Animal welfare in Egypt

Animal welfare in Egypt is a neglected issue. There are a few organizations that support the rights and wellbeing of animals, some of which are S.P.A.R.E and the Egyptian Society for Mercy to Animals (ESMA).^[1]

Issues

There are a lot of problems concerning animal rights in Egypt; people are not properly educated about it and there are no strict laws against animal cruelty, such cases like drowning puppies, burying kittens alive or banging animals' heads against walls go unnoticed.^[2]

Working donkeys

There are donkeys that are mistreated in the streets of Egypt where they are overworked and abused with whips or sticks and are malnourished.^[3] An study has shown that the population of donkeys in Egypt has fluctuated over the span of 30 years from 1966 to 1996. In 1966 the population was 1,162; in 1976 it was 1,568; in 1986 it was 1,879 and in 1996 it was 1,690.^[4]

The Effect of Political turmoil on animals in Egypt

After the January 25 revolution, tourism in Egypt came to a halt. Because that was the only source of income for those who worked at tourist attractions, they were unable to care for their animals and as a result, they were suffering. The Egyptian Society of Animal Friends (ESAF)^[5] was able to feed 700 horses, veterinary care was provided, nosebands and fly masks were distributed. In four days, 526 animals were fed and ultimately 1,857 horses and donkeys and 94 camels were tended to using the aid of the Humane Society International (HSI).^[6]

Stray animal culling

Stray animals like cats and dogs are all around the streets of Egypt. A dedicated animal lover reached out to PETA Asia Pacific in February 2015 and they started a petition called "Urge Egypt to Stop Cruel Cull of Dogs!" where the messages would be sent straight to the governor of Cairo, the governor of Giza and the Minister of Agriculture.^[7] S.P.A.R.E has encouraged people via their Facebook page in July 2014 to adopt stray "balady" dogs to save them from being culled.^[8]

Another ongoing petition has been launched by Occupy For Animals on Change.org in January 2013 to stop the poisoning and shooting of street animals. In March 2015, the Veterinary Directorate of Minya and Suez ruled a mass cull of all the stray dogs. According to El Watan News, they have put down 133 dogs in Minya.^[9]

The Ahram Street dog

In February 2015, a dog in Qaliubeya's governorate - Shubra El-Khayma - was brutally slaughtered by three men after the dog bit one of them. They were threatening to press charges against the owner and came to the deal of killing the dog as an act of redeeming honor and dropping the charges in return. The story went viral after a graphic video of the slaughter on Facebook was posted, sending animal rights activists into a rage.^[10] The three men, two of whom are butchers, were arrested days after the incident.^[11] The owner, along with the three defendants was sentenced to three years in prison.^[12] A Cairo appeal court reduced the sentence.^[13]

Activism

• S.P.A.R.E was founded in 2001 by Amina Abaza. In November 2013, Abaza fought for the rights of animals by proposing a law to prevent animal cruelty. The legislation passed and Article 45 was introduced in the Egyptian Constitution as: “The State shall protect its seas, shores, lakes, waterways and natural protectorates. Trespassing, polluting or misusing any of them is prohibited. Every citizen is guaranteed the right of enjoying them. The State shall protect and develop the green space in the urban areas; preserve plant, animal and fish resources and protect those under the threat of extinction or danger; guarantee humane treatment of animals, all according to the law.”^[14][15] A new legislation is being proposed after a previous one was refused that would stipulate compassion and mercy.^[16]

• The Egyptian Society for Mercy to Animals (ESMA) was founded in 2007 as a non-profit organization.^[1][17]

• The Egyptian Society of Animal Friends (ESAF) was founded in over 30 years ago^[18] but the Facebook page says it was founded in March 2002.^[5] It started in a flat in Maadi where rescue cats were kept by a group of animal lovers, and rescue dogs were kept at the Egyptian Veterinary Hospital in Abbaseya.^[5]

• The Egyptian Mau Rescue Organization (EMRO) was formed in 2004 as a non-governmental organization (NGO) that is dedicated to rescuing Mau cats, the descendants of the Ancient Egyptian sacred cat.^[19]

• The Animal Care in Egypt organization (ACE) was founded by Kim Taylor and her aunt Julie Wartenberg when they saw working donkeys and horses being mistreated and working past the point of exhaustion in Luxor. They were able to set the organization up in Egypt and the UK.^[20]

