With your help, hundreds of rescued donkeys in Israel can get through the winter safely. But time is running out, and we need to act now.
The 800 rescued donkeys at the Starting Over Sanctuary (SOS) have only one week of hay left. Without immediate support, the animals face the very real risk of going hungry this winter.
Extreme drought across Israel has made hay almost impossible to find – and 800 rescued donkeys face an uncertain future.
Israel experienced its driest winter in 100 years in 2025, with extreme drought conditions devastating agriculture.
Hay is extremely scarce, and when SOS is able to locate any, the cost is crippling.
Severe drought has devastated agriculture in Israel, making hay extremely scarce and costly – and putting the donkeys at SOS at risk of going hungry this winter. Credit: SOS
SOS is doing everything possible to protect the donkeys in its care. Anticipating how devastating this winter would be, the team took extraordinary action to ease pressure on the sanctuary and give its animals hope for a better future.
258 donkeys were flown to safety and to loving sanctuaries in Europe. Our supporters’ donations helped fly 108 of those donkeys.
But 800 donkeys remain at SOS, and they are counting on us, on you.
One of those 800 donkeys is Tinkerbell.
Back in 2017, SOS Founder Sharon found Tinkerbell as a foal, tied up and left outside in the rain for five days. She was tiny, terrified, weak and alone – and she would not have survived without help.
That first rescue did not just save Tinkerbell’s life. It became the beginning of Israel’s largest donkey sanctuary. Since that special day nine years ago, thousands of donkeys like Tinkerbell have been rescued from abandonment, abuse and neglect across Israel and the West Bank.
This is Tinkerbell in 2017 (left), and today (right). Her rescue sparked SOS’s mission to save abandoned donkeys. With drought creating a hay crisis, your support will help keep donkeys like her safe and fed. Credit: SOS.
We must secure emergency hay immediately – before prices rise again and the remaining stock disappears completely.
You can be a lifeline for desperate donkeys this winter:
- $6 (£4.50) feeds a donkey for a day
- $45 (£33.50) feeds a donkey for a week
- $180 (£133.90) feeds a donkey for a month
When you give today, you ensure that a rescued donkey has food for the critical winter months ahead.
Food costs are soaring, new rescues arrive daily and recent winter storms have damaged parts of the sanctuary. We cannot afford to wait. Every dollar or pound raised today will go directly towards purchasing emergency hay.
On one side, the damage left behind by winter storms. On the other, two of the donkeys relying on us to help them through this critical time. Credit: SOS
Tinkerbell survived because Sharon chose to act when it mattered most. And because of dedicated supporters like you, thousands of abused donkeys have found safety at SOS over the years.
Your compassion has already saved lives. With only one week of hay remaining, the fate of these donkeys this winter rests on how you choose to act today.
This is what starvation looks like. You have the power to help rush emergency hay and ensure the donkeys of SOS never know such suffering again. Credit: SOS
Your donation will put hay in feeding troughs, stop hunger before it takes hold and keep donkeys fed and safe during the harshest weeks of winter in Israel.
