Children Save Tomy, Paralyzed Dog in Israel

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Tomy with his foster mom, Hadar

About Let the Animals Live

LAL is Israel’s largest animal non-profit organization, serving the country since 1986. It is the only one that operates a rescue ambulance regularly. “The Ambulance is equipped with whatever it needs to trap cats and dogs in distress,” says Riva Mayer, Overseas Development Director for LAL. “Our Ambulance driver is a trained rescuer and we also work with the best rescuer in Israel – Mr. Avi Kuzi, on the more complicated cases – usually when large/wild animals are involved.”

“A few are released back to their ‘home’ after being spayed/neutered/vaccinated and many stay with us at our shelter until re-homed for as long as it takes,” said Mayer. With a strict no-kill policy, LAL makes every effort possible to save the animal and adopt the creature out if no guardians are found. The sad truth is that Israel has a very large homeless pet population compounded by the people who abandon their pets to nature when going on vacation.

In an effort to counteract that type of behavior, LAL provides humane education. LAL has an emergency hotline that is currently staffed 6 days per week. Mayer tells me the goal is to get it running 24/7. Many of LAL’s 30 employees and over 100 volunteers worked on the recent success of freeing monkeys at Mazor Farm campaign. Like many non-profit organizations, LAL operates entirely through the generosity of donations.

According to the LAL website, services include:

Emergency hotline – answers calls from the public regarding distressed animals, as well as providing information.
Search and rescue vehicle – with this vehicle, distressed animals are picked up and transferred to the association’s shelter for veterinary care and rehabilitation.
Animal shelters – houses about 300 dogs and cats who receive dedicated care until a warm home is found for them; the main shelter is in Meshek Dror at the entrance to Ramla and other two are located in Kfar Tikva and Sakhnin.
Veterinary clinic services – provides the public with spaying/neutering and other veterinary care at reduced costs.
Legal department – inquiries about matters of animal abuse and maintenance; taking care of farm animals; taking care of legislation; operating a legal clinic; and public campaigns.
Humane Education – “From Violence to Compassion” project advocates compassion toward animals; is run in association with the Center for Environmental Protection in Sakhnin.