• The Rural Wellness Initiative (launched in 2013) is a registered charity organization that provides free vet care in a mobile clinic and education in animal care.^[21] It is hosted by Al Sorat Farm that sometimes houses animals in specific cases but does not actively rescue them.^[22]

• The Donkey Sanctuary is operating from Giza in three mobile clinics^[23]—one of whom is the Rural Wellness Initiative clinic—and is collaborating with the Society for the Protection and Welfare of Donkeys and Mules in Egypt (SPWDME).^[24]

• The Animal Welfare of Luxor (AWOL) is a UK registered charity on the West bank of Luxor that aims to improve the lives of Egyptian animals by educating children in proper animal healthcare and treatment.^[25]

• The Sharm Action For Animals (S.A.F.A) was founded in 2011 to help and rescue stray animals on the streets of Sharm El-Sheikh.^[25][26]

See also

• Society for Protection of Animal Rights in Egypt

References

1. "Egyptian Society for Mercy to Animals". Egyptian Society for Mercy to Animals. Retrieved 2015-05-14.
2. Horon, Sonia. "Egypt: Lack Of Animal Laws, Animal Abuse, And Pet Cruelty". Retrieved 2015-05-14.
3. "Eat, Bray, Suffer: An Egyptian donkey's tale - Features - Egypt - Ahram Online". english.ahram.org.eg. Retrieved 2015-05-15.
4. "http://www.atnesa.org/donkeys/donkeys-starkey-populations.pdf" (PDF). www.atnesa.org. Retrieved 2015-05-20. External link in |title= (help)
5. "ESAF Page (The Egyptian Society of Animal Friends)". Facebook. Retrieved 2015-05-14.
6. "Feeding Animals in Egypt : Humane Society International". www.hsi.org. Retrieved 2015-05-14.
7. "Urge Egypt to Stop Cruel Cull of Dogs | Take Action | PETAAsiaPacific.com - 1". action.petaasiapacific.com. Retrieved 2015-05-14.
8. "Stray Dog culling in Egypt since time... - S.P.A.R.E - Society for the Protection of Animal Rights in Egypt | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2015-05-14.
9. "الوطن | حملة مكبرة لإعدام الكلاب الضالة بالمحافظات". www.elwatannews.com. Retrieved 2015-05-14.
10. https://youtube.com/devicesupport, 2015-04-17, retrieved 2015-05-14 External link in |title= (help)
11. "Suspects of dog slaughter arrested in Egypt - Egypt - Ahram Online". english.ahram.org.eg. Retrieved 2015-05-14.
12. "Four Egyptians sentenced to jail in infamous dog killing case - Politics - Egypt - Ahram Online". english.ahram.org.eg. Retrieved 2015-05-14.
13. "Jail sentences reduced in infamous dog killing case - Politics - Egypt - Ahram Online". english.ahram.org.eg. Retrieved 2015-05-14.
14. "New draft Egyptian constitution guarantees "protection of animal welfare" | Animal People". www.animalpeoplenews.org. Retrieved 2015-05-14.
15. "http://www.sis.gov.eg/Newvr/Dustor-en001.pdf" (PDF). www.sis.gov.eg. Retrieved 2015-05-14. External link in |title= (help)
16. "The Laws - Society for the Protection of Animal Rights in Egypt". www.sparelives.org. Retrieved 2015-05-14.
17. "Mission to protect animal welfare in Egypt". Retrieved 2015-05-14.
18. "ESAF Animal Shelter > Community Services Association (CSA)". www.livinginegypt.org. Retrieved 2015-05-14.
19. "Egyptian Mau Rescue Organization (EMRO) emaurescue.org :: Welcome". www.emaurescue.org. Retrieved 2015-05-14.
20. "Our History - Animal Care in Egypt". Retrieved 2015-05-14.
21. "Rural Wellness Initiative Egypt". Facebook. Retrieved 2015-05-15.
22. "Egypt Face To Face". www.alsorat.com. Retrieved 2015-05-15.
23. "Egypt | The Donkey Sanctuary". www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk. Retrieved 2015-05-15.
24. "The society For the Protection and Welfare of Donkeys & Mules in Egypt". Facebook. Retrieved 2015-05-15.
25. "Volunteering in Egypt with Animals - Alternative Egypt Travel Guide". Retrieved 2015-05-15.
26. "About Us". Sharm Action For Animals. Retrieved 2015-05-15.