For years, animal rescuers in Nepal have worked tirelessly to protect animals suffering from neglect, abuse and the consequences of disasters. Now, as severe flooding hits Nepal, their help is needed more than ever.

In Nuwakot and Rasuwa, large areas have been affected. Bridges and roads have been washed away, villages are difficult to reach, and food supplies for animals are becoming increasingly scarce. Buffaloes, chickens and other livestock belonging to local communities are particularly dependent on emergency support.

Our local partners, including Sneha’s Care Animals Welfare Organization, led by Sneha Shrestha, and Animal Nepal, have responded immediately. Their teams are rescuing and treating animals, distributing food and medicines, and trying to reach as many affected areas as possible.

But reaching these communities is not easy. Heavy mud, debris and unstable roads have made many areas inaccessible. In some places, rescuers have already found large numbers of dead animals. The full impact of the disaster is still unknown, as parts of the affected region cannot yet be reached safely.

Working together for animals in Nepal

To support this emergency response as effectively as possible, Stichting Dierennood and Animal Heroes have joined forces. Together, we have launched an emergency fund for animals affected by the floods.

Donations go directly towards supporting local animal rescuers who have been working in Nepal for many years and know the communities and terrain well. They can use the funds where they are needed most — for animal food, medicines, veterinary care, rescue equipment, shelter and transport.

By combining our knowledge, contacts and resources, we can respond more quickly and help more animals.

The emergency is far from over

As long as roads and villages remain inaccessible, the full extent of the disaster cannot be known. As soon as areas become safe to reach, the rescue teams will return to provide food, medical care and emergency assistance to animals in need.

The animals of Nepal need us now. Every donation helps provide food, veterinary care and rescue support.

100% of your donation goes directly towards emergency aid for animals in Nepal.

Please help. Every second counts.

The post Nepal: Animal rescuers keep fighting as the waters rise 🐾❤️ appeared first on Animal Heroes.

This summer, Europe was once again engulfed in flames. Major wildfires raged particularly in France, Spain, Portugal and Greece. By the end of July, more wildfires had already been recorded than in the whole of 2025 — a year that was itself considered exceptionally hot and dry at the time. While the human consequences receive extensive media coverage, the fate of the wild animals living in these areas largely remains out of sight. Yet the impact on them is at least as devastating.

Millions of animals affected, no official count

No one knows exactly how many animals have died this year. Unlike the figures that became available after disasters such as the Australian bushfires of 2019–2020, there is no systematic count of animal casualties from wildfires in Europe. At the time, an estimated 143 million mammals and billions of reptiles, birds and amphibians were affected. Experts who focus on animal welfare during disasters estimate that millions of animals have also died in European wildfires this year.

In the most intense fires, such as those around Bordeaux, experts say the chances of an animal surviving are virtually zero. Even animals that would normally be able to burrow underground, such as reptiles, insects and mice, die from the extreme heat, which penetrates deep into the soil.

Fleeing, suffocating, starving

The impact of a fire varies greatly between animal species. Large, fast-moving animals such as deer and foxes can sometimes escape in time, provided the fire does not spread too quickly. For slow-moving or less mobile animals — hedgehogs, lizards, amphibians and young animals that have not yet left the nest — escape is often impossible. Animals that hide underground may still succumb to suffocation or extreme heat during severe fires.

Smoke is also deadly, and not only at the site of the fire itself. Just as in humans, smoke damages animals’ airways, which can lead to weakness and death even at a distance from the fire.

Animals that survive the flames are not necessarily safe. After a fire, there is often no shrubbery or tree cover left to provide shelter. Animals that return or emerge from hiding find a scorched environment devoid of food and, without cover, become easy prey for owls, crows and other predators. Insect populations, an important food source for many species, can collapse locally, making recovery even more difficult.

New dangers after the fire

The problems do not stop once the flames have been extinguished. Animals that have lost their habitat sometimes move into built-up areas in search of food and shelter. This can lead to a noticeable increase in collisions with cars, as animals become disoriented and find themselves in unfamiliar territory. Ash and the chemicals used to fight the fires can also enter the soil and water, placing additional pressure on animals and their habitats. Burned soil is also more susceptible to erosion, which can have longer-term consequences for water quality and habitat.

A structural, growing problem

This summer’s fires do not stand alone. Europe is one of the fastest-warming continents in the world, meaning wildfires are expected to become more frequent, spread faster and become more difficult to control. This is alarming news for biodiversity: nearly 10,000 animal species that are already threatened worldwide will be exposed to the direct danger of these types of fires more frequently. For ecosystems, this means a long road to recovery — if recovery is even possible for vulnerable species that were already under pressure.

