Veterinarian Galia Melman Shalev to Receive 2026 Animal Welfare Award for Heroic Efforts After October 7 Attacks

During the immediate aftermath of the attacks, Shalev remained in Moshav Ein HaBesor, close to the Gaza border, to provide care for pets left behind during evacuations. On the morning of October 7, she and her husband, Ziv, were en route to a cycling training session when the attack began, leaving their two children home alone. Upon returning, they found their community in chaos.

After reconnecting with their children the next day, Shalev and her husband returned to Ein HaBesor, bringing supplies and animal food donated by Vet Market. They encountered distressing scenes, including animals trapped in burned homes and others in desperate need of food and water. As security forces were deployed in the western Negev amid ongoing threats, they conducted searches in evacuated neighborhoods, providing urgent medical treatment and rescue operations for animals.

Shalev shared her experience, stating, "It was different from anything I had experienced during my many years as a veterinarian. The rescue and treatment of the animals from the evacuated communities was simply something that had to be done."

One notable rescue involved a dog from Kibbutz Sufa that had hidden under a couch during the chaos. The frightened pet escaped when soldiers rescued its owners but was later found nearby. Shalev helped coordinate the dog's return, which was a deeply moving moment for the family's reunion.

What began as an impromptu initiative quickly escalated into a large-scale emergency operation. When her private clinic became overcrowded, Shalev and her husband transformed a stable into a temporary shelter. A volunteer network formed around this shelter, which included her daughter and friends setting up a Zoom command center to recruit foster families, as well as a command center established by the veterinarians' organization in Beit Shemesh.

Later, while in Eilat as an evacuee, Shalev established an emergency clinic at the Royal Beach Hotel. Over three months, she provided free veterinary care to hundreds of pets belonging to evacuated families, documenting each case and updating the national database with their information. Shalev remarked that her work during that time helped her maintain her sanity and allowed her to fulfill her purpose in aiding animals and their owners.

WSAVA commended Shalev's contributions, emphasizing the vital role of veterinary professionals in strengthening communities during emergencies. Dr. Anat Lichter-Feld, chair of the Israeli Companion Animal Veterinary Association, praised her work as embodying the highest values of veterinary care: compassion, service, responsibility, and courage. Dr. Segev Dishon, a member of the executive committee, noted that her actions reflected practical leadership and a strong sense of responsibility.

Nearly three years since the events of October 7, Shalev's clinics have resumed operations, although her entire staff has been replaced. She concluded, "Although this award bears my name, it represents the compassion, courage, and commitment of my husband, Ziv, my daughters, and the many volunteers who worked to save animals. It is a powerful reminder of our responsibility as veterinarians to be there for animals and the people who love them in their most difficult moments."