Animals are not included in Israel’s death toll but they are also innocent victims
Israel Guide Dogs have been caring for abandoned pets like Bonita, who was shot by Hamas terrorists on camera on 7 October, while others mourn their loss
Brigit Grant is the Jewish News Supplements Editor
The team at the Israel Guide Dog Centre know about war. They have clients who have lost their sight in battle or battled with debilitating symptoms of trauma post conflict. But this long established, supremely capable charity was shaken by the events of October 7, as new Co-Chief Executive Officer, Carmel Reiss revealed at the annual reception.
While describing the charity’s struggle to operate as normal amid falling rockets, a much-reduced staff and between 10 and 20 new puppies being born monthly, the emphasis has been on offering immediate help to the country, its’ people and its’ animals.
“The centre’s training vans were used to save more than 400 abandoned dogs who were left behind when owners were evacuated, trapped inside homes or roaming the streets, without food and water.” Some of those dogs have been reunited with their families, while others will need rehoming and they are working with local animal charities to ensure that happens.”
The drafting of so many soldiers has also impacted on the volunteer puppy raisers scheme which sees puppies placed in homes for a year where they can adjust and learn about life outside the centre.
“Our role is to breed, raise and train the puppies to become Guide or Service dogs supporting Israelis with disabilities,” Carmel continued. “But our kennels are full, many of our puppies have had to be rehomed, and we are still trying to support the remaining puppy-raisers. Even during this war, our work must continue as there need to be enough dogs for PTSD Service, Guide work, and we have already had requests for dogs to help children affected by the atrocities. Sadly these needs will only grow.”
With dogs visiting children, the wounded and evacuees at hostels, hotels, and hospitals, the comfort IGDC brings is essential and few appreciate or expound this more than Eden Taharani.
Having conquered Instagram and TikTok where she has 62.9K followers, Eden, 24 and her dog Gemma are the definitive poster team for the charity. Partnered for three years, Eden who was born blind spent years dealing with the obstacles in Holon, her hometown before Gemma, her new best friend lead the way .
Arguably she had already found it, having competed on Israel’s X Factor at the age of 17 and now as a model walked the catwalk in Milan. Next time she parades Eden, who married childhood sweetheart Matan Rokach in September, would like to have Gemma by her side and it will happen. Eden believes nothing is off limits – You can find the light – she says – giving us all something to think about.
P.S. Happy, Healthy Chanukah to Martin Segal, the committed and industrious UK Executive Director of Israel Guide Dogs. http://www.Israelguidedog.org.uk
Gone, but not forgotten
Of all the abhorrent scenes in Israel, the shooting of a dog on Kibbutz Be’eri was one of the first many saw. The clip, taken from a GoPro camera attached to a Hamas fighter’s helmet showed a loyal pet bounding out of a house towards the attackers before being struck by a bullet.
That the wounded dog then tried to stand to see off the intruders was shot again illustrated the wickedness of the killers who murdered helpless men, women and children. The dog in the footage was Bonita who lost her life during the attack on Kibbutz Sufa as she ran towards the terrorists. But Bonita had inadvertently diverted their attention away from the house, potentially saving the lives of her family. Family dogs are not included in Israel’s death toll, but they are also innocent victims of the Hamas attacks.
As her Facebook profile pic, Deborah Mintz has a photo of Mickey, her tiny Pinscher mix who was murdered. Adopted when he was four months old, it was a week before his sixth birthday when he burnt to death on Kibbutz Nirim. Deborah had taken Mickey with her on a visit to see her daughter, Aimee and her new grandson.
Rocket fire forced the family to shelter in the safe room on October 7, but Mickey was so frightened he ran and hid under the couch. “I didn’t have time to get him out,” said Deborah who assumed it was a typical rocket attack; “So I didn’t think twice about leaving him there.”
Afraid of noise and strangers until they won his trust, Mickey always wore a bow tie and clothes in winter (he felt the cold) and could identify a specific colour ball from the rest. “I miss him,” said Deborah who will never forget his screams as he died with her daughter’s cats, Honey and Ginger when Hamas torched the house.
“They are still inside the boarded house and we aren’t allowed to go. It breaks my heart to think of them still there.”, Better adjusted to sirens and safe rooms, Aimee’s dog Lemon survived is now with Deborah at her home in Eilat. “She is definitely traumatised too, but I miss my boy.”
After the attacks and currently, charity, Let the Animals Live set up a real ‘war room’ at their centre in Kfar Ruth, where they loaded vehicles with food to hand out to animals left behind in the south and then the north where people were evacuated. They also delivered food to goats, donkeys, chickens and other farm animals, who were evacuated from their permanent homes, to a safer place. Let the Animals Live currently has 200 dogs and cats waiting for adoption. http://www.letlive.org.il
Broken heart
A final word for Rider who has not stopped searching for his owner Dror Bahat, a kibbutznik from Beit Alfa who was murdered at the music festival. Together for six years after Dror adopted him from a dog pound. “He cared for Rider and nurtured him as if he were his own child,” said Dror’s father, Idan Bahat.. “They shared a deep bond and Dror loved him dearly. Every day, my wife Ella visits Dror’s grave, and Rider accompanies her, lying beside Dror’s resting place. ” 
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
