A Small and Mighty Army for Animals in Israel’s Golan Heights

June 7, 2009

One woman and a handful of volunteers work to save northern Israel’s animals

By Catherine Walsh – Best Friends Volunteer International Writer

Having weathered the rescue of more than 200 dogs and 50 cats during the month-long second Lebanese war in 2006, the Bashan Shelter in the Golan Heights in Northern Israel is facing new challenges as Israel’s economic slowdown takes its toll on Israeli families and the animals they care for.

Run by Janet Hansen and approximately 25 volunteers, the Bashan Shelter has recently seen a sharp rise in the abandonment of animals in the region, and with that, an equally sharp decrease in donations for the animals.

“People are worried about their bank account, and it’s hard for them to deal with caring for a dog as well,” Hansen was quoted saying in a ynetnews.com article “Throwing Dogs to the Curb” posted March 3, 2009. “People come to us with tears in their eyes and give up their dog. They say they just can’t feed it anymore,” she continued in the same article.

The Jerusalem Post reported on May 28, 2009 that the Israeli unemployment rate is rising at an alarming rate. The Central Bureau of Statistics announced that approximately 35,000 workers lost their jobs in Israel during the first three months of this year, and the rate has hit a two-year high of 7.6%. It is expected to continue at this pace to a predicted 8.5% by 2010.

Despite this alarming downturn, the Bashan Shelter continues its policy of never turning away an animal in need. “We never refuse an animal that we know will be abandoned on the road if we say we have no room, and every animal we accept is with the knowledge that we really have no more room!” Hansen is quoted on the English portion of her website, http://bashan-dogs.com/english.php.

Originally from Calgary, Hansen moved to Israel in 1980 and began the shelter in her house on Kibbutz Lehavot Habashan in 1989, according to her biography on the Bashan Shelter website. With a rising animal population she moved the shelter to the kibbutz orchards, which are gone now, leaving the shelter to continue to grow in their place.

Despite the many challenges they face, Janet and the volunteers at the shelter work to help the community as well as the animals. “We also have various programs in place with involve the community at large. Junior high school students do their “personal responsibility” volunteerism at the shelter as do (people) before the army preparation courses,” Hansen reports on her website.

After surviving the rocket attacks and surge in the population of abandoned animals during the 2006 Lebanese war, this new crisis, while less violent, is no less dire for the survival of

the animals. Hansen reported to ynetnews.com that the situation at the shelter now is as serious as it was in 2006. According to the ynetnews.com article, Hansen’s shelter housed 190 dogs in October, a number that has increased steadily until this spring, when the population of dogs grew to an astonishing 240.

It is only through the determined efforts of Janet Hansen and her team of volunteers, along with several other animal organizations in Israel, and donations from the public, that the Bashan Shelter and others of its kind will continue to protect these abandoned animals. “We live hand to mouth….the dogs and cats will always eat (even if I don’t), receive medical attention, from spay-neuter and vaccinations to more complicated medical procedures” Hansen says.:

What you can do:

Visit the Bashan Shelter website http://dogsandcats.4ourpets.com/English.asp/ to learn more about Janet’s work and to make a donation

Link to the original YNet News story: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3680400,00.html

Published on Best Friends Animal Society Network News page - June 7, 2009