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Animals offer the type of unconditional love that seems to bring out the best in people. Most of the work that has been accomplished in Animal-assisted Therapy (AAT) has been in dogs. Feline AAT is not widely utilized in the health and human services professions. However, in one particular place in the world, cats may have the edge of dogs when AAT applications are planned. This location is Israel.
In March of 1996, Pets and People: Companions in Therapy & Service began an Internet conversation with a gentleman on the fanciers' list about felines in AAT. That person was Avshalom Beni. He was to become the force that was to make ground breaking inroads into AAT in his country. After 4 months of planning, arranging schedules, airline tickets, animal care, and passports, myself and co-founder Donna Harrison were ready to depart.
We had planned to take a cat with us as a demonstration animal, but Avshalom had assured us that his BeBe, Blue Persian and KeKe, Ragdoll would be quite happy to be demo animals. So we left New Orleans on July 17, with Coal, Donna's service dog and some trepidation as we were flying the day after the TWA Flight 800 disaster. Our original plans were to leave at noon with arrival in Tel Aviv at 3pm the next day. Well, our adventure started early. First our TWA flight was canceled, so we flew on Delta, to Frankfurt Germany 2 1/2 hours later than planned. One reason for the delay was to clear the service dog for in-cabin transportation. Once in Frankfurt, we transferred to El Al Airlines. This was an experience as it took us 3 hours to transfer plans and clear security. Finally we arrived in Tel Aviv, only 2 hours later than originally planned.
As we were clearing customs, Donna asked me how we would find Avshalom and his wife Pam. We had never met and neither of us had scanners so we could exchange pictures over the Internet. Well, our fears were short lived. As we exited the security area, there stood Avshalom with KeKe, a 4 month old seal point Ragdoll on his head. He was calm and collected around about 300 people who were in the airport.
A 90 minute drive and we were at the Kibbutz Givat Haim, Ihud, north of Tel Aviv. This was to be our home for the next 18 days. The kibbutz is not zealously religious, but Shabbot is a focusing point for the community. And so Friday evening was spent socializing and meeting our new friends and Saturday was spent relaxing and becoming acquainted with our surroundings.
The kibbutz is 200+ acres, located about 6 miles inland from the Mediterrian Sea. Primarily a farming community, the major crops are citrus fruits and juices, and Avocados. They also have a major dairy, goat, and turkey farming operation. About 450 families live on the kibbutz, totaling about 1,000 people. In addition to its agricultural endeavors, the community supports a health clinic, senior citizen's center for well and ill elderly, a school, grades K-12, and a 250 student special education school. This school provides education, social interaction, and mental health therapy for children throughout Israel who have mental health diagnoses or physical disabilities.
Planning for the next few days started on Sunday. The special education program was not in session when we were there. That was actually a benefit, as the therapists, teachers, and administrators could devaluate more time to discussions about program development. We held several planning sessions with them and shared treatment plans that had been used in a program here in Mississippi. In addition a very special treatment plan was begun for AAT with children who are autistic. One of the participants in the professional workshop was a woman from Tel Aviv whose son is autistic.
While the education program wasn't in session, the children of the kibbutz were available and we decided to teach a dog obedience class. The goal of this class was to raise self esteem among the children by utilizing the concept of unconditional love offered by animals. Over the following 2 weeks we were able to complete an 8 week obedience course culminating with a dog show. We also held classes on proper handling of cats and dogs, bathing demonstrations, and harness trained KeKe. In fact, before we left, Avshalom had the kitten not only walking on a leash, but heeling as well.
One of our objectives in Israel was to interest someone to self train a service dog. One evening we discussed this idea with representatives of the Arab community. In the village of Joht, I learned some interesting information. First, cats are much more accepted by the Arab community than dogs. We were told that the Koran directs that dogs are not allowed in an Arab home. Their job is to guard the family and the livestock. However, cats are allowed free roam. Hardly anyone keeps a cat strictly indoors. While in an Arab home I saw a beautiful cat that strongly resembled a Turkish Angora.
The cat fancy is essentially non-existent in Israel. Persians are the most favored breed, and Ragdolls are developing. Avshalom shared that someone had imported a Maine Coon, but the cat blew its coat so badly further imports were discouraged. Interestingly, the Persians do not blow coat in this environment.
There are no CFA clubs in Israel. The Beni's would like to start one. There is however, Fife there and about 3 or 4 cat shows a year mainly in Tel Aviv. Most cats are imported from Europe and the Persian for the most part does not meet the CFA standard. If anyone wants to campaign a cat, they need to plan on lots of fly time, as shows are primarily in Israel's European neighbors.
One thing the kibbutz has somewhat in common with the US is a feral cat population. Avshalom and Pam have started a Trap/Neuter/Spay and release program. A veterinarian comes to the kibbutz 3 times a month to neuter and spay all the cats that have been trapped. The feral cat population on the kibbutz is very lucky. In the cities and surrounding area, cats are still being poisoned with alpha-chloralose laced food. This results in a very painful death for the cats. The Supreme Court of Israel has judged the poisoning behavior a crime, punishable by a prison sentence. However, the proof of who actually does the poisoning falls to the complainant. Most of those who poison are rarely caught and even fewer are prosecuted. One day there was a black and white bicolor kitten, that was about 4 or 5 weeks old. After initial evaluation, a bath, defleaing with Frontline, and worming I assisted in his care until a placement could be found. We placed the kitten with an elderly couple the day before we left. They had just lost their dog and did not want another. The cat was a perfect choice.
Avashalom and Pam are still building their cattery. They have surrounded their house and patio with a small opening wire fence and have put a roof over the top. The cats have lots of running and climbing room. A separate outside work area has been designated as a kittening room. Food is another issue in Israel. United States made premium cat foods are available, but very expensive. About 3-4 times the cost here in the states. The in country produced cat food is less than adequate for the modern show cat.
Although much of our time was spent evaluating the resources of the kibbutz for program development, and doing demonstrations, we did get to see almost all of the country. We spent 2 different days in Tel Aviv, went to the Old City of Jaffa, Tiberas, Safat, Nazareth, Haifa, Hadera, Mesada, the Golan Heights, and of course Jerusalem. We swam in the Mediterrian and the hot water springs of the Golan Heights, as well as floated in the Dead Sea. We were given a tour of the University of Tel Aviv's zoological gardens and got to see the native cat of Israel, the Karakul. This cat looks remarkably like an Abyssinian.
After 18 days in country, it was time to say Shalom. We had met all of our goals. The Kibbutz Givat Haim, Ihud had the resources and the animals to start an AAT program. The teachers and staff of the special education program were now aware of the role AAT could play in their treatment program, and they had a better understanding of how their program could be developed. We also helped a fledging cattery get off the ground, and had impact on a trap/neuter/spay program. We arrived home on August 8, tired from a 24 hour trip, but very satisfied that we had made the journey.
After being home a couple of weeks, I have talked to Avshalom. The kitten is doing fine, the NTS program is continuing, and a group is starting a visitation/therapy program at a Tel Aviv children's hospital. The poisoning of cats continues. I found Ellen Moshenberg on the Internet one day talking about the alpha-chloralose poisonings. I have made lots of new friends and plan to return to Israel in the future. I will have my picture album with me at shows for awhile. Ask to see them.
For more information about feline focused Animal-assisted Therapy or Visitation programs, readers are welcome to contact me through Pets and People.