In the days following the October 7 attacks, dozens of dogs were found roaming abandoned cities or the surrounding kibbutz paths, searching in vain for their owners. Many of them were rescued to the Shanti Farm in Atlit, where they are undergoing rehabilitation and waiting until they return to their families, or until they find a new home.
Dog rescued from a house in Kibbutz Be'eri // "For Wildlife Association"
"We had post-traumatic dogs who arrived really 'frozen,' in an apathetic state, not communicating," says Inbal Kasem, the farm's manager, in an interview that will be published tomorrow in the Israel This Week supplement. "After long days of warmth and love they received from the volunteers here, we managed to get them to open up a bit."
When the war broke out and the painful picture from the ground began to become clearer, it was clear to Inbal that she was mobilizing to help do what she has been doing for more than 20 years – to save as many animals as possible that were damaged or abandoned.
"I wrote a post on Facebook that we are ready to help the animals with whatever they need. We were quickly approached by brothers in arms – whose volunteers took care of and assisted us all along the way – and asked us to take in dogs from the envelope. I immediately published another urgent post, which rolled out everywhere possible, and wrote that I also needed hotels, building materials and working hands, in order to set up more compounds inside the farm and house the dogs that arrived. The response was amazing."
A patient at the "Wind Bells" association hugging a dog (archive), photo: Public Relations
Allowing them peace of mind
Among the animals on the farm that were rescued from the envelope is Fiona, a blind and disabled cat whose owners are Rimon and Yigev Buchstev from Kibbutz Nirim, who were abducted to the Gaza Strip. "Not every human being adopts disabled animals, it just shows what good people they are," Inbal says, adding that she longs for the day when she will be able to give the two of them back the cat after they are released from Hamas captivity.
On the process of rehabilitating the animals, she says: "First of all, we give them time to get used to the place, just to be here. Volunteers are attached to each of them and allow them peace of mind. This is a process we are accustomed to and experienced in, because even on routine days we take in animals that have undergone trauma.
Dog petted (illustration), photo: Royal Canin - PR
"A lot of people come to volunteer and pitch in to help us at an insane level. We are embraced like never before the farm, including donations in everything. I wish for all of us that this will continue after the war, that people will continue to help animals and people.
"We have to see the other, be sensitive, it's very, very important. I am an optimistic person and strongly believe in people, in giving. With everyone who comes here, I talk about this topic. Our generation is characterized by endless giving, and that's more important than anything else."
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