Homeless Lebanese Pets to Get New Homes in U.S.

About 300 dogs and cats left homeless by the recent Israel-Hezbollah war will be getting new homes in the United States. The war, which devastated parts of Lebanon earlier this year, sent thousands of people fleeing their homes and leaving their pets behind. After weeks of negotiation, America-based Best Friends and Beirut for the Ethical Treatment of Animals have hammered out an agreement to bring the animals to the U.S.

The dogs and cats will be put on a special cargo plane and then flown to the U.S., with a stop in England along the way. Their ultimate destionation is the at the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah. Officials there say they've already received hundreds of requests for the animals.

The operation will have a final pricetag of $250,000, which is being paid for through private donations.

Best Friends is the organization that found new homes for more than 6,000 pets just last year in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.