MARES in Zimbabwe - Outreach Program Report May

The MARES team have had a busy May, with many animals rescued and given veterinary treatment, lots of humane harnesses, scotch carts, neck reflectors and bell straps given to animal owners, and education provided to various communities in the region:

“From mid-March – 31 May, 80 harnesses and 40 scotch carts were given and education provided to 120 residents of Dete. 93 donkeys were dewormed. Although rabies & tetanus vaccine is in short supply, we vaccinated the donkey attacked by hyena, and 3 donkeys with large sarcoids.

2 Donkeys with Locked patellas given back to owners with new humane harnesses.

We handed out 200 neck reflectors, and 100 Bell straps in Dete as well as 60 neck reflectors and 12 bell straps to donkeys on the side of the road.

Trained community members from Vodat and Dete in April & May 

David rescued 8 donkeys and treated 109 donkeys in collaboration with SPANA.  Unfortunately the donkey with the hyena attack did not survive.  The donkey with the fractured back leg was uplifted 60kms to our rescue sanctuary run by Queenie Gratwicke.  He has a long way to go but is recovering.

David also rescued 5 kittens that were about to be drowned and 3 puppies whose mother had died from a snake bite.  Both puppies and kittens were taken to local SPCA where we are happy to say all the kittens have gone to forever homes.

We were fortunate to have Dr. Nancy Maxeiner from Idaho, USA spend 3 weeks in Zimbabwe.  During that time she sterilized 58 feral cats, our new rescued dog, Misty and Jake our 3 legged goat.  She also sterilized 9 donkeys, 5 at the sanctuary and 4 that came from our sanctuary but awaiting sterilization during covid.  Max (as we fondly call her) also assisted VAWS in Dete to sterilize 77 dogs, 5 cats and deworm and give rabies to 120 donkeys.

We took on a new local vet who has done a whole year internship with Dr. Eric from SPANA.  We are most fortunate to have him and will be an asset to MARES.  

We also worked with VAWS Victoria Falls who runs MARES Donkey Sanctuary there.  We left them with 20 harnesses and 10 yokes, 100 bell straps and 250 reflective neck bands.

We had a very successful World Donkey Day on 8 May where we raised US$1500.00.  Some of the funds will go for food but the rest we have decided to build 4 more log cabins for our staff as transport and accommodation into the townships is becoming too expensive and transport unreliable.  

12 donkeys were sent to their forever homes 465kms from Bulawayo.  A large thank you to Roxy Ellis transport for transporting them free of charge.  Another 6 donkeys are awaiting to go to their homes when transport is available to Harare and 12 donkeys will be going to their new homes in and around Bulawayo. 

Sadly since the 12 donkeys left we have brought in another 7 donkeys

Jack the axed donkey has made just about a full recovery despite his front lateral tendon being severed.  

Thor is recovering from severe third degree burns on his back.  His infected ear has cleared up and all 4 of his hooves are making a slow but steady recovery.  By fitting him with thick polystyrene shoes, bandages and duct tape he is able to walk around with no pain.

David is putting on weight but unfortunately although we tried we were unable to save his eye and so David is blind (his other eye had already been gouged out before we rescued him) He is adapting well and knows where to find his pile of hay.

Bob who was brought in with a fractured front leg has made a full recovery and is able to walk again, albeit a bit wonky until his tendons strengthen.

Moses was collected 4 weeks ago with severe repetitive abscesses on his back left fetlock and coronet.  It was decided to xray it to see if there was permanent damage but thankfully there isn’t and it will just take time for it to heal.

Last week we collected a very thin old donkey that had been abandoned.  No major injuries, just very worn hooves and extremely thin.  We’ve named him Ali

On 31 May we collected another abandoned donkey, also totally blind and extremely thin.  It seems according to people we talked to this donkey has been wandering around for nearly a month! We have named him Buddy.

We have just received word from Barry that the one donkey with the recovered locked patella was attacked and killed last night by hyenas.  They said that although the donkeys were locked in a wood kraal the hyenas managed to get in.  There were 4 hyenas.

We will be having meetings with the Chiefs to make stronger kraals.