Tazewell ARC

30/07/2020

Farewell, Sweet Babies

One of the last posts we were able to make before Facebook restricted our account for unknown reasons was about Hinda's puppies. Many may remember Hinda, the street dog from Sidi Bouzid who popped out a litter of puppies the first night of coronavirus lockdown. We are heartbroken to report that all seven of these puppies, plus five from another dog named Arqua, had not yet finished their vaccine series when their quarantine area became contaminated (most likely by flying insects that became vectors from the corpses of another litter of dead puppies the owner failed to bury.) All twelve of the puppies in our care died. It was one of the most horrific outcomes in all the years TARC has worked to educate, vaccinate, sterilize, and protect dogs in some of the most underserved and challenged communities imagineable.

We're moving on now, currently treating another parvo puppy we found short-chained to a pole in the blazing sun. We'll begin sharing updates about "Jesse" tonight as well. We've also returned Arqua to her owner after rehabilitating her broken leg. She is now spayed and fully vaccinated. We have a working business plan to reincorporate as a U.S. LLC and nonprofit and have a written proposal for town leaders about cooperative TNR efforts in Azemmour. Changing the face of animal welfare in Morocco will be a marathon, not a sprint. It won't come after one save or two saves or even a hundred devastating losses. But we can't just throw our hands up and say, "nothing can be done." Something can ALWAYS be done. Stay tuned.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCR2W6nxGwk&fbclid=IwAR2wzMnU3kCpl9qGpGjrNooVbYAmQyQ0ElHZFJxHGT_l4BZG_REL_PeDRLI

We buried them by the sea, all twelve of them. They are missed. We have twelve puppy-sized holes in our hearts. We must work harder to raise awareness, raise...

30/07/2020

Much has happened in the past few months. Facebook had blocked our account at one point without telling us why. Hopefully that is resolved now so we can continue posting from this page.

We lost all seven of Hinda's puppies to an extremely virulent form of parvovirus. We lost Arqua's five as well. Those twelve had received one vaccine, but we were never able to raise enough money to pay for vaccines at the equivalent of $20 a pop so the puppies were sitting ducks for infection. We now know how to get viable vaccines in much the same way we got them in the U.S, from a reputable dealer who works with animal welfare organizations to make rescue in high risk conditions possible.

We'll post more information in the days to come because we have happy stories to tell as well, not just tragic ones. For tonight, we'll leave everyone with the thought of this tiny, starved kitten who enjoyed a personal meal of sardines tonight in the medina after we watched him struggle to eat ridiculously inappropriate foodstuff from a dumpster. Will he survive? It's doubtful. Too many diseases have been circulating in Azemmour for too long to expect this to end overnight. It will take years. But our goal as the re-branded "TransAtlantic Animal Relief Coaliton" is to vaccinate and sterilize everything, and hopefully over time not only will the populations become diminished, but healthy as well.

29/07/2020

This is a test post.

Several weeks ago, we received nasty communication from Facebook that our page violates a policy they did not specify. We reached out to Facebook for assistance with this matter and our communication was ignored. I don't know how we are supposed to resolve a problem if we don't know what the problem is. So let's see what happens with this post, shall we?

27/05/2020

Introducing “Abroad World,” Where Animals, Travel, and Publishing All Live Happily Ever After – Abroad World

New website, new blog post talking about our ventures in Morocco!

This article contains a link to our Patreon account. We need monthly sponsors--would you consider donating through Patreon? We also have a PayPal link at the bottom of the article. PayPal is great and has served us well, but Patreon would be a great tool for us if we could get some momentum going. It's notoriously difficult to start a new account on any form of social media and it usually takes a push from existing supporters. We have very attainable levels of $5, $10, and $25. We have also published specific goals if certain targets are reached. Second vaccines are coming due for a lot of animals here, so any help you can offer will be deeply appreciated.

One never knows what emergencies might make us change our minds, but right now there is no plan to intake any more animals until a reliable fundraising system is in place. We will, however, be producing A LOT of content in both written and video format, so please follow along!