Like many other organisations working for animal welfare, Animal Heroes believes that better systems for recording animal casualties should be established across Europe, so that the true scale of these silent disasters can eventually be documented. Germany, for example, has been using the FireWatch system for some time: 360-degree rotating cameras mounted on high towers continuously scan the surrounding area and, under favourable conditions, can detect activity up to 40 to 60 kilometres away. A developing plume of smoke can sometimes be detected from around 20 kilometres away, after which AI software assesses whether it is actually smoke. If confirmed, an alert is sent to the German forest fire control centre. The earlier a fire is detected, the smaller it will generally remain, and the fewer habitats and animal lives will be lost.

As long as there is no structured monitoring of animal casualties, the picture of the impact on animals will remain largely a blind spot.

Animal Heroes takes action in Spain

The devastating wildfires around Madrid and Ávila are destroying habitats and leaving thousands of animals without food or shelter.

Alexandra Leiton Endara lives in Ávila, one of the hardest-hit areas. She is coordinating emergency aid for animals with volunteers from four villages in the affected area. Together, they have established a central collection point where urgently needed supplies are received and then distributed across the affected areas. They also keep track of who receives what, so that everything that comes in can be distributed fairly.

The most urgent needs are: birdseed and seed mixes for wild birds; food for rabbits and other small herbivores; feed for farm animals, including goats, sheep, cows, donkeys and horses; milk replacer for orphaned and rescued young animals; hay, straw and alfalfa for grazing animals; vegetables and fruit for herbivores and wild animals; corn, grain and acorns for wild boar and deer; and salt licks for grazing wildlife and livestock.

Every donation, large or small, helps provide life-saving support to animals affected by this disaster.

Do you want to help animals affected by Spain’s wildfires?

The post The silent victims: the impact of European wildfires on wildlife appeared first on Animal Heroes.

Our arrival in La Adrada

On 2 August, we set off early in the morning for La Adrada, a village in the province of Ávila (Castile and León) that has been severely affected by the wildfires.

Until the very last moment, we were unsure whether we would even be able to reach the village. The evening before, we received a call from Alexandra, our local contact who is coordinating emergency aid for animals. The fire had flared up again, and part of La Adrada had to be evacuated for the second time. There was a real possibility that the access roads would be closed again.

Nevertheless, we decided to leave the following morning. While we were on our way, we received the reassuring news that the fire was temporarily under control and that the roads were accessible again. Early that evening, we arrived in La Adrada, where we immediately met Alexandra and the local volunteers who had been working tirelessly for days to help animals in the affected area.

People looked as though they had just climbed out of a chimney. Their clothes, faces and hands were covered in soot (see photo). Smoke still hung everywhere, stinging our eyes, and the smell of burnt wood filled the air. The forest was no longer engulfed in flames, but in many places the fire was still smouldering underground among the roots of the trees.

The landscape was almost unreal. Blackened hills stretched as far as we could see. It felt as though we had stepped onto a film set. A few years ago, we experienced something similar while providing emergency aid during the wildfires on Rhodes, but you never get used to it. It is indescribably sad to see so much nature destroyed in such a short space of time.

A paradise built over seventy years

Alexandra quickly proved to be someone who gets things done. Less than ten minutes after meeting her, we were already in her car. Our first destination was the botanical garden of Axel Mahlau, a German nature lover who, together with his Spanish wife Amelia, created a remarkable natural sanctuary.

Over nearly seventy years, the garden grew into a botanical treasure containing more than 1,700 different species of trees and plants from all over the world.

Axel told us that, as a child, his parents gave him a small patch of garden. It was there that he learned how to care for flowers and plants and discovered his love of nature. That passion never left him. Later, Axel and his family brought back unusual plants and seeds from their travels to Spain. His life’s work eventually became a botanical garden where nature lovers, schoolchildren and other visitors could discover its extraordinary biodiversity.

What had once been a lush green paradise was now approximately 90% destroyed.

In several places the ground was still smouldering. All that remained of some rare plants was a melted flowerpot. Yet in the middle of the property, one small house was still standing. Miraculously, the home of Axel and Amelia had been spared.

What makes it even more painful is that the same area was struck by a major wildfire 46 years ago. On that occasion, the botanical garden was almost entirely spared. This time, the fire showed no mercy.

Every plant had a story

As Axel showed us around, he spoke passionately about his collection. For almost every burnt plant, he could still tell us its Latin name, the country it came from and even its age. You could feel how much love, knowledge and how many years of work had gone into this place.

I quickly realised that this garden was much more than a collection of trees and plants. It was Axel and Amelia’s life’s work.

A safe haven for animals

But the botanical garden was also a safe haven for animals.

Donkeys, pigs, ducks, turkeys, geese, a peacock and various other birds live there, all of them taken in for different reasons. Suddenly, we heard two donkeys braying loudly. For the first time since we arrived, their voices brought a little life back into an otherwise lifeless landscape.

When the evacuation order was issued, Axel and Amelia opened all the doors to the animal enclosures. They hoped the animals would flee and find somewhere safe. The chicken enclosure, however, was already too close to the fire and could no longer be reached safely. Sadly, there was no way for those animals to escape. None of the chickens survived the fire.

