(live here) – What does the law say about animals in wartime? Is it allowed to bring an animal into the shelter? Is it possible to bring an animal into host hotels?
Please allow the animals to stay with their owners from the Otaf in hotels during the war
Many residents of the south found themselves these days evacuated from their homes and settlements to hotels following the Iron Swords War. Almost every family has a family member who walks on all fours, a dog or a cat, and is an integral part of the household.
In these difficult days when they are evacuated to hotels they find themselves in difficult situations as the hotels do not approve the entry of animals. Therefore, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Tourism issued a notice today, Sunday 15/10/23, in which they are asking the hotels to allow the evacuees to enter with their pets.
Even in difficult times - do not abandon the animals
It is important to note that according to Section 2A1 of the Animal Cruelty Law, a person who owns or is responsible for an animal is prohibited from abandoning it. The owner or keeper of an animal is obliged to take care of the animal, take care of its needs and prevent its abuse. This law is valid and applied even in times of war.
Allow evacuees to enter with pets
The Director General of the Ministry of Agriculture, Oren Lavie, and the Director General of the Ministry of Tourism, Dani Shahar, this morning contacted the Director General of the Israel Hotel Association, Adv. on the welfare of the animals and their safety.
In the letter we stated that:
This is an essential part of evacuation management. The most correct way for national resilience, public order, public and animal health and their welfare. This is an inseparable part of the family and an even more important part for those who lost their loved ones and their home.
Many animals were caught in the battle zones
From a situation assessment conducted by the Animal Welfare Division of the Ministry of Agriculture, it appears that there are many animals that have been caught up in the battle zones and their owners have been evacuated to a place that does not allow animals to stay, animals whose owners have been drafted into the reserves and left alone or without proper care, residents who were forced to leave their pets behind, owners Lives whose husbands were kidnapped or murdered.
Answering and caring for pets of the residents of the south
Therefore, at the same time as this request, the office continues to provide answers and care for the pets of the residents of the south, and helps to gather the information, coordinate and route inquiries about pets in the conflict areas. The Ministry of Agriculture emphasizes that the Ministry's hotline is used to centralize information, receive inquiries and coordinate with regards to the evacuation of animals in the conflict zones, in accordance with the IDF's instructions.
Residents who were evacuated with their pets, residents who had to leave the animal behind, recruits who cannot take care of the animal, and organizations willing to take in animals are invited to contact the ministry's hotline, which will help as much as possible, by calling *6016.
Is it allowed to bring an animal (dog/cat) into a public or shared shelter?
In these tense days, the difficult question also arises as to whether it is permissible to bring an animal into a public or shared shelter, as many residents have found themselves in the most difficult and uncertain moments arguing and many with other neighbors who are against bringing an animal into the shelter.
The answer, as we have already explained, is that it is allowed to bring an animal into a public or shared shelter, and this is by virtue of the law that obliges the owners and keepers not to abandon the animals and take responsibility for their safety.
Animals are allowed in public shelters
The association Let Live Live explains that there is no prohibition in the law on bringing animals into a public shelter while taking into account the others present at the shelter. In rare cases of serious allergies to dogs or cats, it is difficult to give an unequivocal answer.
But if it is a mild allergy or a protected space where you can keep a distance from the liver, the recommendation is: keep cats in a carrier cage. There is an obligation to keep dogs on a leash, as in any case of taking a dog out of the house or yard. The permitted length of the leash is up to five meters.