Thank you!

http://abroadworld.press/?p=159

animals Introducing “Abroad World,” Where Animals, Travel, and Publishing All Live Happily Ever After by Rhonda|Published May 27, 2020 I never dreamed that Africa would be my future. When I was growing up in the Deep South, a region of the U.S. that is typically conservative and even a bit clois...

17/05/2020

Hello. Some big changes happening with TARC, so keep your eye on us!

For those who don't know, the TARC Director, Rhonda Kay, has landed in Morocco right in the middle of the COVID-19 lockdown. This was not by design; we see it as a very fortunate accidental encounter with destiny.

Major differences exist between Morocco and the U.S. Remarkably, these differences may result in the evolution of a much more efficient, humane, and lifesaving system of stray dog and cat management than we have seen in the U.S. or other developed nations.

Municipal shelters are not a factor in Morocco. Previously, street dogs and cats were killed with bullets or poison, but recent legislation is ending that practice as Morocco emerges as a developing and progressive nation. Communities feed and care for their street dogs and cats. Sometimes resources are limited, but the effort is there and we've seen vigorous and heartfelt efforts to feed and treat medical issues even when there is no budget for veterinary care.

What this means is that in Morocco, one hundred percent of our efforts can be put into sterilization and vaccination of feral cat and dog populations. There is no "death row" in shelters or urgent need to "place" any of these animals. No resources will ever be wasted on warehousing them or disposing of their bodies after lethal injection or gassing. Every dime, every labor of love goes directly toward sterilizing them, vaccinating against rabies not only for their benefit but for public safety, and releasing them right back to the streets they love and call home.

TARC will occasionally post about specific animals needing TNR or other medical services. We are also willing to manage funds that are given for those specific causes. Please contact us here on Facebook if you have questions.

14/05/2020

TARC 2.0? — Hive

I'm facing some issues here in Morocco that may require a decision, the kind of decision that not only impacts my own life but every life connected to mine. I thought I had retired TARC the nonprofit, and I have, actually--the Tazewell ARC iteration of it, anyway. But what if the work is still calling to me in another country? What if Africa is my future, and TARC's?

I wrote an article about the choices I may have to make and you can find it at the following link. Perhaps give a thought to sharing it--I would like to get a sense of how much international support I might have for a project like this. Because amid all the things I do not know, one thing I understand with total clarity is that this is not the kind of endeavor one undertakes alone.
https://hive.blog/tarc//tarc-2-0

“I said, ‘Somebody should do something about that.’ Then I realized, I am somebody.” Above is a famous quote from… by tarc

13/05/2020

Puppies!

Huge THANK YOU to all the people who gave so these puppies could get their initial core disease vaccines! They had those administered a few days ago, and as you can see, they're healthy and happy and growing like little weeds. Around the first of June they'll be ready for their second vaccine in this series as well as deworming. After that comes a third vaccine, a rabies vaccine, microchipping, sterilization, and a trip across international borders to find forever homes!

08/05/2020

Puppies, puppies, puppies! Hinda made some beautiful ones.

For anyone not familiar with her story, here is a link: https://hive.blog/life//finding-my-place-in-the-world We later updated everyone with information that Hinda was already pregnant and past the point of safe sterilization surgery. She had nine puppies on March 20, two of which failed to thrive and died almost immediately. The remaining seven did well and it's now time for their first puppy shots.

Let's find some sponsors for these cuties! Would you like to get involved with the work we're doing here in Morocco? This would be an excellent way. You can sponsor one puppy for $20 USD or find a friend to help you sponsor a puppy at $10 from each of you. We will provide proof of vaccines to each person who gives so you will know your money went for exactly the purpose you intended.

TARC is no longer a nonprofit because we're are working outside the U.S. For larger donations that require a tax receipt, please donate through our affiliate organization, ERHAM. For these pups, though, it's best to send directly through PayPal. Our ID is [email protected] . Make a note through PayPal about which puppy you are sponsoring. This is a great cause and we hope you'll get on board!

