A Brief Newsround - Week Ending 18/04/21

Last Sunday saw two causes for celebration at LIFE. The first involved an elderly overworked donkey who found a happy retirement home with a caring British couple.  How his body language has changed since we came upon him dejected and neglected, his rope tangled in thorns and hobble marks on his little legs. In every photo the kind new owner sends, I see a soul lit up from within. She gives him the love and attention he lacked in his former life where he was only used to earn money, his own needs ignored. 

Rescued donkey Vesko

The second cause for joy was confirmation of a wonderful new home found for a young puppy we'd been keen to release from a chain. He'd been left in hot sun without water repeatedly. A long coated breed, he'd have suffered horribly in summer. We've known dogs to die of thirst on chains here. This baby is in gentle and safe hands now and will lack for nothing.

Daniel with the puppy who was happily rehomed

The subject of using animals for monetary gain is a thorny one. It seems to go with the territory of being human: man has used other living creatures for his own benefit since time immemorial - to eat, to sacrifice to curry favour with deities, to swop for other "goods," including women, to race, to compete and to sell. It has seemed normal, dare I say natural, to many cultures to do these things and although some of the practices mentioned are less common now, in reality only public sacrifice of animals to gods has become a thing of the past in most cultures. Everywhere in the world where the human animal exists,  other animals are still eaten,  sold and used to entertain and earn for their "masters".  Where I've lived, among remote island cultures, pigs are still included in the deal when a bride is bought. 

The Baduleegas, who bought their brides mostly with pigs

So, like it or not, use of other animals for human gain is a largely accepted practice worldwide. But what are we to make of people living close to the Lucy Irvine Foundation's hub, who force injured or sick horses to work or entertain them by racing for monetary gain?  My own feeling is that,  aside from the question of whether it's natural to eat or sell other living beings, it is surely NOT acceptable to add cruelty to these acts or to neglect to fulfil the needs of the used animals while they live.

Here in rural Bulgaria it's so common to see a thin and suffering horse hauling a heavy load to earn for his owner it almost seems normal. The same applies to thin, chained and cowering dogs. There are so many of them that it's the cheerful, well cared for dogs, the well-covered contented horses,  that are the exceptions to the rule. And how heartening it is for us to meet one of those when we do.

A local horse in poor condition (L) and another Roma-owned horse looking better after advice from LIFE was followed (R)

A dog, Bruna, who LIFE supports in the community 

A dog in the community who  needs more help to fully recover from mange.

Vet trips this week included a case of papilloma virus (warts) in a young dog's mouth. The owner gave him away to a child because, he said, the dog was ugly. In fact this is a potentially gorgeous dog we hope to fully cure of his relatively minor problem. 

Blackie, the dog suffering from papilloma virus

Papilloma virus that causes warts

LIFE has had a much worse case, which took almost a year to clear up, but just look at her in the photo below, now. And if we manage to help young Blackie regain a clean mouth, local people will see there's no need to reject a dog just because he has warts. 

Peperuda suffering from papilloma virus above, and fully healthy and happy, below. She has now been happily rehomed :)

Calico, a cat found almost dead on a rubbish tip 2 years ago, also went to the vet this week as she was coughing and vomiting. X-rays revealed a bad case of worms in the lungs, which don't respond to normal deworming tablets. She's had to stay at the vet to be properly treated, which has left LIFE with a bill of over 100 pounds. We'd be so grateful for any help to cover this. Calico is very dear to us. She's already survived being shot and will always limp. Please donate here to help her.

 

Over Orthodox Easter, at the start of May, LIFE plans to hold an informal "clinic" for Roma-owned horses and dogs at which needs of the animals will be assessed and discussed with owners. LIFE works closely with a local livestock vet who will visit horses we find to be in need of veterinary treatment. We'll treat minor ailments such as harness sores and cuts and bruises, on the spot.  Owners will also be shown how to protect their horses and dogs from ticks and fleas which can cause fatal diseases here. Any help to make the event a success is welcome. As Orthodox Easter is bigger here than Christmas, we'd like to take treats for children, too - healthy fruit and just a few naughty but nice sweets each. If you'd like to be part of LIFE's drive to help animals here by educating at the same time we treat them for minor ailments, you can kindly support us by donating.  

To keep up with day to day happenings on the ground at LIFE, visit my Facebook page. To peruse our album of dogs available for rehoming, see here.

Wishing all our supporters a happy week ahead.

Lucy