Starting Over Sanctuary

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Starting Over Sanctuary We are a non-profit animal sanctuary located in Israel, we rescue and rehabilitate donkeys and horses which undergo cruelty and abuse.

Over 1,700 animals residing the shelter, 1,000 of them are donkeys. Please join us in our efforts to save them.

15/10/2026

Everything we do here is built on great partnerships with people and organizations who truly care about animal welfare. Today, we want to give a special shout-out to two amazing parts of our sanctuary family:

- Animal Aid Abroad & it's fierce founder Janet Thomas, have been doing tireless, hands-on work for working animals across the globe for nearly 20 years. Almost three years ago, Janet reached out to support the "Hope Complex" section at our sanctuary. Thanks to AAA steady support, we’ve been able to rescue, treat, and rehabilitate hundreds of animals coming from war zones or arriving with severe injuries that needed complex medical care.

- Philip Wollen, an incredible philanthropist and true champion for animals worldwide. Once again, Philip stepped right up without hesitation to support our ongoing work rescuing and caring for donkeys in need.

Partnerships like this are what keep our Hope Compound running right at the heart of the sanctuary. Knowing Philip, Janet, and the AAA team are in our corner gives us the confidence to keep saving lives every single day.

Thank you for making this work possible! 🙏 🩵

14/10/2026

***UPDATE (16/10)***

Thank you so much to everyone who donated and tried to help 🙏 Unfortunately, we just received a sad update from the clinic 😢 Despite all efforts, tragically, she did not survive the surgery. She reached us too late - there was internal bleeding in addition to a ruptured diaphragm. Things like this happen, but if there is any comfort, it is at least knowing that she didn't die in agony alone on the street, but got a real chance from so many people who tried to help 🙏 She was surrounded by warmth and love until the very last moment 💔
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Against all odds, she survived the night - now she urgently needs life-saving surgery!

We found this tiny kitten frozen, dehydrated, and struggling for every breath. Her ear was severely torn, and her face and eyes were covered in pus. We couldn't leave her to suffer alone.

We kept her warm and fought for her all night. This morning, she proved just how strong she is - she isn't giving up!

At the clinic, we received devastating news: she suffers from a diaphragmatic hernia (a torn diaphragm) and needs immediate emergency surgery to survive.

She has already endured so much pain, yet she continues to fight. We need your help to give her a chance at life.

She hasn't given up. Please don’t give up on her either.

Donate now to save her life:

https://www.startingover.org.il/donation

Thank you 🙏

Baruch and Hilwa are off to sleep and wish you all sweet dreams!🐪💙
07/10/2026

Baruch and Hilwa are off to sleep and wish you all sweet dreams!🐪💙

06/10/2026

When Stella the donkey first arrived, we took her for a walk around the sanctuary. That’s when she met Thelma and Louise, our perfect pigs, and it was the very first time Stella had ever seen a pig! 😅
Watch her reaction 👇

04/10/2026

3 days ago, we shared a post about a young donkey whose leg we were forced to amputate. Some of the comments were angry, arguing that it is kinder to put a donkey to sleep rather than "let them suffer". Others insisted that a donkey simply cannot survive on three legs.

We welcome all of your comments with open hearts, and we fully understand where you are coming from - we share those exact same concerns.

So, let’s clear things up: our sanctuary has been operating for 9 years now. Tragically, in our very first few months, we had to perform a leg amputation on a donkey who went on to live a wonderful, thriving life with us. Today, several donkeys live happily at our sanctuary with amputated legs or hooves - almost always the result of ropes tied tightly around their limbs.

Over the years, we have gained extensive experience (to our great sorrow) with amputee donkeys. We know when a donkey can be successfully fitted with a prosthesis that delivers a genuinely high quality of life, and we know exactly what the right rehabilitation process demands. When a donkey gives up, we don't force a losing battle. We recognize when there is no chance of recovery. But when a donkey fights for its life and shows us every sign that it wants to live, we will never be the ones to give up on them. We will stand by their side, every single step of the way.

Take a look at this video, filmed earlier today at our sanctuary. You’ll see Napolis, one of our rescued donkeys, out for a walk with her little baby, Pele.

As you can see, Napolis is an amputee. We rescued her just a few months ago while she was heavily pregnant, suffering from a massive tumor on her chest and a partially severed front leg - the result of a bound rope that caused necrosis and severe tissue loss.

She underwent surgery, gave birth just days later to a healthy, happy little Pele, and two months after that, received a custom prosthesis. Today, it allows her to wander freely with her baby and enjoy the life and liberty she so deeply deserves 🩵

02/10/2026

****An Update: Unfortunately, we had to say goodbye to our beloved Tequila on the operating table💔

His colon was completely destroyed - a tragic reality that could only be discovered during surgery. With heavy hearts, we accepted the heartbreaking truth and said our final farewell to Tequila, one of the finest horses we have ever known😢

We can say with full confidence that we gave him everything and fought for him until the very end.

Thank you to everyone who donated toward his care and supported the effort to save his life ❤️🙏

Tequila was rescued from a life as a heavy cart horse two years ago. He was rehabilitated and lived a life of true freedom among a herd of dozens of happy, rescued horses until this morning❤️
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I am begging you, please help us save our sweet Tequila. He is only six years old, and we refuse to give up on him.

Since early this morning, our veterinary team has been fighting round the clock for his life. We've done everything humanly possible, but his condition is deteriorating fast. Tequila is suffering from severe colic (a life-threatening intestinal emergency in horses) and is in immediate danger.

