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Veterinarian Honored for Post-October 7 Animal Rescue
By Drooid · · How we work
Veterinarian Honored for Post-October 7 Animal Rescue
Dr. Galia Melman Shalev, a veterinarian and founder of Negev Vet clinics, will receive the World Small Animal Veterinary Association’s (WSAVA) 2026 Animal Welfare Award.
Background and Rescue Operations
When the attack began, Dr. Shalev and her husband Ziv were cycling near Kfar Aza and Nahal Oz. After reuniting with their children, they returned to their home in Moshav Ein HaBesor and loaded supplies, animal food and medication donated by Vet Market. Over the following weeks they entered evacuated communities, treating animals trapped in burned homes, wounded by gunfire or shrapnel, and those left thirsty and starving.
The effort grew from a spontaneous initiative to a large-scale emergency operation. When Shalev’s private clinic became overcrowded, the couple converted a stable into a temporary shelter and established a volunteer network coordinated through a Zoom command center run by their daughter and Ben-Gurion University students. A command center was also set up in Beit Shemesh. Later, after relocating to Eilat as evacuees, Shalev opened an improvised clinic on the minus-one floor of the Royal Beach Hotel, providing free treatment to hundreds of pets of hotel-based evacuees for three months, documenting each case and updating the national microchip database.
Official Statements & Responses
Dr. Dr. Segev Dishon, a member of WSAVA’s executive committee, highlighted her “practical leadership” and “sense of personal responsibility” on the ground. WSAVA noted that Shalev’s response illustrates how professionals can help heal and strengthen communities during emergencies.
Verbatim Quote
- “I felt that I was able to fulfill my purpose and help animals and people who needed it so desperately.” — WSAVA
Impact and Significance
The rescue operation treated and reunited hundreds of pets with their families, providing emotional lifelines for people coping with loss and displacement. The award underscores the role of veterinary professionals in disaster response and highlights the broader importance of animal welfare in community resilience.