Photo by
Eitan Elhadez-Barak/TPS-IL on 26 January, 2025
‘If There’s a Heaven for Animals, I Hope I’ve Helped Build It Here’: Inside Sharon Cohen’s Lifesaving Sanctuary
Jerusalem, 26 January, 2025 (TPS-IL) -- Sharon Cohen stood in the middle of her bustling rehabilitation shelter, surrounded by animals whose lives she had helped transform. “Every call is urgent,” she said. “Each one represents a life that could be lost if we don’t act quickly.”
Cohen, a resident of Givatayim, founded the ‘Start Over’ shelter in 2017 with a mission to save abused and abandoned animals. Since the war broke out, her efforts have taken on a new urgency, as soldiers from the Gaza Strip, Judea and Samaria frequently call her to rescue animals in distress.
“They call me to save the animals that are in danger,” she tells The Press Service of Israel, her voice heavy with emotion.
Donkeys, horses, goats, sheep, cats, dogs, and even pigs rescued from experimental labs also call it home. “Every animal gets care tailored to its needs,” Cohen said.
The shelter has also become a refuge for animals rescued by soldiers during wartime. “Since the war began, we’ve received hundreds of calls from soldiers,” Cohen said. “They’ve rescued horses, donkeys, and other animals, even arranging for veterinarians to treat them.”
The sanctuary currently houses 1,700 animals. Of that number, 1,200 are donkeys, numerous other animals, plus two large turtles.
Yahli, a disabled lamb; Jessica, a dog rescued from a bleeding Ramallah; Izzy, a sheep abused in a Palestinian village — these are just a few of the lives transformed at the shelter. They follow Cohen wherever she goes, forming a colorful entourage. “The Moses of the Animals,” someone called her, a nickname she accepts with a laugh.
One recent call exemplified Cohen’s daily challenges. “The police stopped our carrier with three donkeys on the trailer,” she explained. These animals, destined for grueling labor in Hebron’s markets, were severely abused. “One of them, a tiny one-and-a-half-month-old donkey, was taken from its mother,” she said, her voice breaking. “Unfortunately, we won’t be able to save her mother, but at least we rescued him and his two friends from a cruel fate.”
Cohen’s journey began eight years ago when she found Tinkerbell, a wounded donkey, at a construction site in Ramla. “Since then, my life turned upside down,” she said. Tinkerbell, now a permanent resident of the shelter, lives alongside her best friend Tzilla. “There are real friendships here,” Cohen added. “One day, Tzilla wasn’t feeling well, and Tinkerbell fiercely protected her, circling and kicking to keep other donkeys away.”
‘Start Over’ has grown into a sanctuary for over 1,200 animals, including nearly 700 donkeys. Most of these donkeys were rescued from a life of backbreaking labor. “They were broken and exhausted,” Cohen said. “Many were picked up by traders who sold them to Gaza and Egypt.”
At the farm, the animals receive more than just food and medical care. “We rehabilitate them physically and mentally,” Cohen explained. “They learn to trust humans again, to live in a herd, and to enjoy life.” Once rehabilitated, many donkeys are sent to shelters in France. “We’ve already flown almost 400 donkeys there,” Cohen said. “In France, they find green pastures, ample food, and a life of peace.”
Cohen is also on a mission to change perceptions about donkeys. “They’re intelligent and sensitive creatures,” she said. “They recognize people and remember who pampers them.” She chuckled as she recounted how Tinkerbell, aware of the treats she’s about to receive, approached slowly to avoid attracting the other donkeys’ attention.
The bond between Cohen and the animals is palpable. “They understand what’s happening to them,” she said. “What hurts the most is when a mother is separated from her baby. In nature, they stay together for life.”
Despite the challenges, Cohen’s resolve remains unshaken. “If there’s a heaven for animals, I hope I’ve helped build it here,” she said, stroking Tinkerbell’s mane. Her sanctuary is a place of love, compassion, and second chances—a haven where the forgotten find hope.