We have no other choice: we must transport him to the hospital right now. The life-saving treatment costs thousands of dollars, funds we simply do not have.

Tequila is a stunning, gentle horse loved by everyone here. We spent months fighting to rehabilitate him, and he does not deserve to die like this.

Please, give him a fighting chance. Every single donation, no matter how small, and every share of this post can save his life today.

💔 Donate now to save Tequila >> https://www.startingover.org.il/donation

Remember the male donkey with the necrotic leg we rescued yesterday?Well, first off, a quick correction: at the hospital...
01/10/2026

Remember the male donkey with the necrotic leg we rescued yesterday?

Well, first off, a quick correction: at the hospital, we discovered she’s actually a gentle, young female donkey, not a male!

By the time we reached her, the damage to her leg was already severe - the necrotic section had almost completely detached, hanging on by just a tiny bit of tissue.

At the hospital, the team first removed the tissue that couldn’t be saved, and she then went straight into surgery for a clean amputation.

Now begins the long road to recovery.

She’s still extremely weak, anemic, and fighting a severe infection. She’s currently on IV fluids, multiple antibiotics, and strong pain management.

She can’t stand up on her own just yet. Even as she regains her strength, it will take time for her to learn how to rise and balance herself missing part of her leg - especially since that was the leg she relied on most for support.

But through it all, there are bright spots that give us so much hope: she has her appetite back, and she’s eager to eat!

If her recovery goes as hoped, she looks like a great candidate for a prosthetic leg. That would eventually help her stand and move around much more comfortably, just like we’ve managed to do for other donkeys before her. There’s still a long way to go, but we’re so hopeful we can get her there.

And in the meantime, she isn't alone for a single second.

Our volunteers are taking shifts at the hospital - sitting by her side, petting her, cheering her on, and keeping her stocked with tasty treats. After everything she’s endured, she deserves to know she's surrounded by people who care for her and are looking out for her.

We’ll keep you updated on her progress. A huge thank you to Anat, who has been by her side every step of the way since she arrived at the hospital!🩵

01/10/2026

Our Tzipora has given birth! ❤

Tzipora came to us almost 10 months ago after surviving a life of harsh labor and severe abuse. Like most female donkeys who come to us, she arrived already pregnant.

Last night, she brought little Jehoiakim into the world. He will get to grow up right by his mother’s side and live the peaceful, loving life he deserves - because here, we never separate mothers from their babies.

Welcome to the world, little Jehoiakim! 🫏🩵

30/09/2026

Driven by excruciating pain, he is desperately trying to chew off his own leg - there is truly no other way to describe the nightmare he is enduring.

They tied his leg with a rope to keep him from escaping. The rope tightened, causing severe necrosis, and in a frantic attempt to break free and stop the pain, his leg broke - leaving the lower part dangling, barely attached.

It is impossible to fathom the agony and despair that would drive an animal to do such a thing to itself.

Dr. Natalie Porat, Dimona's municipal vet, arrived at the scene. Despite the horrifying condition, she saw a strong donkey with a fierce will to live. She decided to fight for him and reached out to us for help.

His leg cannot be saved, and he urgently requires an amputation. But at our sanctuary, three-legged donkeys thrive and live full, joyful lives. We owe it to him to give him that same chance.

We are arranging his immediate rescue and transfer to the veterinary hospital, but we are on the brink of financial collapse.

Our outstanding debt to the hospital has reached 100,000 NIS (about 32,000$). We urgently need your help to cover his treatment and pay down this debt - otherwise, we will be unable to take in any more animals in dire need.

Please donate today and help us give him a second chance at a good, pain-free life 🙏

To donate for him >> www.startingover.org.il/donation
Thank you 🩵

Israel's donkeys urgently need adoptive homes and sanctuaries across Europe ❤️🫏Israel is small and dry, facing a severe ...
28/09/2026

Israel's donkeys urgently need adoptive homes and sanctuaries across Europe ❤️🫏

Israel is small and dry, facing a severe hay shortage and rising costs. At Starting Over Sanctuary we care for over 750 donkeys. Most are fully recovered from years of abuse and hard labor, and ready for a life of freedom.

To date, we’ve successfully flown over 800 donkeys to homes across Europe (France, Belgium, Austria, Netherlands, Finland, Germany and more). Every adoption frees up vital space and funds to rescue the next donkey or horse in need. 🙏

What We Are Looking For:

* Shelters in Europe that can and want to assist us with the rescue operation and take in donkeys from us (the more, the better).
* Adopters who can welcome at least two donkeys (again, the more, the better).

Our Golden Rule: Zero exploitation. No riding, carrying loads, cart-pulling, or farm work. Only grazing, resting, and living peacefully 🩵

Logistics & Costs:

No Adoption Fee: Free of charge.
Flight Costs: Fully covered by our sanctuary and donors.
Ground Transport: Shelters and adopters may be asked to help cover transport from the European airport to their home (open for discussion).

The Process:

Introductory phone call.
A brief site visit by a Starting Over Sanctuary representative.
Signing a standard welfare commitment agreement (Adoption contract).

All donkeys are fully rehabilitated, vaccinated, healthy, and their hooves and teeth are freshly treated right before flying. All donkeys are also castrated.

Know any sanctuaries, animal lovers, or prospective adopters in Europe? Please tag them or reach out!

📩 Contact: Send a direct message (DM) here or email [email protected]

(Note: Our welfare conditions are non-negotiable. please reach out only if you can fully commit to these standards. Thank you!)

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