- Title: Abused animals get second chance at Hurghada shelter
- Date: 10th October 2019
- Summary: PHOTO OF WOUNDED DOGS PHOTO OF WOUNDED CATS
- Embargoed: 24th October 2019 09:14
- Keywords: Hurghada animal shelter Bluemon animal centre Animals Egypt Hurghada
- Location: HURGHADA AND GIZA, EGYPT
- City: HURGHADA AND GIZA, EGYPT
- Country: Egypt
- Topics: Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA002B0IJ8LZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: An animal shelter in the Egyptian Red Sea city of Hurghada has turned into a home for abused animals, becoming both an animal-friendly tourist attraction as well as a place for pets and animal lovers to form lasting bonds.
Bluemoon Animal Centre, regarded as the city's oldest animal shelter, first began taking in stray cats and dogs in 2002. Since then, the shelter rescued thousands of animals.
It all started when an animal lover and rights advocate from Switzerland, Monique Carrera, started an animal neutering initiative intended to decrease the number of strays.
"So we have the hurt donkeys, they bring them here. When they are very badly hurt, we buy them, and they stay here. And then we have the problem here in Hurghada. We had a lot of donkeys working in the street. And the tourists complained because it is hot, the people beat them up. And so the government forbid the donkeys in the street, and they bring them to us," said Carrera.
Among abused animals in the shelter is a monkey that was found on a beach in a cage and was given alcohol and drugs for tourists' amusement.
One tourist reported the abuse to Bluemoon, which then confiscated the monkey and took her in.
Other abused animals include donkeys and horses, which Carrera says are found to be beaten and overworked in the streets.
"And the tourists did give her (the monkey) alcohol and drugs. And somebody saw it, so they took her out, and bring her to us," said Carrera.
Animal healthcare at Carrera's centre includes neutering, washing, regular check-ups, treatments, and vaccinations.
According to Carrera, tourists in Hurghada often hear about the shelter, and come visit twice a week. The visits often lead to adoptions.
She says nearly 70 percent of the adopted animals move to homes in Europe while the rest are adopted in Egypt.
(Production: Ahmed Fahmy, Nadeen Ebrahim) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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