When Axel and Amelia were eventually able to return, many of the other animals were still on the property. Whether they had fled and later returned, or had somehow found shelter on the grounds during the fire, will probably always remain a mystery.

Melted roofs

The heat was so intense that the roofs of several animal enclosures completely melted.

Because genets live in the surrounding area, the animals cannot safely roam outside at night. For now, they are all having to stay together in the only enclosure whose roof is still somewhat intact. It is far from ideal for animals that are used to having plenty of space during the day and returning safely to their own enclosures at night.

There is another problem as well.

A natural water source on the property is now attracting deer back to the area. Axel wants to provide food for them, but he is also worried that they may eat the approximately 150 plants that managed to survive the fire.

Thanks to your support

Thanks to the enormous media attention surrounding our emergency appeal, and the incredible support of people including the readers of INSpanje.nl, we have now raised more than €20,000.

The following morning, we practically cleared out an agricultural supply store so that we could buy enough food. This will not only help care for Axel’s animals in the short term, but will also provide food for wildlife and animals at other locations in the surrounding area.

We also purchased our first truckload of hay. Thanks to Alexandra’s contacts, we found reliable local suppliers, Carlos and Eva, as well as a permanent storage location. This means that new deliveries can continue to arrive over the coming weeks and months for birds, deer, goats, wild boar, donkeys and other animals.

Together with Axel, an animal organisation from Madrid and the local forestry service, Alexandra will make sure that the food reaches the places where it is needed most.

Our support doesn’t stop here

Because the fire risk remains very high, we have decided to purchase food in smaller quantities at a time. The last thing we want is for a stockpile of 50,000 kilos of hay to go up in flames. Purchasing supplies in stages also allows us to respond to changing needs and ensure that enough funds remain available to provide food for as many animals as possible over the next two months.

Only when the first rains arrive will the grass begin to grow again and many animals be able to find enough food for themselves. Until then, they will remain dependent on human assistance.

Our colleague Lucas, who lives in Portugal, will soon travel to La Adrada at his own expense to repair the damaged roofs of the animal enclosures and the fencing. This will allow the birds to return to their familiar shelters, while the deer can be safely fed near the water source without eating the last remaining plants.

When we said goodbye to Axel, he told us that he does not know whether his botanical garden will ever be the way it once was. At the same time, he said that all the support he has received over the past few days has given him hope again.

We took that feeling home with us too.

Nature here has suffered an enormous blow, and many animals will remain dependent on help for months to come. Thanks to your donations, we have been able to take the first step. We cannot solve everything, but together we have made sure that animals that have lost everything will at least have access to food in the difficult period ahead.

On behalf of Alexandra, Axel, Amelia, all the volunteers and, above all, the animals: thank you so much for your support.

What happens next?

Thanks to your donations, we have achieved an incredible amount in a very short time. But our work in Spain is not finished yet.

Over the next two to three months, many animals will remain completely dependent on emergency food. Only after the first rains will the grass begin to grow again and many animals be able to find enough food for themselves. Until then, we will continue purchasing and distributing emergency food together with Alexandra, Axel and the local volunteers.

Our colleague Lucas will also soon travel to La Adrada at his own expense to repair the damaged roofs of the animal enclosures and the fencing. This will allow the animals to be safely housed again and enable the deer to be fed without them eating the few remaining plants that survived the fire.

However, building materials are still needed for these repairs. Axel does not yet know exactly how much they will cost, but we hope to raise an additional €3,000 for the materials. Every euro will go directly to Axel, enabling him to purchase what is needed to make the animal enclosures safe again.

Would you consider helping us one more time? Every additional donation, no matter how small, helps us continue purchasing emergency food over the coming months and repair the damaged animal shelters. Together, we can help as many animals as possible through this difficult period.

The post We visited a devastated paradise appeared first on Animal Heroes.

He came up with the warning sign for crossing toads, but Harry Voss is far more than the man behind that single idea. He is an animal rescuer through and through. While most people shake their heads at images of animal suffering on television or online before quickly moving on, Harry puts on his coat and heads straight to where help is needed.

Born in Apeldoorn in 1951, Harry became a volunteer for the World Wildlife Fund at an early age, making him one of the Netherlands’ first animal rights activists. The neighbourhood where he grew up bordered woodland, and it was there that his love of wildlife first took root, nurtured by encounters with wild boar and amphibians.

“The hooligans of the forest,” he calls the wild boar that roam the woods around Apeldoorn. “I feel the urge to be out in the field almost every day, preferably in the Kroondomein.”

To this day, he channels that passion into practical work for organisations including Wakker Dier, Faunabescherming (the Dutch Wildlife Protection Society) and the Party for the Animals.

