A big thank you to Nowzad Donkey Sanctuary supporters

Animal Aid Abroad supports the Nowzad donkey and horse sanctuary in Afghanistan. The Sanctuary, situated on the outskirts of Kabul, is a haven of peace and tranquillity where the former working animals can recover and rest from their injuries and lives of toil and hardship. The Nowzad vets and dedicated staff provide veterinary treatment, good food and tender care. Long term sanctuary is given to animals too old, ill or frail to work again.

Thanks to generous donations from AAA supporters, Nowzad is able to care for several donkeys whose health and wellbeing are much improved for their residence at Nowzad. Below we have photos of these donkeys and recent work at the sanctuary.

April

April came from one of the more remote villages of Kabul and had been used all her life for work, carrying heavy loads between villages and into the city. She joined the sanctuary in April 2023 and is a very friendly donkey who doesn't let being blind stop her from seeking out as much fuss from the staff as she can.

Aussie

Aussie was an abandoned donkey who had fallen and was found lying in a stream in an outlying region of Kabul. Named Aussie after Nowzad's Australian supporters, this plucky donkey now lives a much better life under the care of the sanctuary. While quiet and withdrawn, he is growing in confidence every day.

Dehmazang

Dehmazang is one of thousands of working donkeys in Kabul that suffer every day from injury, disease, malnourishment or poor welfare and husbandry. Luckily for Dehmazang, he was found by the Nowzad team before it was too late for him.

Amazingly, this strong-spirited donkey has gone on to lead a very happy and healthy life at Nowzad. He is one of the calmest donkeys you could ever meet, and is so friendly and affectionate – a miracle given how he must have been treated previously.

Jack

Shadow

Jack and Shadow came to the Nowzad Donkey Sanctuary in the depths of winter 2022 from a little village west of Kabul called Deh Mazang. Both of them had been working long hours and had terrible injuries. Fortunately, their owner allowed them to stay on at the sanctuary after they had been treated and they now live in the comfort they deserve. Both Jack and Shadow always like to be together so they share a pen and will not go out in the exercise field without the other!

Maqbola

Beautiful white donkey Maqbola arrived at the Nowzad hospital as an emergency case after she and the cart she was pulling were crashed into by a car. Her leg was severely broken and splintered at the thigh bone and hip. After treatment she could no longer safely work so her owner was compensated and she came to live out her days at the sanctuary instead, where she happily munches away on any little tidbit she is offered, especially carrots!

Pat

Pat came to Nowzad sanctuary in 2021. Pat was living with a widowed lady in one of the villages on the outskirts of Kabul before we met her. Sadly, Pat has rickets – a musculoskeletal disorder due to a very poor diet from birth – which has caused permanent deformities and ‘bowed’ front legs. She is an incredibly friendly and calm lady who is the biggest fan of carrots and apples and hurries on over to the gate as fast as she can whenever they get delivered.