This week, I wanted to share an update from Dr Rakan, our lead vet in the West Bank – and a story that shows just how much difference your kindness is making every day to donkeys, mules and horses who need our help.
If you’ve already donated to our Christmas appeal to support our mobile vet teams in the West Bank, thank you so much. And if you haven’t yet had a chance, you can read more about how Dr Rakan is reaching more working animals in need by clicking here.
Dr Raken’s update from the West Bank
Last week our team travelled over 100 km to the village of Kherbeit Abu Falah, near Ramallah, where we treated 19 working animals. Among them was a particularly sad case – a mule of more than 30 years old – which I’d like to share with you today.
When Dr Rakan arrived he quickly got to work, helping the mule.
Her owner, a poor farmer, relies on her to earn a small income from agricultural work. He phoned me in distress, worried because his mule was struggling to eat. I made an urgent change to our schedule, switching visits with another village so we could reach her as soon as possible.
Dr Rakan rasps the mule’s teeth, to smooth out sharp edges causing painful wounds.
When we arrived, we soon found that her teeth had grown so sharp they’d caused painful wounds inside her mouth. I carefully rasped her teeth to smooth the rough edges, allowing her to eat comfortably again.
The mule was given fluids to help support her recovery.
We gave her antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, vitamins and intravenous fluids to support her recovery, and provided her owner with everything needed to continue her care at home. This simple procedure – filing the mule’s teeth – is an essential part of equine care, and thanks to it, this hardworking mule can now eat again without pain.
Following treatment, the mule was happier – able to eat comfortably once again.
We hope she’ll soon feel stronger and more comfortable. Her story is a powerful reminder of how the simple care you make possible can bring real comfort to older working animals in need.
Thank you so much for your support.
Dr Rakan, lead vet in the West Bank
Your donations made all of this work possible – including funding the medicines Dr Rakan provided to the mule’s owner to ensure he fully recovers.
Thank you ♥️♥️
Everything our West Bank teams are doing right now – reaching working animals in remote villages and bringing comfort where it’s needed most – is only possible because of you. Your regular gifts also help our other vet teams care for animals in Gaza and Egypt, and ensures the rescued donkeys in our sanctuaries in Israel and the West Bank receive the daily care they need.
Thank you for helping to bring comfort, healing and hope to the donkeys, mules and horses who depend on us every single day.
After weeks of patient care from Dr Rakan, this brave donkey – whose hooves had been trimmed with an axe – is back on his feet and pain-free. Thank you for helping to make recoveries like this possible. Click here to see a short video.