After retiring, Harry found a new role in Apeldoorn’s municipal council, where he represented the Party for the Animals for many years. But the proverbial “retirement behind the geraniums” was never for him. The moment he left the council chamber, he continued his activism with undiminished determination.

Nor does he let claims about the supposed necessity of hunting wild boar go unchallenged.

“People often ask me whether there won’t be too many wild boar if we stop hunting them. But wildlife populations regulate themselves. Did you know that wild boar actually produce more piglets when they experience fear and stress? Hunting therefore leads to more boar, not fewer.”

His alternative is both simple and well thought out: give the animals enough space, prevent them from wandering onto roads, and introduce lower speed limits on the Veluwe.

“There is so much you can do to live alongside wild boar in a responsible way.”

His admiration for the animals is genuine and undisguised.

“Wild boar are so unpretentious. They have such a primal, rugged appearance.”

Yet behind that tough exterior lies a remarkably gentle animal. Female wild boar are devoted, protective mothers that give birth in separate nests and nurse their young for three to four months. They fiercely defend their piglets whenever danger threatens.

“These animals are the victims of some of the greatest suffering experienced by wildlife. They cannot speak up for themselves. That’s why I do it for them.”

And Harry is far from slowing down. In 2018, under the auspices of Faunabescherming, he founded the Wild Boar Society – From Fair Game to Safe from Bullets!

“It sounds rather mysterious, and it is,” he says with a smile. “But hunting clubs are just as secretive, and this is our counterpart.”

Through the society, he lobbies municipalities, provincial authorities and campsite owners to improve animal welfare. For example, he urged the municipality of Heerde to install wildlife fencing instead of intensifying the hunting of wild boar.

Sometimes his activism is highly visible. In 2020, when the annual hunting season for newborn wild boar piglets resumed—while many were still dependent on their mothers’ milk—the Wild Boar Society staged a protest at a roundabout in Apeldoorn. Members dressed a sculpture of a mother boar and her piglets in bulletproof vests: a playful yet powerful protest intended to draw attention to what Harry calls the annual “Herod hunt of the newborns”.

Every year, thousands of wild boar are killed in the Netherlands. Most are found on the Veluwe, the country’s largest wild boar habitat, where animals die through culling, road accidents and, increasingly, attacks by wolves. The exact number varies from year to year, depending on population size and food availability. In extreme years such as 2021, around 5,000 wild boar were shot on the Veluwe in just a few months as part of population control measures.

“And that,” Harry Voss says without hesitation, “is 5,000 too many.”

His life’s work has inspired others as well. In November 2023, the book Harry Voss and the Hooligans of the Forest was published. Written by Aad van der Waal, with a foreword by acclaimed children’s author Bibi Dumon Tak, the book intertwines Harry’s childhood memories and decades of activism with twenty poems about wild boar—a literary tribute to a man who has devoted half his life to defending animals that cannot defend themselves.

The post Animal Hero Harry Voss appeared first on Animal Heroes.

On the Indian side of Punjab alone, more than 7,100 livestock animals officially drowned. In Pakistani Punjab, thousands more animals perished in the fast-rising, turbulent floodwaters, which reached several metres in depth. Millions of animals that survived the initial flooding were then left stranded without food. More than 250,000 animals in India and over 500,000 in Pakistan faced acute shortages of food and clean water after grasslands and crops were completely washed away. The contaminated, stagnant water also left weakened buffaloes, cows and goats highly vulnerable to disease.

Pakistan’s Livestock Department launched a historic rescue operation, evacuating more than 690,000 animals to higher ground. Veterinary teams treated around 55,000 animals and vaccinated more than 250,000 against infectious diseases. For the first time, the government also distributed free emergency fodder (vanda) on a large scale. However, government agencies simply do not have the capacity to reach every village. That is why charities such as Animal Heroes work alongside local communities to raise funds for emergency fodder for starving animals in the hardest-hit areas. One of those local communities is led by a remarkable man: Pastor Faisal Saleem.

An animal lover since childhood

Faisal Saleem leads a small Christian church in a village in Punjab, a region that has endured the effects of flooding for decades. The severe floods of 1978 were followed by the even more destructive floods of 1988, when every major river burst its banks and thousands of villages were submerged in what became the most catastrophic and deadly flooding in Punjab’s history. Further devastating floods struck in 1993 and again in 2025, inundating large parts of the region and claiming countless human and animal lives.

For Pastor Faisal, tackling this suffering is deeply personal. While he and his church organised emergency relief for people affected by the floods, he was profoundly moved by the suffering of the livestock, buffaloes and cows left behind without food or care.

“I’ve been an animal lover since childhood,” says Pastor Faisal. “While distributing food parcels to flood victims, I saw buffaloes and other animals that were hungry too. That touched me deeply. I also once saw a dog that had been hit by a car. It was paralysed and crying out in pain. The suffering of these animals inspired me to continue helping them.”

