A few years ago, my journey into animal welfare truly began in a specific non-residential area—a local necropolis—where I used to go weekly to feed the street dogs and where I rescued my very first dog. Over time, heavy construction and new paving changed the landscape, and most of the dogs moved on, meaning my regular visits there eventually stopped.
But the connections we make on the ground never truly disappear.
Three weeks ago, out of the blue, one of the workers from the area texted my phone. He let me know that a local street dog had recently given birth and wouldn’t stop scratching herself. Recognizing the signs immediately, I knew it was likely the beginning of mange.
A week later, I packed up and headed back to the area. Luckily, we caught it just in time. I was able to give the nursing mom a safe dose of afoxolaner to treat the mange before it could spread, and thankfully, the puppies were completely uninfected and healthy!
While I was there, I made sure the whole pack got a fantastic meal. I also caught up with the kind young man working there who always shares his food leftovers with them. With the intense summer heat hitting Egypt right now, I gave him a gentle reminder of how absolutely vital fresh, clean water is for them daily.
I checked in with him just two days ago, and he confirmed the great news: the mama dog, her puppies, and the rest of the pack are doing wonderfully. It feels so special to know that even when we move on to new areas, the safety net we built years ago is still working to save lives. 🐾