Your weekly donkey update from Safe Haven for Donk
We cannot understate the importance of donkeys and horses in Gaza right now. As you may be aware, earlier this year we set up a mobile team in Gaza to help deliver first aid to donkeys and horses in dire need. Despite communications out of Gaza being incredibly difficult, today I can bring you an update from our team, sent over by Dr Saif.
Our work in Gaza has also caught the attention of the media in the last few weeks. We were delighted that the BBC have featured our work in a news report and also a written piece online. You can see the article by clicking here.
All our work is only possible thanks to you. As Dr Saif told us: "we are trying all possible ways to save donkeys and horses despite being in a very harsh time. Many thanks for all your endless support and kindness."
Wendy, Safe Haven UK Office
News from Gaza
Dr Saif has sent over a report to show how their work in Gaza is helping donkeys and horses - and the people they support. We hope this shows the impact of your donations.
Despite incredibly hard conditions our team in Gaza are working tirelessly to help donkeys and horses
Dr Saif told us: "It's difficult to describe the situation in Gaza. It is hard for our team to operate, with everything becoming a battle. But so far we have treated 1,000 donkeys."
Donkeys are vital to people in Gaza - transporting food, water and even people to hospital.
"Without donkeys, the situation in Gaza would be very hard. Gaza is like 50 years ago, with few cars. And I have been told by so many people that without Safe Haven for Donkey's work, it would have been impossible for their donkeys to have survived."
Our team in Gaza have helped over 1,000 donkeys in just a few months
"Our emergency work helps by giving out food for donkeys, along with treating wounds and providing other first aid. We are trying our best to save as many donkeys as we can."
Safe Haven's team are providing vital support - including food and medicines to donkeys
Thank you once again to everyone who has supported our work in Gaza. If you'd like to find out more, or to give a donation, please visit our appeal page here. You can also visit our blog page to see some short videos of our work in Gaza.
Thank you
It's only with your help we are able to improve the lives of working donkeys, mules and horses in the West Bank, Gaza and Egypt. You're also helping to fund our hospital in Nablus in the West Bank and care for our rescue donkeys in Arrana, as well as our donkeys at our sanctuary in Israel. If you'd like to read previous updates of our work, please click here to visit our blog.
Thanks to your support we have been able to help 1,000 donkeys in Gaza so far, providing food and first aid.
When rescued, this emaciated bear could barely walk – look at him now
Life on a bear bile farm caused moon bear Wolfie’s muscles to waste away due to lack of use, but loving care is helping him learn how to be a bear again.
Standing upright and swaying his head from side to side in a classic sign of distress, rescuers could clearly see the bones of Wolfie’s massive frame poking through his sagging skin.
Thankfully, Wolfie and eight other bears were rescued in June from a bear bile farm in southern Vietnam and taken to Animals Asia’s sanctuary to begin their recovery from a lifetime of abuse.
Staff at the sanctuary were confident that with a carefully selected diet of fresh fruit and vegetables, Wolfie would soon gain some much-needed weight and grow into the bear he was destined to be.
Because Wolfie arrived so emaciated – with his muscles having literally wasted away due to lack of use – he initially struggled to coordinate his long limbs.
But his slightly awkward, lumbering gait has not stopped him – aided by his plucky spirit – from exploring the outside world.
With each passing day and with each healthy meal, Wolfie has grown stronger and gained increasing control over his abused body.
From a tight iron cage in which he could barely stand up, Wolfie now has a large grassy enclosure to explore, packed with plenty of bamboo climbing frames, water pools and trees where he can exercise and rebuild his strength.
His strength has returned to such a degree that he can now climb up to his comfy basket for a good night’s sleep. Animals Asia Bear Manager Sarah van Herpt said: “Wolfie already towers over the team and other bears, so once he puts on a bit of muscle, he will be one of our biggest bears at the sanctuary. We’re pleased to see that he’s already well on his way to regaining his strength. “Wolfie loves the sweet treats such as jam that we spread around the enclosure to encourage the bears to maintain their foraging instincts and to keep them stimulated throughout the day. “Considering how emaciated Wolfie was when he arrived he could have been forgiven for giving up on some of the harder to reach treats – but that’s not Wolfie’s way. He is both determined and patient, and has shown amazing resilience since he arrived. “Once he puts on some more weight and his full strength returns, we’re hopeful Wolfie will join an established community. No doubt they will enjoy his big, playful personality.”
Animals Asia’s Vietnam Bear and Vet Team Director Heidi Quine said:
“It is critically important for bears who have been rescued from a caged existence to be kept busy and stimulated throughout the day. It helps to speed up their rehabilitation from years of discomfort and cruelty.
“By encouraging them to play and forage, we are trying to wean them off negative behaviour associated with being kept in atrocious conditions on bear bile farms.
“When he was on the farm, Wolfie would try to chew his way through the metal bars that kept him a prisoner. This vain attempt to escape left him with marks – like the Joker’s smile – on the side of his mouth. He also had an array of rub marks on his head, indicating chronic stress. Happily, Wolfie is already beginning to lose some of the patterns of repetitive behaviour that is typical of mistreated animals.”
To date, Animals Asia has rescued over 600 bears – mostly from the bear bile industry – with around 270 bears continuing to live out their lives at sanctuaries in Vietnam and China.
Around 1,000 bears in Vietnam continue to suffer from the trade in medicinal bile, although a landmark legal agreement signed between Animals Asia and the Vietnam government will see the industry completely eradicated by 2023.
Deze verwaarloosde straathond doolde door de straten van een klein Bulgaars dorpje en dreigde afgemaakt te worden. Toen dierenorganisatie Rudozem Street Dog Rescue dat nieuws vernam, stelden vrijwilligers alles in het werk om het beestje te redden. Nu, anderhalf jaar later, is duidelijk wat voor een prachtig dier in die uitgemergelde straathond schuilde.
Anderhalf jaar geleden lanceerde het stadsbestuur van het dorpje een oproep om het dier te vangen en te laten afmaken. Ze vreesden namelijk dat het teefje ziektes zou verspreiden. Haar pels was uitgevallen en haar huid was in ontzettend slechte toestand. Een wanhopige oproep via Facebook aan de organisatie Rudozem Street Dog Rescue redde haar leven.
Oprichtster Diane Rowles doet het bijzondere verhaal van de hond. "Een nieuwsartikel riep op om het beestje te vangen. Op de foto's die erbij stonden, zagen we meteen dat het dier verwaarloosd en mishandeld was. Dus sprongen de medewerkers van de organisatie in de auto om 70 kilometer naar het bewuste dorpje te rijden. Dankzij tips van de inwoners lokaliseerden ze het teefje snel."
De Dierenpolitie heeft in Wormerveer twee zwaar verwaarloosde honden gered van een tergend langzame dood. De dieren waren zonder eten en drinken achtergelaten in een loods, waar de eigenaren ze hadden vastgebonden aan een paal.
Een van de honden was gewond aan een achterpoot. Het andere dier was uitgemergeld en zat onder de uitslag. De Dierenpolitie kon de dieren bevrijden dankzij een tip die binnenkwam via het speciale noodnummer 144. De eigenaren van de honden zijn een 25-jarige vrouw en 26-jarige man uit Wormer. Het koppel is bekend bij de Dierenpolitie en zal binnenkort op het matje worden geroepen.
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