ESAF – Page 2 – Art, animals, and the earth

Egypt: Workshop promotes alternatives to animal testing

March 17, 2013by sharonstjoanLeave a Comment

By ESAF (Egyptian Society of Animal Friends)

This is an excerpt from ESAF’s report on the workshop.

The Second Egyptian Seminar on Alternatives to Animal Experiments in Education and Training was organized by ESAF (the Egyptian Society of Animal Friends) in association with the Biological and Geological Departments of the Faculty of Education at Ain Shams University.

The workshop brought together teachers, students, researchers, representatives of the General Organization of Veterinary Services, animal activists, campaigning organizations, media, and others to promote and help implement replacement alternatives across Egypt.

These were some of the topics covered:

Animal Care in Arabic culture

Alternatives to Animal Dissection

The Role of Civil Societies and Media in Animal Care

The Role of Curricula in Developing Awareness about Endangered Animals

The Use of Cells and Tissue Cultures as Alternatives to Animal Experiments

Zoonoses

The Psychological, Educational, and Scientific Impact of Using Alternatives to Animal Experiments by Students

Legislation for Animal Care in Egyptian Law

There were lively discussions and debates, as one would expect (and hope for) at such a workshop. It was wonderful to see so many young people so actively involved…

ESAF

To visit the Facebook page of ESAF, click here. (Some content may be disturbing.)

Photo: Courtesy of ESAF

animals

Egypt: Pet shop campaign underway

October 23, 2012by sharonstjoanLeave a Comment

The pet shop campaign being conducted by ESAF and the Giza Vet Department is well underway. On October 8 and 15, 2012, they visited three pet shops in Omrania and two pet shops in 6^th of October City.

ESAF vets Dr. Moh Gomaily and Dr. Moh A. A. Hay, and Giza vet Dr. Hisham inspected the pet shops, talking with pet shop managers and owners and offering tips on ways to improve ventilation and let in more fresh air, keep everything clean and tidy, and keep a good eye on the health of the animals.

They handed out fliers and posters that highlighted animal care and safety, encouraged rabies vaccinations, and warned against wild animal trafficking.

Just in case some of the animals might be in urgent need of care, they had brought along an emergency medical bag, but fortunately, it was not needed.

ESAF and officials are working to set up a system for the government to more closely monitor pet shops; it would require licensing and regular inspections.

Photo: Courtesy of ESAF

To visit ESAF’s Facebook page, click here.

animals

Egypt: ESAF launches their Pet Shop Campaign

October 10, 2012by sharonstjoanLeave a Comment

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA — An ESAF vet feeding one of the Pyramids horses.

Dr.Mohammed Abd-Elhay writes that the Egyptian Society of Animal Friends (ESAF) has launched a Pet Shop Campaign with the goal of reaching every pet shop in Giza, the city that lies next to Cairo.

They will do an assessment of the pet shop conditions, which generally need a lot of improvement, and while they are there, they will show the pet shop managers and staff how to improve their care of the animals. In educating the staff, they’ll need to be as diplomatic as possible, making friends along the way, so that the animals will benefit from kinder, more knowledgeable treatment.

During the pet shop visits, they’ll also be offering free treatment for any sick animals.

While certainly there need to be strong laws against animal cruelty, and effective law enforcement, there’s more than one tool in a toolbox, and legislation is not the only way to bring about better care for pet shop animals.

And yes, we know that it would be far better if animals were adopted, rather than sold, but to be effective as animal advocates, we must start with the circumstances as we find them, not as we wish them to be, and circumstances vary from one country and culture to another, so being adaptable, seeing what works well, and what is a good starting point is a practical strategy.

In a great many cases, where mistreatment may be caused by simple ignorance, a few straightforward instructions, guidelines, and setting a good example of kindness and caring, can go along way towards improving the care of animals.

Congratulations to ESAF for this tremendously positive approach – which introduces pet shop staff and management to the concept that animals deserve excellent care.

As the ESAF team visits every pet shop in Giza, they will be putting together a database, to serve as a basis for future plans and long-term efforts to improve the lot of pets in Giza.

Photo: Courtesy of ESAF / This, of course, is not a pet, but a working horse. One of the ESAF vets is feeding carrots to a horse that is part of the ESAF Pyramids Project.

To visit the Facebook page of ESAF, click here.

animals

ESAF vets provide care for 107 Pyramids horses and camels

July 2, 2012July 2, 2012by sharonstjoanLeave a Comment

By ESAF

In June, ESAF conducted 7 separate mobile clinics at the pyramids area – providing shots for internal and external parasites and treating all kinds of common injuries and diseases for the working horses and camels. The clinics also provided feeding for the most urgent cases.

