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Equine Feed Rescue Program, Egypt

The January 25th Revolution in Egypt took us all by surprise. Little did we know at ESMA (The Egyptian Society for Mercy to Animals), that within weeks we would be embarking and responsible for, an intense feeding program for 600 plus starving horses, their owners unable to feed them due to a sharp and sudden decline in tourism. Until then our only experience with horses was trying to save a couple that had been in accidents.

When we were first alerted to the critical situation it became clear that we had to act quickly, very quickly,

as on our first investigative visit to the Pyramids area

we were shown 'The Graveyard', where scores of horses and foals and some camels already lay dead from starvation. We quickly appealed for urgent funds to be able to start a feeding program and within days were feeding more than 600 horses every other day. The horses waited patiently in line for their rations, which consisted of mixed 'hard feed'. Those early days were fraught with problems and danger for ESMA volunteers as the owners were desperate that their horses would get their rations, and during the first week our pick up truck with the horse feed was stopped and looted in front of our very eyes as well as fight breaking out between the owners to get some food for their horses. We had to, and indeed until today, have to turn many away, those that we have to deem to be 'healthier' than some

of the others and choose only the very worst cases.

All during the summer and autumn we have been trying desperately to continue the feeding program for some of the very worse cases, which are still in the 300-400 figure. Although we cannot feed them as regularly as we did in the beginning due to drastically dwindling donations, we still manage to feed them every 15 days and send them away with a bag of rations to sustain the pitifully thin horses with minimal rations. The sight of them standing in line waiting patiently, sometimes for many hours is indeed heartbreaking for us.

With the renewed political trouble we fear that the situation will become worse and worse and again we will witness the 'Graveyard' sight over and over again. However we have pledged that we will exert all possible efforts to be there for them even if it is only once every two weeks, those horses and their owners depend on us desperately.

Animal Aid Abroad has committed to send money in December and throughout 2012 to help pay for food for this program.

If you would like to donate extra funds to this very worthy cause you can pay by credit card, bank transfer or cheque and make sure you notate for Equine Feed Program Egypt.

AAA's account details are at the back of the newsletter and in our online shop during the "checkout" process.