In the midst of Gaza’s devastating conflict, one organization continues its mission to rescue and care for the strip’s most vulnerable animals, operating under conditions that would cause most humanitarian efforts to collapse.
Sulala Animal Rescue, founded by Saeed Al-Err in 2006, remains the Gaza Strip’s first and only animal welfare organization. Despite forced evacuations, supply shortages, and daily threats from airstrikes and ground operations, the team continues to respond to animal emergencies and provide critical care for hundreds of animals that would otherwise have no one to help them.
Al-Err, a former Palestinian Authority employee who attended a dog training course in Russia before founding Sulala, has dedicated nearly two decades to changing attitudes toward animals in Gaza. Before the war, he and his team worked seven days a week, roaming the streets to feed strays, provide veterinary care, and rescue animals in distress.
The organization operated a main shelter in northern Gaza that housed approximately 400 dogs, along with cats and working animals including donkeys and horses. When the conflict escalated, Sulala was forced to evacuate multiple times, relocating operations from northern to central Gaza. Cats and disabled dogs were among the first animals evacuated, initially moving to the Nuseirat refugee camp.
The war has exacted a severe toll on Sulala’s operations and staff. Nineteen-year-old employee Loay Rami Al-Wadi was killed early in the conflict. The organization has faced critical shortages of food and medical supplies, with shipments stopped since early in the war. Animals Australia, which has served as Sulala’s sole ongoing funding organization since June 2021, sent a truck of aid to the Rafah crossing, though delivery faced significant delays.
Al-Err now describes his efforts as providing a shelter for displaced dogs, acknowledging the shared fate of displacement faced by both humans and animals in Gaza. The organization currently cares for over 120 cats, dozens of dogs, and working animals, all while operating makeshift pop-up clinics at refugee camps.
The bond between Gazans and their animals has emerged as a powerful story amid the conflict. Many residents have chosen to carry their pets long distances during displacement, refusing to abandon them despite severe hardships. Children regularly bring rescued animals to Sulala’s team, asking for help.
Al-Err and his brother have demonstrated remarkable resourcefulness, designing and building mobility aids for disabled animals using scrap materials from old bicycles and toy cars when specialized veterinary prosthetics became unavailable in Gaza.
Sulala’s work extends beyond immediate animal care. The organization has long promoted animal welfare through education programs at nurseries, kindergartens, and schools throughout Gaza. This advocacy work has changed community attitudes and inspired younger generations to show compassion toward animals.
Animals Australia launched a global fundraiser for Sulala when the current conflict began, recognizing the extraordinary courage required to prioritize animal welfare during war. Spokesperson Annelies Keuleers, based in Belgium, helps coordinate international support for the organization despite regular internet outages across Gaza.
Al-Err spoke about the psychological impact of the conflict on animals, noting that they become frightened when they hear aircraft overhead and terrified when bombs fall. Even animals sheltered indoors show signs of trauma, running to hide when they hear planes approaching.
The organization faces ongoing challenges including telecommunications blackouts that make it difficult for people to report wounded animals, severe restrictions on the entry of food and medical supplies, and lack of fuel, power, and fresh water. Despite these obstacles, Sulala continues to distribute what aid they receive and provide emergency veterinary care.
Sulala relies entirely on donations and a monthly pension Al-Err receives from the Palestinian Authority. The organization accepts contributions through PayPal and through Animals Australia’s urgent appeal fund.
For Al-Err and his family, who dedicate their lives to helping animals, the vision remains unchanged despite the war’s devastation: a day when there are no more stray animals suffering on Gaza’s streets, and a permanent shelter where all animals can receive the care they deserve.
