Matebeland Animal Rescue & Equine Sanctuary - September 2023 Report
The Matebeland Animal Rescue & Equine Sanctuary (MARES) utilise the generous support of AAA donors to continue their work, providing veterinary care, rescue and sanctuary to working equines in their local area of Zimbabwe. Following is a report on their September activity:
Mares held a fund raiser on 1 September to celebrate Spring Day with a luncheon where each ticket holder had a number for a raffle to win a beautiful original drawing kindly donated by artist, Tonderai Mujuru. We raised a total of US$1000.00 which we have used towards upgrading our solar system to run the whole sanctuary and be totally off-grid. Furthermore, artist, Tonderai donated another original piece of art which was taken to the United Kingdom where that too, will be raffled off to raise funds.
MARES also attended an open day at the local High School where we gave a talk on the 5 freedoms for donkeys. It was very successful and all funds raised that day were distributed between MARES and 2 other welfare organisations. A total of US$ 350.00 to MARES.
Sadly, despite a total of 24 rehabilitated donkeys finding forever loving homes as pets in 2023, MARES still has 93 donkeys, including 6 foals that have been born to rescued mares. All the donkeys received their annual vaccines of rabies and tetanus as well as being dewormed. It has been found that the donkeys we have rescued from the township areas where there is open sewerage water where the donkeys graze because the grass is green, have tested positive for gastodiscus and tape worm. We also vaccinated our 17 rescued horses for African Horse Sickness (AHS), rabies and tetanus. Due to the vigilance of keeping the stalls and paddocks clear of manure, as well as an amazing team of rescued ducks, chickens and peacocks that eat worms, worm eggs, etc, this is now the 8th year that we have not had to deworm our horses. A huge achievement.
On 20 September MARES was called out to collect a donkey that had been abandoned in a vacant plot on the outskirts of Bulawayo. The x-ray showed that a blunt trauma such as a cart, had fractured the back right cannon bone. The donkey was taken back to MARES rehabilitation centre where he was put under anaesthesia and his leg set in a cast. We hope that he will make a recovery that will enable him to walk, even with a limp. He will remain at MARES until a forever home can be found for him as a pet.
MARES also attended the first International Animal Law Conference in Harare, Zimbabwe. Without the law against Animal Cruelty, there would be even more cruelty to animals than what we are facing at the moment and it was heartening to be with like-minded organisations working together to ensure the protection of both domestic and wildlife animals. MARES is very much at the forefront on the protection and education of donkeys in Zimbabwe and is the ONLY rescue and rehabilitation Centre for donkeys in Zimbabwe!
We did another outreach to Mabale in September and changed 20 harnesses and 10 scotch carts. We also replaced 6 sets of padding. The donkey owners have requested extra harnesses to be used on their ploughs. Instead, we have come up with an idea where we can make a 1.5m evener (wooden pole) whereby the donkey owner can unhitch his swingle trees and harnesses from his scotch cart and attach them to the evener which then attaches to the plough. We shall be taking 5 out to Mabale to be tested out. Should this work, it will prevent the donkeys getting harness wounds whilst working in the fields and not having to have 2 sets of harnesses. Traditionally donkey owners use all 4 donkeys together which results in them all being overworked and not rested. By using only 2 donkeys this will allow the donkey owners to use just 2 donkeys at a time and allowing them to rest whilst using the other 2 donkeys.
