This week’s update comes from our team in Egypt, where the heat is relentless and life for working donkeys is especially tough.
Thanks to your support, our two vet teams are easing suffering with urgent treatments, while also sowing the seeds of long-term change through education and training.
All this work is thanks to you – so I hope you enjoy reading our update today. You are helping to change the lives of so many donkeys, mules and horses.
News from Egypt
Our teams see a range of different injuries to the donkeys working in the tough conditions at the brick kilns. This donkey was suffering with severe cellulitis – caused by the bite of another donkey. Left untreated, this condition can spread quickly and even become life-threatening. We cleaned and dressed the wound, gave medication, and will continue to monitor his recovery closely.
A brick kiln donkey receiving treatment for his cellulitis.
Colic is a common and serious condition in donkeys. Dr Shaaban and his team were able to help this donkey in distress, easing his pain and helping his recovery.
Dr Shaaban was quickly able to help this donkey with colic.
Another donkey was struggling with a painful blocked tear duct, leaving his eye weeping and at risk of infection. Our team carried out a delicate procedure to flush out the nasolacrimal duct – gently cleaning the channel that normally drains tears from the eye to the nose. The relief was immediate, and with proper aftercare, he now has a much better chance of staying healthy.
A donkey having his tear duct flushed out, most likely blocked by the dry dusty conditions in the kilns.
Alongside veterinary care, we’re helping to build a kinder future for donkeys in Egypt. Just weeks ago, this group of 15 young people, aged 13 to 18, had little understanding of animal welfare.
But thanks to our work within schools, we introduced media and art activities to help them understand empathy and kindness to donkeys and other animals. We’re now excited to begin working with more children, who we’ll help to explore animal welfare through art.
The young people enjoyed their art session – here they are with their donkey art work! But most importantly they gained an understanding of animal welfare.
Our team in Egypt recently organised a one-day training programme for four newly graduated veterinarians, all residents of El Saf.
The session included lectures on lameness evaluation and dental problems, followed by hands-on training with working donkeys and horses. The vets were eager to learn how to reach more donkeys and achieve long lasting welfare improvements.
Training the next generation of vets is an important part of our work – both here in Egypt and also the West Bank.
This year also marked a milestone: the launch of a farrier training programme in the brick kilns of El Saf, where donkeys suffer some of the worst hoof problems we’ve seen.
With no resident farriers in the area, we identified nine local individuals to receive training. We’re pleased to say five now have the skills to provide hoof care – and two have already extended their services beyond the kilns to neighbouring villages.
With proper trimming every two months, many painful and preventable conditions can be avoided so we’re incredibly proud of this progress and committed to expanding the programme thanks to your support.
Mahmoud, one of the trainees, learns how to treat a painful hoof abscess.. A painful but common condition amongst working donkeys.
Thanks to you, our teams are able to carry out all this work, helping donkeys who have no one else to turn to.
On behalf of every donkey helped in Egypt this month: thank you.
Thank you ♥️♥️
Everything our vet teams do to support working donkeys, mules, and horses is only possible because of you. Your generosity helps us protect animals and support their owners across the West Bank, Gaza, and Egypt – as well as care for rescued donkeys at our sanctuary in Israel and our rescue centre and hospital in the West Bank.
Thank you for making this vital work possible.
Your support helps us care for thousands of donkeys, mules and horses every month. Thank you.