From local relief to international cooperation

That deep compassion prompted Pastor Faisal to seek international support on his own initiative through organisations such as Animal Heroes. Much of his daily life revolves around serving his community. He mobilises members of his church and fellow villagers to organise and distribute emergency fodder to animals in need. As a result, his Christian faith and his humanitarian work are closely intertwined.

Thanks to dedicated people like Pastor Faisal, emergency aid reaches villages that are difficult for large aid organisations and government agencies to access. His commitment demonstrates that meaningful change often begins with one person who refuses to turn away from suffering, whether it affects people or animals.

The post Pastor Faisal: The Man Who Saved Animals from Flooded Punjab appeared first on Animal Heroes.

The Bethlehem Shelter provides a lifeline for hundreds of vulnerable animals who have nowhere else to turn. With funding under pressure and resources stretched thin, Diana Babish is an animal hero working against the odds to keep the shelter running.

Plea for help as funding and resources are strained

Every day, hundreds of calls come into the only registered animal shelter in the West Bank. Each one is about an animal in need of help. The Animal and Environment Association (AEA) Bethlehem Shelter has been run by Diana Babish since 2016. Her goal is to help end animal suffering and their poor treatment. She’s already rescued and cured over 6,000 animals.

“What keeps me going on this rescue mission is my passion toward animals. I love them so much and my heart is always feeling pain because of what they suffer living on the streets and the abusive people. They suffer from hunger, ticks, illness, and dirty food from dirty garbage. I am still fighting for their rights. I approached governments to prepare a draft of laws to protect animals and punish the abusive people. I approached all kinds of organizations to find a way to monitor vets, pet stores, and force municipalities to adopt TNR (Trap-Neuter-Release) projects.” – Diana Babish

As the only registered animal charity in the West Bank, the AEA Bethlehem Shelter faces immense demand for help. With every call that comes in about an animal, the shelter takes on all of the costs for transporting, treating, and caring for them. The shelter has nearly 200 animals, including 17 cats and 180 dogs. This is in addition to the 31 animals Diana has brought home to care for.

Caring for this many animals isn’t easy. Many of the animals in the shelter require special care because they were found neglected and abused. In the shelter right now, there is a dog with a broken spine who cannot walk and constantly has to stay on pads, one is blind, one has bullets in her lungs, and another has nerve problems that make her movements unsteady.

And with the conflict lasting for years with no end in sight, Diana’s need to help animals is limited by resources. She depends on international donations to keep her shelter running. Without continued support, the shelter’s future remains uncertain and Diana fears it may not be able to continue caring for the animals who depend on it.

The shelter’s existence is constantly under pressure

Outside of the financial and resource challenges, the shelter’s existence is often under pressure from the municipality and political challenges.

The shelter sits on 200 square meters of land. The municipality who once gave permission for the shelter to operate on the land, no longer offers any support. Especially as the conflict has intensified and become more political. Requests to expand their land have been repeatedly denied. For the number of dogs that live in the shelter, this is not enough space. But the dogs have nowhere else that will care for them.

Diana has also not been deterred by municipality actions to push the shelter out. The mayor cut their access to water? She persevered by buying and transporting water for the past 6 years. The shelter received an eviction order because a complaint came from the municipality? Diana fought against this because she knows if this shelter disappears, the situation for the animals will become more dire.

In recent months, the shelter’s challenges have continued to escalate. The shelter is located in Area C near an Israeli control tower occupied by soldiers and homes with settlers. This close proximity has already resulted in several run-ins where settlers came with weapons to threaten the animal shelter. Only after speaking directly with Israeli animal associations and the Israeli government did the threatening visits from the settlers stop.

When an animal needs help, Diana is there

Diana raises awareness about animal welfare at a school

“When I see how the lives of these animals change since the day of rescue till the day when they become healthy and have a better chance to be adopted…This makes me happy to see how happy they become.” – Diana Babish

Diana is out on the streets every day to feed the stray cats and dogs. When animals are sick or injured, she takes care of them and even takes the more severe cases to vets for medical care.

Like most shelters, their goal is to rescue and care for as many animals as possible. But it doesn’t end with animal care. Diana works on everything from advocacy and education, to rescue and rehabilitation. Animals in the shelter are provided vaccines, microchips, food, surgeries, and sometimes even a new forever home.

With the growing number of stray animals, the local authorities resort to poisoning and shooting stray dogs to control the population. Diana is looking to change that. Last month, she and volunteers from the shelter met with Walid Abu Halawah from the Ministry of Local Governance. They pushed for more humane measures to control the stray animal population. For instance, Diana cares for the local dog population through their Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) program. It’s regarded as an effective and long term measure to control population growth.

How you can help Diana in the West Bank

The Bethlehem Shelter depends on international donations to continue rescuing and caring for vulnerable dogs and cats in the West Bank. With no government funding, every meal, medical treatment, and safe place to sleep is made possible through the compassion of people around the world. Without this support, the shelter would struggle to provide even the most basic care for these animals.

