Dr Shaaban’s mobile veterinary team in the El Saf region of Egypt has made a world of difference since it launched in 2023. The team now visits 120 kilns and has transformed the lives of around 1,250 donkeys.

But El Saf is a vast area, and demand remains high. With so many donkeys still suffering pain from wounds sustained from poorly fitted harnesses and overloaded carts, or suffering with exhaustion, malnutrition and dehydration, or from the agony of overgrown hooves, we desperately need to establish a permanent second team. 

With a second team we can increase our visits to existing kilns – while reaching new kilns too. For donkeys still experiencing the pain of wounds sustained from poorly fitted harnesses and overloaded carts, or suffering with exhaustion, malnutrition and dehydration, or from the agony of overgrown hooves, it will be transformative. 

With more visits to each of the kilns, the teams will be able to monitor the health and welfare of donkeys and mules more frequently. And with more regular visits, there should also be less emergency call outs to the kilns, freeing up time for the teams to extend their visits to new kilns, where the condition of donkeys and mules is likely to be poor.

Your donation could help to fund a new vehicle, veterinary equipment and the wages of the second mobile vet team so they can continue their work in 2025. Gifts will also help fund vital education work, to further improve the knowledge of kiln workers and ultimately the conditions of working donkeys across El Saf. 

Safe Haven has recently trialled a second mobile vet team – headed up by Dr Khaled – to help extend our work. We have already seen how effective a second team is. We just need your support to help us make the second team a permanent fixture.

Please, if you can, help us fund our second mobile vet team in Egypt. Donkeys are suffering, and we cannot ignore their pain.

£20 could fund antibiotics, antiseptics and other medicines to treat a working donkey.

£50 could help support our new mobile team, providing much-needed first aid to working donkeys in the brick kilns.

£250 could help pay for veterinary equipment so our team can undertake emergency procedures.

Your donations will help us to fund our mobile vet teams in El Saf, Egypt. If we raise more money than we need, you will help us to care for the donkeys at our Sanctuary in Israel and our Rescue Centre in the West Bank, as well as run our other mobile vet clinics in Gaza and the West Bank.