After months of preparation and planning, we did it: thanks to your support, 58 donkeys rescued from the horrors of war and abuse in the Middle East have safely touched down in Europe.
After flying from Israel to France and Belgium, 58 donkeys are finally beginning a new life of peace and safety.
Now, 50 more donkeys are waiting for the same chance to start anew.
Credit: SOS
Many of these donkeys come from Gaza and other battle-scarred areas of Palestine.
The animals were rescued by our partner, Starting Over Sanctuary (SOS), from the most horrific conditions as war raged around them. To make matters worse, desperate people beat them, whipped them and worked them to the bone until they collapsed from exhaustion. When deemed ‘useless,’ they were abandoned and left to die amidst the devastation of war.
Despite caring for over 1,200 rescue animals amidst the chaos of war, our partner has never turned away an animal in need.
Paolo was rescued after a brutal attack in Hebron, West Bank, which left his ear torn off, his stomach gashed open and his leg fractured. Credit: SOS
The donkeys we help SOS save arrive broken, starving and terrified, some injured to within an inch of their lives. At the sanctuary, the animals are nurtured back to health and given a chance to start over.
During a brief pause in the fighting, we helped SOS launch rescue missions into Gaza, saving even more animals from suffering and death – but now the shelter is stretched to capacity, caring for more than 1,200 donkeys and struggling to cope with rising food and medical care costs.
To allow the sanctuary to rescue more donkeys from war and abuse, we must raise funds for the second freedom flight from Israel to Europe.
Thanks to your support, 58 donkeys who have known nothing but suffering are now running safe and free in beautiful green fields in Europe.
Together, we can make the same life-changing difference for 50 more donkeys in need.
SOS Founder Sharon Cohen saves abused donkeys. We have promised to do everything we can to get some of the donkeys to safety in Europe, but we need YOUR help to make it happen. Credit: SOS
Any amount you can give will help us create new, safe futures for donkey survivors of war. Please donate as generously as you can today.
