1- As Let the Animals Live’s legal department has received many inquiries in the matter, we wish to clarify the legal status of letting animals into public shelters and shelters in communal buildings.
2 – Clause 2a1 of the Animals Protection Law, 1994, states that “the owner of the animal, or whoever is in possession of the animal, must provide the animal with sustenance, take care of its health and keep it safe from abuse.” Unless
circumstances do not allow it, animals must be kept safe and protected also during attacks.
3 – There is no legal prohibition to let animals into shelters. Furthermore, it is mandatory to provide any person with access to the shelter during an attack (even if that shelter is meant to use a home or specific building), per clause 15(f) of the civil protection law, 1951, and the “Thy shalt not stand against the blood of thy fellow” law, 1998. Therefore, one cannot deny access of a person with an animal to a shelter, except for highly unusual circumstances, as in rare cases of actual threat to a person’s life due to life threatening allergy. Preventing a person from entering could amount to a criminal offense. The authorities are al so not in a position to prevent someone from entering the shelter with an animal.
4 – The regulations of communal buildings found in the addition to the real estate law, 1969, does not include any instructions to limit the entrance of animals to the shelter. Unless there are special circumstances, such limitations will likely be illegal, since the regulations cannot trump the legal obligation towards animals and the obligations regarding free entrance to shelters in an emergency.
5 – At the start of Iron Swords war, the Ministry of Agriculture issued instructions to protect and safeguard pets during a security crisis, which read: “family pets are an inseparable part of the community, they must be treated as part of the family and be given a space in the shelter. The safe space must be prepared in advance for the animals to stay in.”
6 – A person in possession of an animal in the shelter must naturally obey the rest of the legal instructions regarding the holding of an animal. Clause 11a of the dog control law, 2002 states that when outside the home or yard, the dog must be kept on a leash. That applies to public shelters as well. Per regulation 18 of the dog control regulations, 2005, the leash must be no longer than 5 meters, and must be such that allows the dog holder control over the dog, in a way that the dog cannot break free. We recommend holding the dog close to you in the shelter.
7 – In relation to dogs defined by law as dangerous, per regulation 5(3) of the dog control regulations, 2004, it is mandatory to use a muzzle. In case of an aggressive dog not defined as dangerous we recommend using a muzzle. For the dog’s benefit, it is recommended to use the muzzle ahead of time with lots of positive reinforcement, so that the dog is used to it.
8 – In regards to cats, we recommend acting based on your cat’s character. Some cats may be frightened by the alarms and run to hiding. In this case, forcing the cat into a carrier may cause it stress, and you may lose precious time. If circumstances allow it, cats can be let in to the shelter. There is no legal obligation to do so but for the sake of the cats we recommend covering the cat carrier with a breath-through fabric.
9 – having said that, we advise taking into consideration the rest of the people in the shelter and individual circumstances. For example, cases of severe allergy to dogs or cats. In case of light allergy, we recommend maintaining a respectable distance.
10 – In conclusion, abiding by the law, and in consideration of the other people in the shelter as well as individual circumstances, there is no legal prohibition to let animals into public shelters or shelters in communal buildings, and a person with an animal must not be denied entrance to the shelter.