This is the first vaccine in a series of three that will be administered before these pups receive a rabies vaccine at twelve weeks. We will be seeking adoptive homes for these pups in the UK through rescue partnerships there and are prepared to meet all requirements for entry into the United Kingdom, which are complex but not impossible. We'll consider adopting to families in the U.S. and Canada but adopter must assume cost of transportation, and this will not be possible until Moroccan borders open again for international travel.

The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted life everywhere, but we'll keep saving animals with every resource at our disposal. For now, we need to get these babies vaccinated so we can protect them against parvovirus, which is quite prevalent in Morocco. They don't deserve to be infected with that. Immunization is the only way to guarantee their safety.

Thank you!

29/04/2020

Our work continues here in Morocco, even during lockdown. Yesterday, a banging on our door led us to discover that a neighbor's dog had fallen off the roof and injured herself badly, and community children were begging us to help her.

Rooftops are a common place to see dogs here in Morocco, as most often they are terraces with gardens and sitting areas. Ours is the same way and we keep dogs up there as well. A tumble from these heights is unusual, since most terraces are walled in a way that provides safe areas for human children and pets to play. We're not sure how Arqua came to land on the pavers below, but she didn't walk away from it. She ended up with a leg broken above the stifle joint and a whole lot of pain.

Arqua is an interesting case. She's one of the unfortunate dogs "trained" in Morocco to guard property, but the "training" involves negative enforcement and harassment until the dog finally snaps. Immediately upon examining her, though, I noticed a strong urge in her to be affectionate. Plus, she's nursing five puppies. It would be unconscionable to just do nothing.

We convinced the owner to let us have her spayed if we agreed to help, quite a feat since they intended to use her for breeding stock. The puppy trade here in Morocco is no less abominable than the puppy mills and backyard breeder market of America, but there's a different motivation. It's less greed than a desperate attempt to earn money to feed hungry children, not for pocket change to buy drugs or alcohol or support other vices. It's still wrong, animals still suffer, but the people are different. They're more willing to consider alternatives. Even just the opportunity to have a conversation with Arqua's owner about other choices has made this a win.

Now we have to follow through. Dr. Abdelbaki Zryouil came immediately to examine Arqua, but had to postpone treatment due to her aggressive behavior. I was able to get her safely muzzled yesterday so he returned and was able to confirm that her leg is indeed broken and prescribed a course of treatment. This will involve lots of rest and restricted movement, with the possibility of surgery down the road if the bones don't knit together properly.

For now, we need to raise $100 USD to cover the expenses of care Arqua has already received as well as vaccinations to come next week. This is a tiny amount compared to funds we've raised in the past for needy animals, so I feel sure we can find a few people to sponsor her, even in these tough economic times. She will have more expenses down the road, such as spay surgery and possibly an orthopedic procedure if her leg doesn't heal the way it should. But we'll cross those bridges when we come to them. Right now, we just need to take things one step at a time and cover the cost of treatment she has already received as well as rabies and core disease vaccines in the very near future. Our PayPal address to donate is: [email protected] .

TARC no longer operates at a 501c3 so please make a note of this. Donations are not write-offs, but they definitely go to the purpose advertised rather than disappear into some mysterious bank account while animals go uncared for. Our long-time supporters will verify this a thousand times over--we do what we say we will do with the funds you donate. Be mindful, though, that this is Morocco. Paper trails are virtually nonexistent here, which is one reason that retainining 501c3 status to work in a developing country did not seem reasonable, especially since no funds are warehoused in U.S. banks or any other banks, for that matter. They go directly to the expense we have posted to tell you about. Just as we've done with Hinda, the Sidi Bouzid street dog we helped last year, we will keep you updated with progress reports, photos and videos. There is a new update about Hinda coming soon.

