Your share could raise £30
Before you go, did you know that simply by sharing this campaign, you could help it raise £30? It's an effective way to support the cause.
No thanks- Pin it
- SubscribeUnsubscribe
- Embed
Lucia Cockcroft hasn't added a story.
I have been lucky enough to spend time in Morocco over the last ten years, initially for some travel writing; most recently to teach yoga and mindfulness for our retreats business.
It's impossible not to notice the stray cats and dogs wandering the streets of the old towns in Morocco's major cities, many looking (at best) worryingly thin or ill.
It was during a week-long teaching visit to Marrakech over New Year 2018/19 that I came across a kitten hanging out by the Riad in which I was staying. White with small brown markings, one of her eyes was closed and, though gentle and friendly she looked sad and unwell. No mother or siblings were around.
I decided to call her Sammy. The lead picture here captures the moment I first saw her, aged around three months.
After administering antibiotics over several days, Sammy's eye and overall condition improved considerably and I began to investigate ways to help improve her long-term chances. This meant getting her off the streets, to a safe place where she could be looked after and possibly even prepared for travel for a new life in the UK.
And so it was that I was put in touch with Mehdi, a kind, regular chap living in Casablanca who had taken in 40 cats and eight dogs and given them a home in his two-bedroom flat in Casablanca. Without hesitation, Mehdi said he would also take in Sammy.
Today, Sammy is still living with almost 50 other cats and dogs in the Casablanca flat. Mehdi is preparing her, with the long process of vaccinations and paperwork, to travel to the UK, to a new home with us.
However, the other animals he has in his care do not have offers of a good home and are living in a very crowded two-bedroom flat with no outdoor space. They do, however, have a big chance: if funds can be raised, Medhi and a friend plan to move all 45 animals in their care to a house in Essaouira, on the west coast of Morocco. where they plan to build an 24-metre inside/outside enclosure for the 40 cats.
Initially, 11,000 Moroccan Dirham (£950 sterling) is needed to construct the large enclosure for the cats, and a much smaller enclosure for two of the dogs. On an ongoing basis, Medhi needs 4,000 Dirham a month (£300 sterling) to feed the animals and maintain the sanctuary. He had no external funding other than the kindness of friends.
There is no RSPCA equivalent in Morocco; no safety net for the street cats and dogs, whose average life-span as strays is three years. The few people on the ground in Morocco who are running small sanctuaries are self-funded and motivated by kindness.
It is impossible to help the thousands of animals in Morocco desperately needing food, medicine and a home. However, here is an opportunity to help some. Any donation you can offer will go straight to:
* the costs of setting up an inside/outside cat enclosure
* funding food and medicine for the cats and dogs
* helping Medhi rescue more cats and dogs from the streets.
* helping Medhi have the funds to prepare cats and dogs for repatriation to good homes in Europe. It is very rate to find good homes for pets within Morocco.
Any donations will be massively appreciated by myself, Medhi and the 48 cats and dogs - including Sammy. THANK YOU.
Highlights
See all activity19Activity
Delete media item?
Delete this item from the media gallery? It will also be deleted from any related story update.
Set as ?
The campaign video will appear in social media and email.
The campaign cover picture will appear in social media and email.
The will appear at the top of your campaign page and in social media and email.
Reset ?
It will be removed from the top of your campaign and won't be used as default in social media and email. The will remain in the media gallery.
Embed
Share a link
Delete update
Delete this story update?
Any pictures or videos will remain in the campaign's media gallery.
Report campaign
Report submitted
Thank you. We take reports like yours very seriously. Our goal is to keep the community safe.
Please know that we may contact you for more information, but that we won't notify you personally of our decision. If the campaign remains available within a few days, it's likely that we determined it not to be in violation of our policies.
Thank you. We've already received your previous report. If the campaign remains available within a few days, it's likely that we determined it not to be in violation of our policies.
Tell us about the problem. Please fill in both fields below.
Record a video
Upload a video
Nothing grabs attention for your cause like a personal video. Take a minute or two to record one now. Record a short video message of support. Or upload one from your device. You can preview or redo your video before you post it.
Nothing grabs attention for your cause like a personal video. Upload a short video message of support. Upload a short video message of support. Or record one right now.
- Most effective video length: about a minute.
- Maximum length: 5 min.
- You can preview or redo your video before you post it.
Heads up! The existing video will be replaced.
Email your friends
Join our team
Endorsement banner
- Endorsement banners have been proven to lead to more contributions.
- If you change your mind, you can always adjust your endorsement banner settings from the Share page.
Tell people why our cause matters to you. Your personal message will encourage others to help. Easy, effective, optional.
Say it in video
Short personal videos by supporters like you are incredibly powerful. Record one right now and you'll help us raise more money. Easy, optional, effective.
Add a personal goal
Set a personal fundraising goal. You'll encourage more contributions if you do. And rest easy. There's no obligation to achieve your goal or bad consequences if you don't. Easy, optional, effective.
We have a video!
Video thumbnail
We'd love to show you our campaign video. Want to take a look?
, you're already on the team.