But these donations have decreased. It’s not because the need or compassion isn’t there. Diana believes political tension has made it harder for international donors to send donations to Palestinian NGOs. Even European organizations the shelter could once rely on have decreased their support due to the complicated politics of the conflict in Gaza. According to Diana, the grant was denied because it was based in Palestine, despite being fully accredited and having the approved documents and forms.

The reality is that the shelter cannot pause its work when funding becomes scarce. These animals continue to need food, treatment, and safety every day.

Animal Heroes founder, Esther Kef, with Diana in the West Bank

Today, nearly 200 animals rely on the shelter. Your donation directly helps provide food, shelter, veterinary care, and emergency support for the animals under Diana’s protection. For instance, a 25 euro donation can help cover one vaccination, one tick pill, or 24 cans of wet food. Even a small contribution can make a meaningful difference in the lives of animals who have already endured so much.

Diana is just one of many animal heroes around the world saving animals. Read about more animal heroes like Ellie Lukenge in Uganda, Mohammad Abualrob in Jenin, or our veterinarians in Gaza.

The post Diana Babish: Courageously keeping an animal shelter in the West Bank alive for animals in need appeared first on Animal Heroes.

More than ten years on the front line for animals

Ellie Lukenge is the manager of Animal Lifeline Uganda (ALU), a genuine animal shelter in a country where the government typically has stray dogs and cats poisoned to combat rabies and overpopulation. For more than ten years, Ellie has chosen a different path: sterilising, neutering and vaccinating. His organisation has saved hundreds of animals from certain death and established free sterilisation clinics. Recently, thanks to donor support, more than 530 dogs and cats were sterilised and vaccinated, and no fewer than 9,000 animals benefited from free rabies vaccinations.

Ellie: “We mainly use the little money we earn from our salaries and the occasional donations from international supporters who sometimes help us.”

The fight against fake shelters

 The only way to advocate for them is to protect their welfare, veterinary care and rights.— Ellie Lukenge, manager of Animal Lifeline Uganda

But Uganda is also known worldwide for a deeply troubling problem: the country has more fake animal shelters than anywhere else in the world. Organised criminal networks set up fraudulent shelters on a large scale, complete with stolen photos from real rescue centres, fake certificates and heart-rending stories. The money that generous donors transfer disappears into the pockets of the fraudsters. In some cases, animals are deliberately injured to create even more distressing images.

Ellie openly reports these networks to the authorities — and that is dangerous. He has already filed more than twenty complaints with the police. Members of criminal organisations have shown up at his shelter to threaten him in person. Still, he continues.

Recently, his efforts led to a concrete breakthrough. A 23-year-old man was arrested for animal abuse and a judge ordered the closure of his fake shelter. Thanks to a donation from Animal Heroes, Ellie was able to rescue the 33 dogs and transfer them to ALU — along with the associated costs for kennels, veterinary care and daily upkeep. Three of them did not survive.

Ellie: We have been threatened by fake shelter operators, but because we are determined to put an end to this practice, we have carried on.

Why intervention is so difficult

The scale and violent nature of the fraud make intervention extremely difficult. Legal organisations have no authority to seize animals, and attempts to track down fraudsters regularly result in threats. International organisations such as Animal-Kind International warn explicitly: this is a matter for the police, not for individual volunteers. Yet there are cautious signs of hope — at the end of 2024, an anonymous source indicated that the Ugandan government is considering taking action against fake animal shelters. Ellie Lukenge is not waiting to find out.

How to spot a fake shelter — and how to support a real one

The difference is often hard to see, but there are clear warning signs. Fake shelters always ask for money via personal accounts or anonymous PayPal accounts. They have no official registration with the Ugandan government (URSB) and no licence from the Ministry of Agriculture (MAAIF). Their social media followers are almost exclusively foreign animal lovers — no Ugandans. And if you look closely, you will see the same dogs appearing on multiple pages belonging to different ‘shelters’.

Animal Lifeline Uganda is verified and transparent. Through Animal Heroes, you can be certain that your donation reaches real animals — and the man who risks his life to stand up for them.

Help animals in Uganda

The post Ellie Lukenge: The man who risks his life for honest animal rescue appeared first on Animal Heroes.

As Animal Heroes enters its next phase, we are introducing an updated look that reflects where we are today while staying true to the mission that brought us here: saving animals in crisis and supporting the people who risk everything to rescue them.

Why the change?

Animal Heroes has grown far beyond what we imagined when we started in 2022. What began as a small effort to support local animal rescuers has become an international organisation responding to crises in some of the world’s most challenging environments.

Today, we work alongside trusted local partners, support emergency response efforts in active war zones and disaster areas, and help animals affected by conflict, displacement, and natural disasters.