And for those who really want to get involved and see up close what we're doing--after the pandemic is over and travel is possible again, we will be able to accomdate guests right here at the River House so curious supporters can visit Azemmour and see the work firsthand! This was always a dream for us in the States but we lacked everything we needed to make that happen. Not in Morocco! So everyone, please stay safe and dream of Africa. We'd love to have you for a visit.

12/04/2020

Recently, I introduced everyone to Evangeline, a mother cat dumped in the Azemmour medina with her five kittens. We took Evangeline and her litter in on behalf of ERHAM and are pleased to report they are all doing well.

But that isn't where the story ends! A few days later, I came upon a litter of kittens that were being murdered by a gang of starving street cats and managed to save one before he was eaten. So meet Tango! He's the tiniest little marmalade baby in the photos included with this post. Evangeline took him in without question and began nursing and caring for him without having to be convinced.

Then, a few days after that, I found another slightly older kitten alone and howling in the middle of a medina street. There was no sign of a mother cat even an hour later, so I brought her home, too, and turned her over to Evangeline. Once again, Evangeline accepted the newcomer without question and is now caring very successfully for seven babies. Evangeline is our 2020 Superhero Mom and we owe her a great debt!

05/04/2020

A few days ago, while out feeding cats in the Azemmour medina, I came across a mother cat and five kittens someone had placed in a box near a rubbish tip (trash dumpster.) I took them back to the River House with me, cleaned them up, made sure mommy cat had plenty to eat, and held my breath to see if they were going to survive overnight. They did, and during the next few days, grew strong and healthy.

Then yesterday, again as I was feeding cats in the medina, I came upon a gruesome scene. Feral cats had set upon a mother cat and her kittens and killed all but one of them. I scooped up the survivor and, knowing I had zero chances of locating and catching the mother cat, rushed the days-old newborn home to Evangeline, the mother cat I'd found near the rubbish tip.

Evangeline needed no coaxing. She accepted the new baby instantly, grooming and licking him vigorously until he began to nurse. Though much tinier than his five adopted siblings, "Tango" pushes his way right through the crowd and eats his fill. Evangeline is keeping him just as fluffy and fat as her other babies, and I love her dearly for it. She has truly earned my respect.

Here are some photos of Evangeline and her brood, including tiny Tango. I'm sure you'll think they're just as precious as I do!

To donate for the cause of Moroccan cats during this crisis, please give directly to ERHAM: https://www.paypal.me/ERHAMCATS

03/04/2020

The coronavirus crisis came out of nowhere and surprised the entire world earlier this year. It interrupted life on many levels in every region of the globe. It definitely affected the TNR work we planned to do in Morocco this year with ERHAM, but it did not shut the project down. I've been slow to post updates but we definitely have some. Let me catch everyone up to speed now!

For the foreseeable future, ERHAM will focus on feeding animals in the community impacted by the closure of shops and cafes that ordinarily sustain them. Spays and neuters will continue, but on a reduced schedule as employees of the veterinary clinic are staying home under lockdown order.

Morocco topped the list today as one of the safest countries to be in during this pandemic. This is because the government here implemented a rigorous, uncompromising lockdown very early in the process. On March 15, Moroccan authorities closed the borders for air, land, and maritime travel, allowing no one in or out of the country "until further notice." Five days later, all intercity travel was halted and people can only move about within their local areas if carrying an "exceptional movement" permit.

This sounds harsh and authoritarian, and I'm sure many Americans are recoiling in horror. But the point is, those of us working here with ERHAM are safe, as safe as we can possibly be during this crisis. We are allowed to move about enough that several individual volunteers have taken areas near their homes as feeding territories, and we make at least one round a day to place food down for the street cats and dogs who rely on shops and cafes (now all closed by military order) for food. So far it's working great and our fantastic Azemmour veterinarian, Dr. Abdelbaki Zryouil, is able to oversee the project.

Here are some photos from the TARC territory here in the Azemmour medina. In this collection of photos are some previously sterilized cats as well as some cats the ERHAM hasn't trapped for surgery yet. Note the difference in body condition between cats living on the same street in the same circumstances. Spaying and neutering really is the answer, and we see proof of it every day.

