Israeli Veterinarian Honored Globally for Heroic Pet Rescues on October 7

Dr. Galia Shilo, a veterinarian from Moshav Ein HaBesor and founder of "Negev Vet" clinics, has been awarded the prestigious 2026 World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) Award for Companion Animal Welfare. The award recognizes her extraordinary efforts in rescuing hundreds of pets left behind in the aftermath of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks.

On the morning of October 7, Dr. Shilo and her husband, Ziv, were near Kibbutz Kfar Aza when the attack began. After ensuring their children were safe, they returned to their evacuated community of Ein HaBesor, bringing essential supplies and animal food and medicine donated by "Vet Market." They encountered devastating scenes of pets trapped in burning homes, injured by gunfire, or wandering alone and distressed.

Dr. Shilo and her husband immediately began providing emergency treatment in the field and rescuing animals from destroyed homes. "It was unlike anything I've experienced in my many years as a veterinarian," Dr. Shilo stated. "Rescuing and treating these animals from the evacuated communities was simply something that had to be done. Sometimes we even risked our lives to bring these animals back, because we knew such an animal is part of the family. For some families, it was a lifeline after the terrible day they had endured."

What began as a spontaneous initiative evolved into a large-scale emergency operation. When Dr. Shilo's private clinic became overwhelmed, she and her husband converted a stable into a temporary emergency shelter. A network of volunteers, including her daughter's Zoom command center for foster families and support from the Israeli Small Animal Veterinary Association (ICAVA), was established. Later, while evacuated to Eilat, Dr. Shilo set up an makeshift emergency clinic in a hotel basement, providing free treatment to hundreds of displaced pets.

The WSAVA highlighted Dr. Shilo's actions as demonstrating the crucial role of professionals during emergencies in uniting and strengthening communities. Dr. Anat Lichter Feld, Chair of ICAVA, praised Dr. Shilo's work as a reflection of "the highest values of the veterinary profession: compassion, service, responsibility, and courage."

Dr. Shilo's clinics have since reopened with a new team. She emphasized that the award, while bearing her name, represents the compassion, courage, and commitment of her husband, daughters, and all the volunteers who assisted in the animal rescues, serving as a powerful reminder of veterinarians' responsibility during difficult times.