We felt it was time for the way we present ourselves to reflect the organisation Animal Heroes has become today: an experienced international organisation supporting animals and rescuers in some of the world’s most challenging circumstances.

What’s changing?

Over the coming weeks, you’ll notice some updates, including:

• A new look across our website and communications

• Clearer information about our work and its impact

• A refreshed website experience

• Updates to our social media channels and other platforms

These changes will help us share the stories of the animals, rescuers, and communities we support more clearly.

What remains the same?

What hasn’t changed is our commitment.

We remain dedicated to providing emergency aid to animals affected by war, natural disasters, and other global crises.

We continue to support local rescuers working in some of the most difficult conditions imaginable, guided by our core values of courage, integrity, agility, and openness.

None of this work would be possible without our partners and the community of donors who stand alongside us. Their support remains at the heart of everything we do.

While some things may look different, our mission, our team, and our commitment to animals in crisis remain exactly the same.

A message from our founder, Esther Kef

“When Animal Heroes began, we had no roadmap. We simply saw incredible people risking their own safety to save animals, and we knew they deserved support.

Three years later, I am humbled by what we have achieved together. Every rescue, every clinic, every animal that received a second chance was only possible because of this community.

These changes mark an important milestone, but they don’t change our purpose. If anything, they strengthen it. We remain committed to supporting the heroes who show up for animals every day, often in the most difficult circumstances imaginable.

Thank you for believing in this mission, for standing with us, and for helping us build Animal Heroes into what it is today.”

Made possible by volunteers

There is one more thing we’d like to share about this new chapter.

At Animal Heroes, we believe that every euro possible should go towards helping animals in need. That’s why this entire project was made possible through the dedication of volunteers and pro bono support.

We are deeply grateful to everyone who contributed their creativity, skills, and time to help bring this chapter to life.

A special thank you goes to Giada Tamborrino of Giada Tamborrino Studio for creating our new visual identity, to our dear colleague Cleo Sardelis for developing the strategy and leading the project, and to our amazing colleagues in the web team, Annemieke Wichers and László Bocskai, for building the new website.

What happens next?

Over the coming weeks, you’ll see these changes appear across our website, communications, and online channels.

Our work continues uninterrupted, and we look forward to sharing this next chapter with you.

Join us

We invite you to explore our updated website, follow our work on LinkedIn, Instagram, and through our newsletter, and continue supporting animals and rescuers in crisis.

Together, we can continue saving animals in need around the world.

The post A new chapter for Animal Heroes appeared first on Animal Heroes.

The war in Gaza is an escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and has been ongoing since October 7, 2023.

As violence and destruction continue to disrupt daily life in Gaza, animals have become some of the most vulnerable victims. Donkeys and horses, in particular, are suffering immensely.

Donkeys and horses: Lifelines under extreme pressure

Lifesaving donkeys have replaced cars and trucks and are, for many people, the only means of transportation. They are forced to carry heavy construction materials and transport the wounded and the dead across Gaza. At the same time, they are weakened by a lack of food, dehydration, and unbearable wounds. Thousands of dogs and cats are also dying of hunger.

The work of Dr. Hossam Ahmed

Dr. Hossam Ahmed is responsible for the clinic in Deir al Balah. He has become known for his work under extremely difficult conditions, risking his life to provide critical care for animals. Together with his team, he also distributes free food to dogs and cats.

Palestinians bring all kinds of animals to the clinic, but most are donkeys, horses, and cats. Their problems are largely caused by food shortages. Many animals suffer from digestive issues, malnutrition, and dehydration. Some pets share the already scarce food of their owners. Cats in Gaza eat whatever they can find — including grass, bread, and lentils — to survive.

“There is no grain for horses and donkeys, so they eat from garbage bins,” one of the veterinarians explains. “The water they drink is salty because filtration systems are not functioning, which leads to severe stomach problems.”

Injuries, starvation, and lack of medical supplies

In addition, horses and donkeys often suffer from serious injuries, including wounds caused by shrapnel. They are also injured from pulling extremely heavy carts. Due to the lack of food, they have lost significant weight. Their bones protrude and rub painfully against the carts, causing open wounds. While these can be treated with antibiotics, the real solution is food. Medication is scarcely available in Gaza, but the veterinarians do everything they can to provide at least some level of care.

A devastating decline in animal population

Before the war, there were an estimated 400,000 animals in Gaza. Since October 2023, that number has decreased by more than 80 percent. Thousands of animals have already died from malnutrition and dehydration, and without urgent aid, many more will follow.

Our veterinary team

Our other two veterinarians are Dr. Omar Qudaih and Dr. Alaa Al Bashiti, a young woman who lives in a tent with her husband and three-year-old son.

Alaa shares:

“My decision to become a veterinarian was never just a career choice. From a young age, I felt a deep connection to animals, especially those who suffer in silence. Over time, that feeling became a responsibility: to relieve pain, protect life, and be a voice for those who cannot speak. Today, in the context of war, this work has taken on an even deeper meaning. It has become a way to preserve compassion and humanity in a place where both are constantly under pressure.

