Shaking horse Source:
Horse clearance:
Inspectors from the Ministry of Agriculture today (Monday) successfully rescued 30 horses and 20 donkeys that were staying on an improvised farm near the bypass road of the Bnei Zion settlement in the Sharon area. This is due to the concern for their safety in the face of the extreme weather conditions and the lack of proper shelter for them, and due to poor growing conditions, including lack of adequate food, prevention of medical treatment and more.
The animals were transferred to protected facilities of the Ministry of Agriculture for treatment and rehabilitation. This is the largest rescue operation carried out by the veterinary services of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development ever since the rescue program for horses and donkeys was first implemented.
The owner of the farm, known to the Ministry of Agriculture for years. Over the years, hundreds of horses and donkeys were evacuated from his possession, due to the harsh living conditions in which they were held, including starvation and failure to provide medical care. In the past year, the owner has set up another improvised farm, near the Bnei Zion bypass road. This farm lacks any shelter worthy of animals, so they are exposed to the weather conditions, and in recent days have been suffering from the extreme cold and incessant rain.
Also, a large proportion of them do not stay behind a fence at all, which endangers them and road users in the area. Just last week, a driver miraculously survived a car accident involving a farm horse that was also killed as a result of the accident. During the past year, about 20 animals have been evacuated from the makeshift compound, while, as mentioned, today 54 horses and other donkeys were evacuated.
The rescue operation in Bnei Zion is, as stated, the largest operation carried out by the ministry since the rescue program for Syrians and donkeys began in 2007. As part of this, over 2,000 horses and donkeys have been rescued to date in initiated operations by the veterinary services. The animals were transferred to sheltered facilities fully funded by the Ministry of Agriculture, for the purpose of providing medical care and rehabilitation, as an intermediate station until new adoption frameworks are found. Most of the horses and donkeys rescued were transferred to foster families who were able to provide a warm home and care as required.
Dr. Zivia Mildenberg, the equine physician at the Veterinary Services at the Ministry of Agriculture: “Horses and donkeys are large animals, in need of a spacious living environment, adequate food and proper shelter. In the case of us we found many dozens of starving animals, without any ability to defend themselves against the heavy cold and rain. It was important for us to clear the farm before the storm that is expected for Wednesday. In light of this, we had to rescue the horses and transfer them to a protected facility, where they will receive appropriate care and be able to undergo rehabilitation. Animal welfare is our main task in the Ministry of Agriculture, and we call on every animal lover to refrain from adopting an animal that is unable to take care of its welfare as required. Any incident of neglect or animal abuse can be reported to the Ministry of Agriculture’s hotline available 24/7 by phone: 6016 * “.
Agriculture Minister Oded Forer: “When I learned about the condition of the horses and donkeys on the farm, I instructed the ministry’s inspectors to evacuate them before the storm that is expected to reach the area on Wednesday. There is no doubt that rain and cold are a real risk to their lives. .