My name is Juliet, I'm a dog owner and lover, and I've lived in Israel for over 22 years. In this post, I'll be explaining how the adoption system process for dogs in Israel works.
While owning a dog in Israel may be different from overseas (like any other adaptation to life here), the sooner you're able to learn how it's done here, the easier your acclimatisation and absorption into life in Israel will be in every aspect of making aliyah, in my opinion.
Adoption is naturally the most humane option available. There are many dogs in shelters, close to being stuck in a cage for the rest of their days (in the best case), or being put to sleep (since there's simply not enough available space or funding).
In Israel, you pay an adoption fee of around 850 shekels (differs slightly between organisations), which includes:
A vet examination
Treatment for worms and parasites
A microchip, which will be registered to you
The dog having been spayed, or fixed
Them being up-to-date with shots (including rabies, and six-in-one immunization series, that protects against 6 different diseases).
There is an additional fee for adopting a puppy. It costs around 1,000 shekels, instead of 850 shekels. Please note, these are approximate amounts, since it differs per organisation.
I recommend only adopting through an official non-profit (see below for some organisations). This way, you know the dog has received all the services listed above. They will also usually ask questions regarding your needs (e.g. a high-energy dog won't be suited to a person with mobility issues), as well as your availability to give the dog attention, walks, etc., and almost always ask for the entire household to be present at the actual adoption process. Several organisations hold adoption days, in which you can see the dogs outside of the cage (which means they're also generally more relaxed).
Microchipping and rabies shots are compulsory in order to own a dog in Israel. Once a year, you'll be sent a request for payment for the municipal license (can be paid at post office, online, or at some vet clinics), and you will receive the valid one once your pet has received their annual rabies shot.
Small dogs are highly popular here. They get snapped up often within a couple of hours of them arriving at the kennels, so you'll want to get to know the person who deals with adoptions (as they might agree to alert you when they get one). The majority of dogs at adoption days are medium to large, and range from puppies to senior. If it's a puppy, and a mixed breed, make sure to find out how large it will become (their paws are often an accurate sign), and that their breed type will suit your lifestyle. There's a very common breed here called Canaanis. Often dogs will be partly of this breed (they're also our national dog). I bring them up because Canaani dogs are known to be rugged, agile, and apparently tireless - making them a nice fit for hikers and runners. Canaanis are clever, confident, and territorial. This may not suit everyone's lifestyle, and we want to prevent surprises if you adopt one as a puppy.
Some organisations, specifically in the Jerusalem area (if you need elsewhere in Israel, I'd be happy to help you search for a non-profit in your general area):
JSPCA - https://jspca.org.il/en/
Jerusalem Loves Animals -
https://www.facebook.com/jerusalemlovesanimals/
Support group for dog owners: Secret Jerusalem Dogs https://www.facebook.com/groups/365739370466357/?ref=share
More about Canaani dogs:
https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/canaan-dog/
Juliet lives in Jerusalem, Israel, and made aliyah from South Africa 22 years ago. She has owned dog(s) for 11 years, and feels very lucky to have grown up with them. She feels having a dog has changed and enriched her life. Shushi, pictured left, is always excited to see her when she gets home. Juliet strongly believes in giving Shushi her unconditional love (and anyone who knows the pair, will agree that Shushi has eyes for no one else).
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