In my country, the number of female veterinarians is steadily growing. Despite the difficult circumstances, many women enter and remain in this field with remarkable resilience. But working here is not only about medicine. We face the same fears, losses, and instability as everyone else. Still, we continue, because the need is great and the responsibility feels deeply personal.

I have witnessed many painful cases, but one remains with me: a donkey injured during a bombardment. The physical wounds were severe, but what struck me most was the fear. The animal was trembling, withdrawn, as if it had lost any sense of safety. In such situations, treatment is not only clinical. It requires patience, gentleness, and the understanding that trauma is not only physical. In times of war, full recovery is rare, but even relieving suffering becomes deeply meaningful.

What we need most in the clinic are basic yet essential supplies: antibiotics, anesthetics, painkillers, sterile surgical materials, and a stable power supply. These are not always available. Sometimes we are forced to improvise in ways that should never happen in medical care. Adequate nutrition for recovering animals is also hard to find. Stability itself has become one of our greatest challenges.

Donkeys have become essential for survival here. They carry water, food, mattresses, and belongings for displaced families, often far beyond their physical limits. They are overworked, exhausted, and frequently injured.

Many have not survived. Some were killed directly by violence, while many others died slowly from hunger, dehydration, and extreme exhaustion. I have seen donkeys with severe harness wounds, too weak to stand, yet still being pushed forward because people themselves are struggling to survive. It is a shared fate — humans and animals trapped in the same cycle.

Animals like donkeys are not just animals here — they are lifelines.

I am the mother of a three-year-old child, and I try to protect and comfort him while we live in a tent. The life we once knew is gone — our home has been destroyed, my husband has lost his income, and with it our sense of stability and safety.

What hurts the most is not only what we have lost, but also the feeling that I cannot use what I have worked so hard to achieve. I cannot even start a small project to rebuild our lives. Every day feels like standing still, while I carry the heavy responsibility for my child’s future.

Despite everything, I hold on to hope. I continue to believe that one opportunity, one chance of support, can change everything — for me and my family.”

To support our work in Gaza you can donate through this link

The post Our veterinarians in Gaza appeared first on Animal Heroes.

The West Bank is marked by severe instability, military rule, and daily violence, making everyday life extremely dangerous. Despite this, Mohammad, our veterinarian in Jenin, strives to make it a more compassionate place for both people and animals.

Roots and Passion

Mohammad Abualrob was born in Jenin and grew up in a Palestinian farming family deeply connected to the land. His father worked hard as a farmer, and Mohammad spent his days observing and caring for sheep, birds, rabbits, dogs, and cats. Growing up surrounded by nature and animals deepened his love and passion for them and gave him an early understanding of their suffering. This realization — that animals suffer and that people can make a difference — became the driving force behind his decision to study veterinary medicine.

Professional Journey and Challenges

Mohammad is now a fifth-year veterinary student at An-Najah National University. Last March, he founded our emergency animal clinic in Jenin. The clinic began in a small space that was offered free of charge, but due to the escalation of military operations and raids by the Israeli army, the location became extremely dangerous. Today, Mohammad has moved all essential equipment for the Animal Heroes emergency clinic to his home, where he treats injured and sick animals.

Supporting Farmers and the Vulnerable

Mohammad’s role goes beyond treating stray animals. He also supports humble Palestinian farmers who depend on their livestock as their only source of income. These farmers face severe economic hardship and struggle to meet their basic needs. In Mohammad and his clinic, they find a lifeline, as they often cannot afford treatment. Mohammad provides them with medical care and expertise, understanding that saving an animal for a poor farmer can mean saving an entire family.

Scope of Care

Most of the animals treated are strays, while others belong to families who cannot afford veterinary care. His patients include wild birds, turtles, rabbits, chickens, horses, donkeys, and even camels, all under the medical supervision of the team at the Joyce Hofman Clinic in Amsterdam.

Needs and Challenges of the Clinic

Despite his determination and courage, the clinic faces major logistical and technical challenges. There is an urgent need for advanced veterinary equipment to diagnose complex cases and perform precise surgeries. The lack of such equipment makes fieldwork under wartime conditions and daily military operations extremely difficult and limits the ability to save more lives of animals suffering in silence.

We are incredibly proud of Mohammad, a sincere and courageous colleague who dedicates his life to saving lives while taking daily risks because of the ongoing military operations in cities and refugee camps. His dedication to the mission of Animal Heroes represents hope in the midst of suffering and serves as a call to everyone who believes in these animals’ right to care and life.

If you would like to support the work of Dr. Mohammad in the Westbank, please click here

The post Mohammad Abualrob: Courage and veterinary care in the heart of conflict appeared first on Animal Heroes.