When the war broke out, Gal Lau, 35, a devoted animal lover from central Israel, dedicated herself to rescuing animals that survived the devastation in the Gaza border region. As a proud pet parent to eight cats and two beloved dogs – Nella, an 11-and-a-half-year-old Pinscher, and Simba, a 13-and-a-half-year-old mixed-breed fox – this mission was deeply personal to her.
In the early days, Gal focused on gathering collars, leashes, treats, food and medicine for pets whose families were forced to flee, leaving their cherished companions behind. “Then it hit me – there are still animals in the south waiting desperately to be rescued. I realized I couldn’t just sit back, so I decided to go to them,” she recalls.
In the second week of the war, Gal arrived at the kibbutzim of Be’eri and Kfar Aza. “The area was still a closed military zone, with constant sirens in the background, soldiers and military vehicles everywhere. Homes were completely destroyed, and the air was thick with the smell of fire and loss – a smell that stays with me to this day. At one point, a mortar shell fell just 10 yards away from me, but I turned my fear into determination,” she explains.
“To find the hiding cats, I started thinking like a cat,” she adds with a smile. This strategy helped her locate dozens of cats. She connected with people in the kibbutzim, tracked down the pets’ families, and reunited them with their furry companions. “There’s no more emotional moment than seeing a pet and their human reunite.”
Rescue highlights: Hostage’s cats and the Gaza dog who became a mom
For three months, Gal worked tirelessly, visiting the Gaza border kibbutzim every day to search for animals still waiting for rescue. “I stayed in touch with soldiers in the area so they could notify me if they spotted any pets. I also asked families in the kibbutzim how I could help, promising them I would do everything I could to reunite them with their animals,” she says.
Among the moments she’ll never forget, Gal shares the story of rescuing roosters from the petting zoos in the kibbutzim, helping a dog from Gaza who gave birth to 10 puppies in Kfar Aza (and then finding warm, loving homes for all of them), and locating the two cats of freed hostage Amit Sousanna—Gingis and Katana.
“After Amit was released from Hamas captivity, she insisted on coming personally to the exact spot where I found her cats to bring them home. That reunion was an incredibly emotional moment. I admire Amit – she’s my hero in this war.”
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Even now, Gal continues her work in Kfar Aza with a group of volunteers called “Kfar Aza Cats.” Together, they maintain feeding and shelter stations for local cats, visiting weekly to ensure their well-being. “After a year and two months of volunteering, I truly believe that everyone can do their part, no matter how small, to help their community and its animals,” she says. “It’s about mutual care, unity and hope for the safe return of the hostages.”
In addition to her work at the kibbutzim, Gal volunteers with the “New Start” organization, which rescues animals from petting zoos. This includes the turtle from Be’eri, as well as cats and dogs saved from the Gaza border area. “Animals are so vulnerable, and it was important to me to make sure they weren’t forgotten amid disasters,” she concludes.