Animal Welfare Charities Face Collapse Over Unpaid Government Funds

Dozens of Israeli animal welfare organizations are at risk of collapse due to the Ministry of Environmental Protection's failure to transfer approximately 4.5 million shekels in annual funding for 2026. This funding, managed through the ministry's Animal Welfare Fund, is crucial for the operations of around 40 charities involved in rescue, rehabilitation, sterilization, and emergency response for animals.

Representatives from 17 organizations sent an urgent letter on August 24 to Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman and Director General Rami Rosen, as well as other ministry officials, highlighting that the funds are a "central and important pillar" of their work. Many of these charities rely heavily on this government support, which often determines their ability to provide essential services, maintain facilities, and cover veterinary costs. The organizations noted that this funding mechanism has been in place for years, and its abrupt cessation threatens the entire animal welfare sector.

According to the charities, the fund receives money from donations, fines, and ministry allocations. While the total amount remains around 4.5 million shekels, it is divided among an increasing number of organizations each year. Typically, the funds are disbursed between February and March. "We are talking about such a negligible amount, but it enables all the activity of the small organizations, and even the large ones," stated one source from a charity.

The Israeli Primate Sanctuary described an "absurd situation" where the state transfers confiscated, smuggled monkeys to their care as the only facility capable of handling them, but fails to provide the necessary budget. Dr. Tamar Freedman, the sanctuary's founder and CEO, emphasized that this budget is critical for dozens of animal welfare organizations to continue their work, and that the animals should not bear the cost of the funding delay. Nora Lipshitz of the ATALAF organization highlighted growing difficulties in funding the long-term care of fruit bats rescued from captivity, and Keren Or Solomon of Keren Or Farm stated that for many animals, the farm is their "last or only option." Elazar Finkovitz of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Jerusalem added that charities are facing increased burdens due to animal abandonment following years of war, declining foreign donations, and rising costs for food and medicine.

The Ministry of Finance stated that the budget allocation is the responsibility of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and that there is "no obstacle to the allocation of the budget," which depends on the ministry's internal prioritization. The Ministry of Environmental Protection did not provide a response.