Animal stories

Animal stories Dear animal friends, On this page we tell the stories of animals who we have helped or tried to help. Also thoughts poems, everything to help the animals, should be published on this page. We want to encourage all of you to send us their own stories and/or thoughts, so we can build them in on this page.
A person can make another person suffer, that is horrible, but yet a person can fight against unjustice, or at least a person can fight verbally and try to stand up for his rights.
The rights of the animal, on the opposite, lie completely in our hands, once in our power they have no chance of return. Even the so feared shark is in captivity nothing but a shadow of his real self.
It is our responsibility to treat our planet and its great variety of species with respect, and since animals can t speak for themselves or make a revolution, they need us to feel with them and to speak for them.
And this is what we want to achieve with our stories:

The donkeys story	Hotdog		Love letter to a bird
The Movement		The Bulldozer

The Bulldozer
We’ve lived in Mubarak I, Number 13/14 for almost six years now and when we moved in only four flats were inhabited. Behind the house there was a water reservoir around which the government had laid kerbstones. Inside of this we build a border and planted some trees and flowers. At that time we actually started with the animal protection and soon came more and more animals. We built a fence around the reservoir and then we had a shelter and run for ten dogs as well as a congenial corner with a BBQ. Even then the cats were only in the house. To prevent the dogs from barking we sprayed them with water and gave them the command to be quiet which worked very well. So in fact we had an idyllic corner for humans and animals and from the still almost empty building we had no complaints.
		However, unfortunately as it often is in life, jealousy was not far away. The government began to give apartments to destitute people and our problems began. To many people the dogs were a problem and thus a good pretext to harass us. Kitchen and house rubbish, used Pampers burning cigarettes and stones flew onto us. Once we prevented a house fire just in time. When we did not want our neighbours to put their large water tanks in front of our windows, the dogs had to suffer again. And so came the day the police arrived with a bulldozer and riffles to shoot my dogs and level the ground. At that time I was in Switzerland for only three more days when I received a phone call and got informed that the police wanted to shoot our dogs to death. Fortunately my husband could persuade the gentlemen to withdraw for the time being.
Immediately my husband began to search for an intermediate solution for our dogs and found an area where we could establish a temporary accommodation. Our attempt to buy land from the local government to build an animal shelter had been unsuccessful for the last two and a half years.
However we still had three dogs with us in Mubarak I and so it was not long until the bulldozer came to our house again. This time they had an official decree to tear down the fence which then happened very quickly. Even the Government built kerbstones were cleared away in parts. Thanks to god at least the trees remain standing and the dogs were fortunately in the house at the time. The whole procedure brought a large crowd and a lot of clamour and in the end I still had to pay 400, - LE for the bulldozer. Now we had only a small wall around the water reservoir and a small corner fenced in as a garden left. Nevertheless since we still refused to allow water tanks in front of our windows, the police returned once again to remove the remaining wall, this time with sledge hammers. Unfortunately my husband was not at home that day so I sat on the wall and told the officials they will have to get through me first before breaking the wall. I asked to see the written permission for the destruction of our garden first and none could be shown to me. I suggested to the police they should bulldoze the gardens of the neighbouring buildings as they have done to our garden twice. Since then we’ve had a rest from the police, we will see how long it will last. However, now that our garden is not fenced in anymore it’s also good, because our dog water troughs are now used by the wild dogs from the surrounding area. We will not give up. Moni

