Israeli vet who risked her life to save animals after Oct. 7 wins global award

As criticism of Israel and calls against the country intensify around the world, an Israeli veterinarian has received international recognition for risking her life to save animals in the aftermath of the Hamas-led Oct. 7 attack. While most residents were leaving communities near the Gaza border following the attack, Dr. Galia Melman-Shalev of Ein HaBesor chose to return. Beginning Oct. 8, she and her husband entered evacuated communities despite the danger to search for animals left behind — dogs, cats and horses trapped in burned homes, wounded by gunfire or wandering frightened and hungry. What began as improvised rescues under fire grew into a large-scale operation in which hundreds of animals were rescued, treated and reunited with their families. For those efforts, the World Small Animal Veterinary Association, or WSAVA, has awarded Melman-Shalev its 2026 Companion Animal Welfare Award, one of the veterinary profession’s prestigious international honors.