Hi, my name is Dorota Laughlin and I am fundraising money for Palestinian Animal Saving Society (PASS).

PASS is a newly established not-for-profit organisation based in Ramallah. It was funded by Hana Araj who over the years rescued hundreds of stray animals in Palestine. PASS was officially registered as a charitable society with the Palestinian Ministry of Interior in 2024 and is ready for its first important campaign: PASS Love Beyond Borders. Please help me make it possible!

This fundraiser is born out of my love for the Palestinian people and animals. I had a privilege to work as Director of Operations for Animals Australia – a trusted and much-admired not-for-profit. Work took me to West Bank and to Israel several times between 2022 and 2023.

Animals in Palestine face many challenges…

Stray animals in Palestine, especially cats and dogs, face scarcity of food and water, exposure to harsh weather and diseases, road accidents, culling, poisoning, abuse and impacts of geopolitical complexities. Palestine does not have strong animal protection laws and no enforcement of existing regulations. Some municipalities resort to poisoning or shooting stray dogs as a form of population control. There are only two small shelters across the entire West Bank, operating on small budgets and little prospect for adoptions. Veterinary care is scarce and expensive.

During my trips to the West Bank I witnessed the whole spectrum first-hand: genuine love and desperation of volunteers, inefficiencies of local organisations and governments, well-funded and well-intended solutions producing mixed outcomes, allegations of corruption, fragmentation of the animal welfare movement and, finally, heart breaking scenes of suffering... I cried and I laughed with joy. I felt frustrated and I felt uplifted. I listened to different stories and perspectives. I met many, but most importantly, I met Hana!

What makes Hana’s story different?

Hana is one of these strong loving women who sustain life in one of the most beautiful and challenging places on Earth. Over the years she has become a well-known figure in the West Bank. She is the go-to person for anyone seeking to rescue an animal, especially in hopeless cases where there is no treatment or other prospects available.

Hana’s journey in animal rescue began 18 years ago, when her ex-husband prevented her from raising her daughter. In search of a way to fulfill the maternal love she was yearning for, Hana started adopting animals into her home. During 2023-24 alone, Hana rescued nearly 300 dogs and cats, keeping excellent records of every rescue and sharing stories of her impact on social media.

Hana is charismatic - she unites and galvanizes the community. inspiring a growing movement. I truly admire her ability to work with everyone everywhere – her love transcends borders and conventional ways of doing things.

I trust Hana and I believe that, with your help, she will have a chance to transform the animal welfare standards in Palestine. Funding Palestinian Animal Saving Society (PASS) is a natural next step to expand the efforts.

PASS is a collective of 9 volunteering members, including Hana, who are professionals from diverse fields, including individuals working with NGOs, veterinarians, and private sector entrepreneurs. What unites them is a shared passion to rescue and to improve lives of street animals in Palestine.

What is PASS Love Beyond Borders campaign about?

The PASS Love Beyond Borders campaign is a 12-month initiative across all cities in West Bank, focusing on raising awareness about animal protection and promoting kind and compassionate treatment of animals. The campaign strategy includes community events, educational initiatives, adoption and fostering program, partnerships with veterinary clinics, a network of volunteers with an innovative PASS card, a website which will serve as an information hub and leveraging collaboration with other like minded organisations in the West Bank and in Israel.

PASS Love Beyond Borders budget over 12 months, Total $120,000 [AUD]

The strategy relies heavily on social media presence to share the success stories to maximize impact, while keeping the expenses as low as possible:

A. Staff Salaries – $50,400

B. Office Space and Utilities – $3,600

C. Awareness Campaign Execution – $54,000

D. Website Development and Maintenance – $12,000

To ensure transparency and donor confidence, I propose a periodic release of funds. Money would be provided to PASS on receipt of a comprehensive progress report at the end of each quarter.