ERHAM is a nonprofit organization and is accepting donations to help us continue this outreach. https://www.paypal.me/ERHAMCATS

27/03/2020

Coronavirus lockdown is not easy. It's hard on the animals as well as the people, since here in Morocco the food that sustains street dog and cat populations comes from the shops and the markets and the cafes, all of which are closed indefinitely. So ERHAM volunteers have mobilized in the Azemmour area, working together to cover as much territory as possible on foot and on bicycles, distributing kibble to the street dogs and cats daily so they don't starve during this crisis. Check out our most recent album upload for photos and details about this amazing effort.

TARC will keep you posted.

https://web.facebook.com/pg/tazewellanimalrescuecoalition/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1319389614922121&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARB62K0CPS720kPkuVfKz4l-AgjtalOZCrKOGk5T2XsSVu-qj9JOEzbwYnaeDlc2KrdtpmS1z1p7ZlKaTlRkDd1Qv0vVFKfKukrdPXdRSC4PH3q9HPUI1ZeyIOntkxpYDZW8y-Z5Q_joxO2KBVjv8wT7SueYjw10GXftquCEDk07gmYAAvBi_jjU06w0E9AE7tbdcpfgMBncF2t9l7LYkrLOHbYsEHCFS1iqF_-TAo77VExlclYs2ufdBXxPHJTtu3boFkoIA0ZnLU1L2e-3giWfi-MYbEL_9Kywx7-n8fsYVyjGvABx8d0zeqZwHo-OphwefSmSP8jKv3MllkDyR77IDkDo44HNCT_aBy97vPvI02N8r0gLCWN6MexKsbFJR6l9YN3LTrzQ9ws7oUd3dMn0dR7Ar2B5fuqQLssDQH2ut2iPOjwyoUsMmzjaNaiTljCo3-nc0etHPsWRG2R-&__tn__=-UC-R

Volunteers are hard at work feeding Azemmour's street cats and dogs during the coronavirus crisis. Here are some photos from a day of work.

27/03/2020

Volunteers are hard at work feeding Azemmour's street cats and dogs during the coronavirus crisis. Here are some photos from a day of work.

12/03/2020

Dear Richlands, Virginia:

It has come to our attention that you need education about the social, environmental, and humane importance of feral cat colonies, about what works and what doesn't, and what the successful outcome of competent colony management looks like.

The "Third World" country of Morocco, here in Africa--in particular the small agricultural village of Azemmour--has a presentation they'd like to make before the Richlands City Council, including one particular member who allegedly has been vandalizing and ripping apart cat shelters within town limits. We are unsure if he's committing these actions himself or hiring others to do them so he doesn't have to soil his pretty clothes.

Included in this post are photos of a cat shelter built by volunteers with ERHAM. It's located in a housing complex near the sea. The people here are not wealthy, but they have worked together with advocates, veterinarians, and members of the community to sterilize, vaccinate, and FEED the stray cats who habitate the neighborhood. Over time, the population of cats has stabilized. This means that enough cats exist there to keep stray cats from other neighborhoods from moving in (cats are territorial, after all,) but they are not reproducing, not a public safety issue, and clearly not a public NUISANCE.

The people who live in this housing complex are proud of their feral cats. They are proud of the beautiful permanent cat shelter built by volunteers and maintain it without being asked or paid. Volunteers and community members have turned the site into a garden, complete with a sitting area, feeding area, and beautiful foliage. We do not have photos of what this corner of the housing complex looked like before these improvements were made. But based on the other corners of the housing complex, this is a tremendous improvement.