The Movement
After a far too short visit to Switzerland I just had three days left before I had to go back to Hurghada. So I was packing and repacking my luggage trying to bring too many things to Egypt as usual: collars, medicines and blankets, bowls, toys for animals and children and not forgetting the coffee beans, which our volunteers love to drink. Then I received a phone call from my husband Salah in Hurghada: the police were in front of our garden with 30 armed men to shoot our ten dogs. Obviously one of our jealous neighbours, who had a problem with us keeping dogs, got together a group of neighbours to file a police report against us. As he had a friend in the police and probably paid some money under the table, the police acted on this report and tried to bulldoze the garden and shoot the dogs. Fortunately my husband could persuade the policemen to withdraw for the tome being.
		So my husband had to search for an enclosed area which had to be away from residential property and, thanks to god, found it quickly. He organized some helpers and began immediately to build shelters for the dogs and already the following day he was able to move all the dogs safely to their new home. Two days later I came back to Hurghada very worried about the situation and was amazed how fast he has been able to organize everything. Hats off to him and thank you very much!!!
Unfortunately my beloved husband overlooked the fact that dogs love to dig and when we arrived to the shelter it was in a state of chaos: all dogs mixed up together, but thankfully peaceful and friendly. Now we needed our helpers again and together we made the fences deeper underground to prevent the dogs from digging underneath, we bought some plants, put up sun shades over each shelter, built a corner for sitting and a small pond. Like this we were happy with our temporary accommodation and finally it’s supposed to last until we can buy our own land from the government.
		Each shelter is spacious but somehow too empty and monotonous and actually the dogs need a more stimulating environment. Then I had a brilliant idea: everywhere beside the roads you can find used tyres…and so I went with a young man to collect them with my Jeep. As we collected all sizes of tyres from cars and wagons etc we were able to make some interesting things for the dogs such as small caves, tunnels, hiding places and pedestals and a wonderfully varied playground was made.
The locals that observed me, a Suisse lady, collecting used tyres were presumably astonished…a foreigner collecting old tyres that must have to mean something…possibly an unknown money source??? Anyway, on the next day you couldn’t find a single used tyre at the side of the road.
Although the move was successful I was worried about leaving the dogs all alone out there. We tried to find a doorman, but this wasn’t that easy because he should look after dogs not a house and dogs are not well tolerated by most Egyptians. Thanks to god we found Gaber, a 50 year old man who agreed to live in a hut beside the dog shelters. And we were really lucky indeed to find him, because he’s an animal lover and has a great understanding of dogs: he’s able to encourage the shy dogs as well as being able to control the dominant ones. So we can rest peacefully at night knowing the dogs are content and in save hands.
		Unfortunately we there is neither water nor electricity in the shelter and therefore I have to cook the dog food at home and take it there with fresh water every morning and afternoon. With our eager volunteers we walk the dogs in groups after feeding them in the morning and do some obedience training. Often we have tourists who visit us and we take them along to the shelter in the morning, so they can get an impression of our work. From time to time we feed some wild dogs to get them used to us, so they’re easier to catch when we want to castrate them. It is not our priority to catch and re-home dogs, but to castrate, vaccinate and register them for population control. After that procedure we release the dogs where we caught them. It’s always a rewarding experience to see the wild dogs in their natural environments, because it’s better for them to live four years in the wild than ten years in captivity. This is why we only accept animals under 12 months old, which have no skills to survive because they’re without a mother or injured to our shelter. For these animals we try to find them a good and loving home.
If your way leads you to Hurghada one day, try to visit us and our animals. We are always looking for people to accompany our animals on flights to Europe and/or in reverse bring empty cat and dog boxes back to Hurghada. Animal protection is not only about being informed, but also taking an active role. We are grateful for any help!

The donkey
One day I received a phone call that a donkey was found who has no owner and I was on my way immediately to help the poor animal.
My housekeeper, who saw my excitement, offered his help ,so we drove the way that had been described to us.
As we saw the thirsty and half starved animal my housekeeper reacted in the best way possible and screamed:,, that s my donkey,, which was a trick so none else could claim the animal.
The poor guy had wandered around for 3 days until the man that called me, took care of him and tied him until we arrived. So we took the donkey with us and, of course, he was allowed to eat as much as he liked and he could relax after all this stress.
Now came up the question: Where can he stay when he s healthy again?
Then we had an idea.
The Bedouin women in the desert have to carry their water 3 km everyday on their heads to the camp. What a relieve it would be for them to have the donkey.
So we loaded the donkey on a pick up and drove out into the desert, what great joy. The Bedouin women were really happy about the four-legged present, which will lighten their work very much. That they will treat and nourish their working companion well, is sure.
		The happy end. By Monica