The animal owners have always been so grateful to see us back in the area, especially the camel owners who have nobody else to rely on. Now they can’t feel they are left alone in the middle of the crisis, and there is someone to take care of them and their animals.

camelseating grassedited1-20 June — Camels having dinner.

This month some of our vets experienced the work at the Pyramids area for the first time. Some volunteers and trainee vets also enjoyed being part of such an inspiring experience, and, of course, owners volunteered to work as vet assistants at times, grateful for the help and the awareness tips they were given.

ESAF has always been committed to the working animals at the Pyramids, and we are doing our best to continue the long term project for the area.

Exif-JPEG-422 — A young boy with one of his family’s camels.

Total number of animals treated in June: 72 Horses and 35 Camels.

Total number of animals fed in June: 40 Horses and 17 Camels.

Also a big thank you to Aida at Digla Animal Rescue for her donation of the nose bands for the working animals. These soft nosebands replace the uncomfortable wires previously in use.

Very special thanks to all our donors and to ESAF vets Dr. Moh A Al Hay, Dr. Moh Ossama, Dr. Marwa Rabah and Dr. Moh Gomaily for their hard work and dedication to helping the Pyramids camels and horses.

Photos: Courtesy of ESAF

animals

Dentals for horses on the shores of the Red Sea

May 24, 2012by sharonstjoan2 Comments

ESAF (The Egyptian Society of Animal Friends) has been helping the horses at Hourgada, a port on the Red Sea.

Responding to a request from Continental Rescue and Rehab, Dr. Mohammed Abd-ElHay and Dr. Mohamed Osama traveled to Hurghada on Saturday, May 12, to spend the next three days doing dentals for the horses, as well as treating cases of colic.

Horses’ teeth just keep growing throughout their lives, so they really need dentals to file them down, so the teeth are even, with no sharp spurs.

A good dental can give a horse a whole new lease on life. Continental Rescue and Rehab was delighted to see some of their rescued horses feeling a lot brighter and friskier.

During the tumultuous days of the past year in Cairo, when there have been few tourists to provide a livelihood for the Pyramids animals, whose job in normal times is to give rides to the tourists, ESAF ran an ongoing program of feeding and vet care for the Pyramids horses, camels, and donkeys, to tide them over until the tourists return.

Thanks to ESAF for taking such good care of Egyptian equines.

To visit the Facebook page of ESAF, click here. (Caution: Graphic photos.)

To visit the Facebook page of Continental Rescue and Rehab, click here. (Caution: Graphic photos.)

Photo: Courtesy of ESAF

animals

Egypt: A New Zealand team lends a hand and ESAF celebrates 10 years!

April 5, 2012by sharonstjoanLeave a Comment

The Egyptian Society of Animal Friends (ESAF) is hosting the Kiwi Care Team from New Zealand; fifteen vets, farriers, and equine dentists who are doing a terrific job, fixing up teeth, hooves, and patching up injuries for the Pyramids animals.

ESAF just held a big celebration to mark their tenth anniversary. Congratulations to them for all they’ve accomplished and for all their dedicated work for the animals!

Over the past year, throughout all the challenges of the Arab Spring, they’ve done a magnificent job overcoming hurdles to continue to provide food and vet care to the many horses, camels, and donkeys who generally give rides to tourists, but who’ve had a difficult few months because of the lack of tourists during these unsettled times. The equine owners have been thankful for all the help given to their animals.

Robert Blumberg, who had a hand in founding ESAF, offered a special tribute that closed with these words:

“There are many animals that neither you nor I will ever see but whose lives have been improved by ESAF’s actions. While there is still much to be done, have faith that you are doing the right things!”

Happy 10th Birthday ESAF!

For the Facebook page of the Kiwi Care Club, click here.

For the Facebook page of ESAF, click here.

Photo: Courtesy of ESAF / One of the Kiwi Care Team treating a pyramids horse brought by his owner

animals

Egypt: Feeding and vet care for the Pyramids horses and camels

January 13, 2012by sharonstjoanLeave a Comment

boywithhorse — A boy with his family's horse

Ahmed El Sherbiny, Chairperson of ESAF (the Egyptian Society of Animal Welfare) writes: “Since 2005, ESAF has conducted a weekly clinic in the Pyramids area for horses, donkeys, and now camels. However, after the revolution [when the horses were starving first due to civil unrest and the curfew, then because of the collapse of tourist trade income], we increased the clinic to three times a week and included feeding….

“As part of our long-term plan, ESAF has now opened a permanent clinic, not far from the Pyramids. This clinic operates seven days a week, from 9 am till 5 pm, providing both feeding and treatment for horses and camels in need.

“ESAF operates a weekly stable visit for the horses that are unable to attend either the clinic or the shelter; there is no charge for this service.”

To visit ESAF’s Facebook page, where you can offer to help the Pyramids horses and camels, click here.

Photo: Courtesy of ESAF