So, Richlands Virginia, while you regress backward into third world behavior regarding animals, "third world" towns are making you look quite pathetic in comparison. How does Tazewell ARC know this? Because we are here, on the ground in Azemmour, having relocated our efforts to a region of the world where they're appreciated, embraced, and put to use for the edification of communities. Elsewhere, we're rebranding to removed "Tazewell" from our name, but it will remain the same on Facebook so we can preserve the history of how Appalachia treated us. This is important, particularly in comparison to the progress being made in parts of the world that many Americans regard with fear and disdain. So far, the only thing in Africa that we have seen to fear is how ridiculous these Moroccans make you look there in Virginia, running around under bridges destroying cat shelters and criminalizing the act of feeding homeless animals.

Shame on you, Richlands Virginia. But...at least you won't have to look far to find some of the reasons your community is in economic, social, and population decline.

01/03/2020

On Friday, we got our first look at Azemmour, a small agricultural town about an hour south of Casablanca. Anne Heslop, Director of ERHAM, showed us the dump site where Azemmour residents have habitually abandoned unwanted kittens. Most of the cats in residence at the dump site have contracted viral and bacterial diseases and life expectancy for kittens is very low. Many of the kittens lose their eyes due to chronic infection that goes untreated. The whole situation is heartbreaking, but we are not without a plan.

The strategy is to focus on sterilization first and long-term health issues later. Some of these cats will die. However, if we stop new litters from being born at this site and work with the community to stop other litters from being dumped here, eventually the situation will stabilize and we can move on to other parts of the city and surrounding areas where help is also needed.

01/03/2020

UK Photographer Anne Heslop Works to Save Morocco's Street Cats

https://ladyfreethinker.org/uk-photographer-anne-heslop-works-to-save-moroccos-street-cats/

Many of Morocco's cats are heavily neglected. In a coastal town near Casablanca, Anne Heslop has taken it upon herself to improve the welfare of the city's cats by sterilizing them for free

18/02/2020

RICHLANDS VA: "WE DAWNT WAWNT YER MAGIC STORES OR YER TREE-HUGGIN CAT LOVERS."

What is this I'm hearing? It's now ILLEGAL to feed stray cats in the town of Richlands? I need more information about this.

BLUEFIELD VA: BIG GUB'MUNT IN A SMALL TOWN

I hear a similar thing is happening in Bluefield. This from someone earlier tonight: "in Blfd va also they just passed a nuisance ordinance. However town council is working with those of us who are actively trying to control population but we have to keep documentation on every single stray cat we are feeding/trying to sterilize and relocate."

What? WHAT? Are they serious? Overlegislate an act of mercy until it's nearly impossible to not break some ordinance and incur a fine? Sounds like politics to me.

All I can say is that God help any bureaucracy, leader, or regime that makes showing mercy to living creatures illegal. Talk about Third World concepts. Don't like the stray cats in your neighborhood? Organize a TNR program. Don't criminalize compassion.

"The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated." -- Gandhi

Well, I guess the fine folk of Tazewell County are striving for the opposite of greatness...but that's nothing new.

I don't predict a big leap between prohibiting--or at the very least overencumbering--the maintenance of feral cat populations and condoning the extermination of them. Perhaps even endorsing such action. Bounty per cat head, anyone? While in North Africa I'm seeing entire nations move away from such barbaric and backward practices, I see folks in Tazewell County moving toward them. What does that say about the mindset of a community? Nothing good, I can promise you.

After my trip to Auschwitz last year, I understood how very fine the line is between the engineering of efficient mass murder and the design of modern kill shelters. The link is not imagined. It is very real. Lead your children by example to intentionally neglect the most vulnerable members of your society, and just watch what happens when you're old and frail and peeing down your own legs. Nuisance? Yeah. "Don't bother caring for those who inconvenience you" will be well-ingrained by the time today's children are adults. I'm just glad I'm no longer there to suffer the consequences of the horrible leadership of that community.

I would appreciate more information about this situation. Feel free to inbox me.

Thank you.

