After Arman the donkey helped his owners to start a new life in Iraqi Kurdistan, SPANA was there to make sure he got the care he deserved.
After being attacked by a bull, Arman the donkey was left with a deep and painful wound running down the length of his neck. His young owner, Saif, had done everything he could to care for the injury, which was starting to become infected. After several days of flushing the cut with water, Saif realised that Arman was becoming weak and listless as the infection spread.
Saif couldn’t lose his beloved animal and was desperate to find anyone who could help. But with no vets in this remote and isolated region, Saif had few options.
Saif’s family will be forever grateful to Arman. Up until 2014, they lived a peaceful life just outside of Mosul, Iraq, where they herded sheep with the help of their donkey. But, following conflict in the area, Saif’s family was forced to flee to safety. They loaded the few possessions they could salvage on to the back of their trusty donkey and headed north. Without Arman, 11-year-old Saif is doubtful that they could have escaped.
Now, with Arman ill and in pain, Saif knew he needed to act fast. Luckily, a neighbour had heard about the SPANA mobile clinic and contacted our vet, Dr Sulaiman.
SPANA’s mobile clinics are a lifeline for rural communities such as Saif’s, and they will travel great distances to reach individual animals in pain or distress. Although the journey took almost a day, Dr Sulaiman at last reached Arman and immediately set to work cleaning his wound with antiseptic. He injected Arman with antibiotics to fight infection and gave Saif instructions on how to administer a booster shot to continue treatment. Finally, he dressed the injury with bandages to keep the area clean and dry while it healed.
For many rural communities, access to veterinary care is impossible. A small wound can quickly become a life-threatening infection, and families risk losing their only means of transport to fetch water, food and firewood.
With your support, SPANA’s mobile clinic can travel vast distances to reach these families and their hardworking animals with vital aid and medicine. Arman will make a full recovery but thanks to your help, SPANA can continue to provide lifesaving care to thousands of more animals just like him in the region.
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