The SPCA Supports Residents of the South

The SPCA is offering free kennel services for animals belonging to residents of the South

In light of the escalation in the South of the country, in order to prevent the animals’ pain and suffering and to help the residents of the South to contend with the difficult situation, the SPCA has opened its doors and invited all residents of the South who have difficulty looking after their pets, to house them without charge in the SPCA kennels and cat shelter till the danger is past. Despite the difficulties, the SPCA calls upon residents of the South not to abandon their pets to the streets and promises to give all the animals who reach its facilities the best possible care.

Residents of the South are welcome to come with their pets to the SPCA dog and cat shelter at 159 Herzl Street, Tel Aviv, to bring along their own ID cards and their pets’ valid vaccination certificates. For further details, please call us at: *4553.

The sirens and explosions can scare animals and cause them to run away from home. In order to protect your pets, it is important to adhere to the following recommendations:
1. Close the windows and doors so that the animals cannot run away in times of stress.
2. During these difficult times, avoid going out with your pets for long walks far from home.
3. Don’t take your dog out for walks without a leash.
4. Prepare a soft and cozy corner where your pet can hide in the secure area of your home.
5. If your dog runs away or expresses anxiety during alarms, try to avoid positive reinforcement of this behavior through excess expressions of affection and petting that the dog will then associate with anxiety behavior.
6. Ensure that the dog has its microchip as required by Law, to facilitate finding it should it run away.

Together we are hoping for quiet days ahead.

Left behind

Phenomenon: dogs and cats are being left in summer, when their owners travel abroad

Every summer, when the summer holidays begins and many people go on vacation or use the summer holiday for transfer abroad, many pets are being left. Unfortunately, instead of making an effort to take the pets with them or to find them appropriate place, the people leaving for a vacation prefer the easiest solution and leave their pets – in the best case, in one of the associations, hoping that the pets will quickly find a new family. In other cases, the cats and the dogs that are used to live in a warm and loving home and to feel an integral part of the family are being thrown to streets.

Buffy, a half-bred terrier year and a half old, has recently been brought to the Society because his owners went abroad

Transportation of pets abroad is a complicated process, since each state has its own laws and specific requirements in respect of pets’ entrance to this state. Some countries require long isolation period. Some countries requite long isolation period, while others require making tests at least three months before the travel. In addition, each aviation company has its own rules regarding the pets’ transportation.

If you are going to move abroad, it is recommended to get prepared in advance to transportation of pets. In case it is impossible for some reason, the Association will adopt the pet, but we recommend to the owners to try to find a proper home and to see themselves that the pet is in good hands and to keep contact with the adopting family. Information about transportation of pets abroad can be obtained on the Internet and in various aviation companies, in accordance with the destination. In addition, there are companies which specialize in this field, and their experience can simplify the procedure and save expensive time.

To those who go for a vacation in Israel or abroad, we recommend to use the services of our pension, which will be glad to host your pets for low prices. In the pension of the Society, each pet has its special cage. The experienced team pays great attention and many pampering to the pets. In addition, the pension is observed by our veterinaries that test the pets every day. For additional information please call: *4553.

Mica, a one-year-old half-bred Golden retriever, was abandoned by her owners

Eilat-Tel-Aviv

Nine abandoned dogs were transported from Eilat and are waiting in the Association for adopting families

Every summer, thousands of dogs whose owners go to a vacation and abandon their best friend are being thrown to the streets of Israel. In Eilat, this phenomenon is especially serious: many tourists arriving to the southern city leave here their dogs with great cruelty and turn home without them.

This week, the veterinary of municipality of Eilat, dr. Oren Abramovich, turned to the Association asking to help him to treat the numerous abandoned dogs, hoping to draw attention of broad public to them and to increase their chances for being adopted.

Mor, Chief and Bass are eagerly waiting to meet the new family

The Association agreed to take nine abandoned dogs from Eilat and to do its best to find them adopting families, good and responsible ones. Representatives of the Association were waiting for the dogs in the airport, in order to transport them to a shelter in Tel-Aviv. We hope that the dogs will be quickly adopted, which will enable us to take additional dogs from Eilat and to give them a better future.

