Habiba gets a second chance

Habiba was found abandoned, wandering the streets of a small village in Morocco. The young donkey was severely malnourished, dehydrated and struggling with parasites. Her leg was injured and she was limping as she slowly foraged along the sides of the road. Habiba had spent several weeks desperately looking for food, picking at bits of grass and rubbish under the hot north African sun.

As the economic impacts of Covid-19 continue to grow, many working animal owners struggle to afford the feed that their animals need to survive. Without a daily source of income in a region already hit by devastating drought, people are now barely making enough to feed their families, let alone their animals. In this desperate situation, many donkeys, horses and mules have been turned loose to find food as owners assume that they stand a better chance of survival foraging than starving in the confines of their stables.

Once Habiba was strong enough, vets called a local donkey owner that they knew and trusted for his good care of working animals. The man came to collect Habiba, delighted to bring home such a calm and gentle donkey. To ensure she got the best start, our vets also provided Habiba with several weeks of nutrient-rich feed.

Sadly, abandonment cases like Habiba’s are on the rise in the wake of Covid-19’s devasting impacts. Our teams across the world are on the ground, providing care and new homes to some of the most badly affected working animals. Your continued support can help us reach even more abandoned animals and provide them with a better future.