite war returning Lebanon this year. “Many people fled and left their animals behind during their displacement – some of them left their an