Dogs Long Journey From Kuwait To DC

WASHINGTON - Nearly two dozen dogs that survived an electrical fire at Kuwait's only animal shelter are now being cared for at the Washington Animal Rescue League in Northwest D.C.

31 cats and nine dogs were killed in that March 24 fire. 40 dogs that made it out alive have been placed with foster families in Kuwait.

"These twenty there were no homes for and Kuwaiti summer - we can only imagine how hot that must be even now," Washington Animal Rescue League's Gary Weitzman explained. "Temperatures are not really sustainable for dogs to be kept outdoors and that's what these guys were facing."

The mixed breed puppies and adult dogs including eight that are considered strays or "desert dogs" will be getting checkups and a safe place to stay for awhile.

Weitzman says despite the canines coming from as far away as any dogs they have ever cared for, they are some of the sweetest dogs he has ever seen.

Yet with all the countries between here and Kuwait, why are these pooches being sent here?

"I don't know what the politics were about why they chose Washington, D.C.," Weitzman said. "Rather than maybe somewhere - maybe Egypt or somewhere else, but you know we have a culture here of really committing ourselves to take care of animals and that doesn't exist everywhere and we're just happy that we can help out whenever we can."

Weitzman says two of the first six dogs to arrive at the rescue league are already up for adoption. Their journey to the U.S. was delayed by the Iceland volcano eruption.