Hotdog
There once was a pug who stole an egg from the cook, and he took an axe and chopped him in two, there came many pugs...
Almost everyone knows this foolish song, but who imagines how the pug looked after having been hit by the axe? I can very well imagine it now.
I am tanja and this is my story:
It was a Thursday, we had just brought my uncle to the airport and my daughter insisted to visit a friend who lives in the end of Sherry street in Sakalla.
This day should become a shock to us and it meant the rescue for a dog.
We were on the way to the first floor as we saw the poor creature lying in front of a door, with big sad eyes, begging for help. Tears still come to my eyes, even now as I write this story.
What we saw fulfilled my daughter and me with horror. The absolutely starving animal had a huge gaping wound in the back of her neck, to me it looked as if we could even see the spine, also in the lower back she had a big wound, but I wasn´t able to look at it directly.
		I ran to the first floor and asked my friend to call Monica immediately, the saver of all animals in need. Sadly Monica was out of town and to my own disgrace I must admit, I couldn´t handle this situation. The poor dog looked so scary to me that I couldn´t t look at him,
further the less touch him. On top of all this the dog even walked towards us when we were leaving, again looking for help and again I felt disgusted and sorry at the same time. I damned myself for being uncap able to help the suffering animal.
The dog was still there the next morning and to increase my despair I still couldn´t t reach Monica. Thank god I reached her later that day but it was already too dark to catch the dog after I had told her the story.
So our patient had to live through one more night with pain and no food, until the rescue arrived the next morning.
Monica was ready to go when she received my friends call, who told her that the dog was lying in front of the door again. For Monica it wasn´t hard at all to wrap the dog in a blanket and carry it to the car to bring it to the veterinary. He discovered that these horrible wounds from a knife or axe, but from hot oil!
Isn´t that terrible. How..why??? I can´t find words. Who can be so cruel to do something like this to a young, trusting, friendly creature? The people here call themselves ,,god fearing,, and also the coran says that animals should be treated with respect. So where is the ,,godfear,,of this person who can do something like this to an animal???
		Luckily the veterinary found out that the wounds looked worst than they are and that the actual problem of the little female was her undernourishment. So she could finally fill her stomach after the doctors examination, when Monica took her home.
Now she is on the way to better health and all she needs now is a loving home to recover from her trauma. So then she can prove what a great dog she is. from Tanja

Love letter to a bird
I have some moving thoughts and feelings that I want to share with you, because maybe other people feel the same. People who become angry if they don t have total control over something. I wrote this letter to a bird but I think it can be used for every animal.
		In the beginning I was very disappointed by my ,,Mimi,, the wild, watchful, unapproachable bird. I was so angry because this vulture didn´t t want to have anything to do with me. She always flew off when I came near her. Even when she is in the cage and I stand near it, she sneaks to the corner.
Great, and what should I do with a bird like this, I thought to myself. And then ,,Bonnie,, arrived(as partner for,, Mimi,,),disturbed, apathic and almost no feathers, but: eating out of my hand.
Yes, eating out of my hand. I thought it was great that she came to the bars of the cage and nibbled my finger, when I saw her in the shop. Great, this trusting behaviour was what I wanted. Of course, in this case I can put myself in the,, I saved this poor creature,, position, but I would have also taken her if she would have been healthy.
Now I have ,,Mimi,,and ,,Bonnie,,, or better: day and night. ,,Mimi,, the wild one, a beautiful bird, her feathers look like the oiled muscles of a bodybuilder. Her look:natural, watchfull ,untamed, her moves: precise, wanted, acrobatic. ,,Mimi,,. I love you because you are a very individual, wild bird, pure, and I can watch you as a bird, not as a trimmed pet formed by us. You are like the moon and the stars, unreachable but fascinating to look at, and I will not try to change you. ,,Bonnie,,, the tamed one, has taught me to think about what we do to animals. It´s great to have contact to them but how high is the price they pay for this. We should let them choose to build contact to us or not. We should give them enough freedom to unfold themselves even in captivity. Of course I keep playing with ,,Bonnie,, and I m happy to feel her near me because I am human, now and in the future. What did it say? And enslave the earth. (Was there an instruction included? And if yes, where is it???) from Tanja