In the past 10 years, PAL has embarked on a number of projects that have aimed at improving the welfare of animals, mostly cats, dogs, and working animals. Each of the projects had a community engagement aspect that aimed to create a sustainable and lasting impact on animal welfare in Palestine.
Here are some of PAL’s most impactful past projects
1- Animal Ambulance & Vet Clinic:
Between the years of 2019 and 2022 PAL operated the first animal ambulance in the West Bank through generous funding from Animals Australia. The ambulance received aid calls from all over the West Bank and had a daily schedule to respond to such calls. In the beginning, a vet would be in the ambulance to treat animals, but in the next stage of the project PAL started a small vet clinic and the ambulance would bring the injured animals to PAL’s clinic. The vet clinic also welcomed people bringing in community pets or thier own pets for free or subsidized treatment, vaccination, and neutering. PAL also initiated an adoption program and was successfully able to find homes for more than 500 cats and dogs.
2- Stary Dogs CNVR pilot program - Tulkarem
IN 2016 PAL initiated the first-ever CNVR pilot project in Palestine, specifically in the city of Tulkarim. This pilot project was implemented in partnership with Al Najah University’s veterinary school and the Municipality of Tulkarm and received generous funding from the UK-based charity, Dogs Trust.
In the first phase of the project, PAL developed a Best Practice Manual and educational resources for local authorities to use to develop and implement CNVR programs in their local areas. The manual and resources are available free of charge and can be downloaded in both English and Arabic. In the second phase of the project, PAL volunteers participated in performing a dog census, PAL sent 5 specialists to Jordan to attend specialized training on humane trap and release protocols, which was simultaneous to the efforts to construct a dedicated preparation and recovery suite for dogs before and after surgery, as well as the purchase of equipment. The program was formally launched in February 2016. The pilot project achieved its mission of sterilizing and vaccinating 260 dogs out of the 1000 dogs from the count, but most importantly the pilot project revealed the challenges and opportunities of such a project. Enabling better implementation for future projects.
3- Working Animals Project
The working animals project targeted three Palestinian communities to improve the welfare of working horses and donkeys. These were Wadi Qult in the Jericho area, a farming community in the Tulkarm area, and a riding school in Turmus Aya in the area of Ramallah. These communities homed a large number of horses and donkeys which were used as working animals either in tourism, or farming and for riding and training.
The aim of the project was to provide free health checks and treatment of the animals, and to provide basic first aid kits to the owners of the animals, that is in addition to providing tips and guidance on how to care for these animals long term. PAL’s team was able to help around 150 donkeys and horses throughout the project’s duration. In addition, PAL’s team conducted workshops in these areas to provide advice to owners on how to care for their working animals, in follow-up visits PAL’s team was able to notice significant improvements in the animal’s conditions. As part of the project, PAL also produced booklets available for free in Arabic about caring for working animals.
4- Youth for Change Project
In 2015 & 2016 PAL initiated and worked on the project ‘Youth for Change’ which aimed to train university students in leadership skills, concepts of animal welfare, and animal ethics. In addition to training students on how to plan and deliver successful animal protection campaigns. Some of the students from the first training session in 2015, became trainers in 2016 and passed their knowledge to over 280 schoolchildren, in 14 different schools and community groups throughout the West Bank. The project was generously funded by the International Fund for Animal Welfare.
The aim of this project was to create change in our culture and communities by educating and empowering young people to see themselves as active influencers and participants who can solve many of the problems they see around them. The goals of this project were in alignment with PAL’s belief that in order to make a sustainable shift in the culture toward respecting and protecting animals and the environment, we need to educate the next generation of change-makers to be aware of these issues and empower them to take action to change the lives of animals for the better.
5- Sudfeh Cafe
PAL launched the first-ever vegan cafeteria in Palestine in 2016. Sudfeh was established in the thriving Al Quds University Campus in Abu Dis, Jerusalem. The start-up costs for the cafe were raised via a crowdfunding campaign which saw donations totaling over £10,000 being pledged from around the world. As a not-for-profit initiative, all proceeds from the cafeteria were split equally between support for animal protection projects and providing scholarships for struggling students. In addition, as part of the project, PAL developed a first of a kind Palestinian vegan cookbook with a number of delicious, vegan, Palestinian recipes which is available for free download through PAL’s website.
The project was envisioned and initiated by a group of 14-year-old schoolchildren who had taken part in PAL’s “Youth for Change” program and came up with the idea for a vegan cafeteria at the university that they aspire to attend in the future. The group negotiated with the University’s president to secure a space for the cafeteria, as well as the commitment to split the income between PAL to be used for animal welfare projects and scholarships to university students. The project was more than just a vegan cafeteria; it was about healthy eating, kindness to animals, and providing educational opportunities for students who might otherwise be denied the chance of higher education.