The sweet puppies, that are half-bred shepherds, will grow into big dogs. They match to any family which likes large-bred dogs. The dogs will leave for their new homes after they are undergo sterilization or neutering and have all necessary vaccinations and an electronic chip. They are eagerly waiting to meet the new family which will adopt them to their home and heart.

We want to thank Arkia Aviation Company which volunteered to transport the dogs free of charge and to ask the owners of the pets to make the best efforts in order to find them an appropriate place when they leave for a vacation and not to abandon them.

In the Shadow of the Sirens

Tips for looking after your pet during the sirens

In difficult times such as these, dogs and cats are also having a hard time. The noise of the sirens can cause them stress and anxiety or even behavioral changes. Following are a few tips to help you deal with your pets during the sirens.

1. Firstly, regarding dogs, one must avoid the natural instincts to comfort and stroke them. The dog might interpret this as positive reinforcement for his behavior and repeat his anxiety reactions. Take the dog with you, show him that you are confident and relaxed, don’t be angry with him and don’t punish him.

2. At times such as these, dogs and cats are liable to run away from the house in response to the noise of the bombs and sirens. To look after dogs and cats in high-risk areas, it is recommended to ensure that the house is closed and that our little friends cannot find any ways out. Take dogs out for walks only in the close vicinity of the house and with a leash. It is not recommended to let them run freely, not even for a short time, not even if the dogs asks to be let free. In addition, ensure that the dog has a microchip and that his and your details are up-to-date in the National Microchip Center, so that if he does run away, he can be more easily traced.

3. Try to take your pet to the shelter or protected areas with you. If the protected area nearest to you is a shelter or residential secure space, equip it with a little food and water, and in the case of cats – also a litter tray. Most cats will refuse to go into a cage within a short space of time and that will make it more difficult to take them with you to the shelter in real time. Prepare a comfortable and warm corner where the cat can curl up in a hidden place in the house. Let him hide and don’t call him out of his hiding place.

4. If your pet suffers greatly from anxiety and you have difficulty calming him, we recommend getting veterinary assistance.

In the light of the situation, we invite all residents of the South to bring their pets of every type, to our animal shelter at no charge – till the end of the military operation (on the basis of availability). Telephone for queries: *4553.

Hoping for secure and tranquil days in the very near future.

In the Line of Fire

The SPCA sent veterinary rescuers to the Carmel Region to help with the animals of the evacuated residents

As the largest fire in Israel’s history continues to burn out of control in the Carmel region, representatives of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Israel went into the field to provide assistance to residents who are raising animals.

The SPCA team, including veterinary rescuers, arrived at the site with a tremendous amount of equipment, ready to rescue and treat animals in distress and to help the residents evacuated from their homes to care for their animals. This action was carried out in conjunction with the Israel police, the Home Front Command spokesperson, and Haifa and Tirat Hacarmel war room.

As part of its assistance, the SPCA is offering boarding services for animals of evacuated residents and to abandoned animals left behind. The SPCA boarding house will house animals for free, and area residents can contact the SPCA call center to schedule the arrival of the representatives to pick up the animals at *4553.

Over the past several days, SPCA representatives have arrived at the main command post at Haifa University and to all centers where the population arrived: Ironi H High School in Haifa, Youth Center, Degania School and the Paot Center in Tirat hacarmel. In addition, SPCA members are in contact with the CEO of the Merav Center in the Hof Hacarmel Regional Council, where members of Kibbutz Beit Oren were evacuated to. SPCA members also reached individual homes of evacuated residents who were not found in these centers and collected their animals whenever necessary. The SPCA even contacted the media and informed them of their willingness to receive abandoned animals.

Because many areas are still closed due to the fire, they cannot be entered and searches for abandoned animals cannot be carried out. Based on conversations with area residents, dogs that were left behind on Kibbutz Beit Oren ran away and escaped the fire, and once approval was given to return to the site, their owners found them on the kibbutz. The veterinary rescuers are now waiting for instructions from the authorities in the field, and once entry is allowed into the areas currently defined as dangerous areas, they will immediately enter the area and track down the animals in distress.