Israeli Scene
Animals From Gaza Get a Second Chance in Israel
The battlefield is a perilous place for animals, and the war in Gaza has been no exception. After Karen Menczer, founder and director of Animal-Kind International (AKI), started seeing footage of malnourished donkeys and horses being used by Gazans to transport heavy loads during the conflict, the animal rights activist in New Mexico was determined to help.
AKI’s Animal Welfare Organization Grant Program typically funds initiatives in Africa. But under Menczer’s direction, the organization approved a $3,000 grant last August for Starting Over Sanctuary (SOS) on Moshav Herut in central Israel—“just a little further north” than Africa, Menczer said.
The sanctuary, founded by longtime animal caretaker Sharon Cohen, rehabilitates abused, neglected or abandoned animals and runs onsite educational programs for children. SOS spends about $185,000 per month to care for some 1,600 creatures, including 1,000 donkeys and 100 horses, the majority rescued from Arab or Bedouin villages.
“They have extraordinarily courageous rescue stories,” said Menczer, a Hadassah life member. “Many are heartwarming, most are sad, many have happy endings.”
Beyond AKI’s initial grant, Menczer recently arranged for the transfer of an additional $6,000 toward emergency veterinary care of Deborah and Damka, donkeys rescued from Gaza by Israeli soldiers.
Deborah, a pregnant mare, arrived at SOS with scars and injuries from years of carrying carts. Damka had multiple leg fractures and needed complex orthopedic surgery.
Cohen noted that there is a lack of education in some Arab communities about the proper treatment of animals. Donkeys in particular, she said, “are regarded as disposable and are being overworked with extreme loads. They put metal chains on their faces with no protection, and they tie their legs till it cuts into the flesh.”
According to Cohen, Israeli soldiers entering Gaza at the outset of the war in 2023 “ran into a lot of abused animals. They would put dogs and cats and donkeys in their tanks and bring them to safety in Israel.”
Menczer said she is often asked why she assists animals rather than humans. “There is no Bill Gates in the animal welfare sector,” she said, noting that there are many organizations helping people. “Animals suffer terribly in conflict zones and get very little attention.”
Jordana Benami
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Free Palestine says
None of these animals would need to be rescued if Israel weren’t starving and dropping bombs on them. Israel’s bombs are responsible for the murder of countless animals in Gaza, not to mention children, women, and men imprisoned there by Israel for decades.
IABosse says
Israel would not be dropping bombs if it’s citizens weren’t slaughtered in their pajamas.
Mimi says
The animals were already being abused and neglected by the ignorant/uncaring Gazans, who have no regard for any kind of life – human or animal!!
Leah says
Exactly! Not to undermine a great deed for helpless animals, keep up the good work; however to publish this piece with complete omission of the “elephant in the room,” of Israeli’s chronic bombardment of Gaza, civilians, children and animals for 15 months is irresponsible and misleading journalism.
LOF says
The elephant in the room is that Israeli’s put up for years being bombed by the Palestinians from Gaza. Have you never seen the bomb shelters that Israeli children living near Gaza had to scurry to and play in? The saving grace for Israel was the Iron Dome. That however didn’t change Palestinian intent of destroying Israel. When they thought they could, October 7th happened.
What part of the underground tunnel system used for war in Gaza greater than the New York subway system didn’t you see? What part of all the weapons and artillery they have and continue to use didn’t shock you? What part of Jewish self defense don’t you get? When someone comes to personally kill you Leah, I suppose you’re just going to let them do it – right? If your answer is no, then what do you have against Israel finally saying “enough and no to Hamas and Iranian terror? If you don’t want a fight then don’t start a war. It’s shocking to me that you blame Israel and not Palestinians for the unfortunate fate of the animals.
CVM says
BRAVO! LOF. Don’t you dare come to RAPE & KILL our citizens & expect us to take it.
AM YISROEL CHI !!
Lilian Fuss says
Is amazing your job, thank you very much!