17/02/2020

ERHAM Association Bénévole pour les Chats sous titres francais

Here is a video produced by the animal advocate who is working in the El Jadida area of Morocco. Some scenes are tough to watch, but this is an excellent short film. Wouldn't it be wonderful if all the experience I gained fighting the battle in Appalachia could be put to use in a community that appreciates and wants this kind of work done? Talk about making it all worth it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsF3F5yhpSA&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR2-59SylNH3It57y6AOmXMcP_jI-mmsjffK1hjPdJG7DmCIrTbIaDYqWoU

Notre Miaow Festival aura lieu à la place du Rabbin à Azemmour dimanche le 8 octobre. Soyez les bienvenus. Veuillez partager au maximum. https://www.facebook...

15/02/2020

From the former Director:

While the Tazewell ARC rescue and nonprofit organization are no longer operational, from time to time I will likely post information here that other animal advocates may find interesting. I’m currently in Morocco, passing the “winter” months in a Mediterranean climate where the temperature rarely dips below sixty degrees, even at night, since health issues make me intolerant of cold weather. I’m also passing some time here because of the very low cost of living, since running the rescue bankrupted me.

Immediately upon arriving in Sidi Bouzid, a village about an hour south of Casablanca, I was greeted by a community street dog whose name is “Hinda.” She was in astonishingly good health and quite friendly, the opposite of what I might have expected to see in a “third world” country (a categorization that is in dispute, with good reason.) With the help of a network of friends from my days as a rescuer, I was able to arrange vetting for her that includes vaccines, deworming, and sterilization.

In the process, I learned that Morocco has recently passed legislation that prohibits the killing of its street dog population in favor of TNR programs. It’s unclear if this is being enforced in all Moroccan jurisdictions at this time, but the law is on the books and communities are responding. There is no discernible resistance to this, only joy and relief from locals who love the dogs living peacefully among them.

Rabies is a major threat in North Africa. Fortunately, according to Dr. Zryouil Abdelbaki, an El Jadida veterinarian who performs spay/neuter surgeries for one of the active feline TNR programs in the region, neither leishmaniosis nor heartworm are endemic in this zone. Mostly, the street dog population needs sterilization, vaccination, and deworming. They don’t need rescue, shelter, or adoption. After they return from these procedures, locals will continue to care for them as they’ve always done, minus the risk of zoonotic disease transmission or unwanted litters.

I’m stunned at the contrast between U.S. and Moroccan perception of animal welfare. I wasn’t privy to the long, exhausting battle fought by activists on the ground here that produced the change in stray dog management policy by governing officials. However, I can say that now, from the outside looking in, it appears that the reining monarchy embraces this progressive stance in the same way it seems to be embracing culture-wide modernization and social liberty within the country. Morocco is a developing nation. And it bears out the theory I’ve held for so long: that true change in a beleaguered society cannot happen without addressing the manner it deals with its most vulnerable members, including its children, the elderly, and the animals in its care.

Morocco is not perfect. Its animal welfare infrastructure is still being established. Residents don’t routinely spay and neuter their pets, nor do they vaccinate them. Dogs and cats are dumped and abandoned all the time. These are deeply ingrained “third world” habits that will take time to reform. At the same time, stray cat and dog populations are fed and cared for by the communities they came from. They are no longer rounded up and killed. I’ve seen cows tethered out to graze, but not a single dog on a chain or locked in a tiny pen. People do not murder their neighbors’ pets for daring to set a toe on their lawn. Most importantly, not a single person I’ve met in Sidi Bouzid has been opposed to, critical of, or the least bit resistant toward my efforts with Hinda. In fact, many have offered to help, and I hope to publish an article about this with photos soon.

I will post more about our progress with Hinda’s vetting and sterilization over the next few weeks. She has currently received an initial core vaccine and initial rabies vaccine (in high-risk regions, rabies vaccines are boosted like other vaccines.) She has also been dewormed and treated for an ear infection. She has an appointment in two weeks with Dr. Zryouil Abdelbaki for sterilization, and two weeks after that, will receive her booster vaccines and another deworming. I will keep her contained until she heals from her spay surgery, then she’ll be released back into the community that loves her so dearly.