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In 2013 I have been volunteering for a
charity and NGO in
Tanzania called Village to Village. Whilst here I
discovered two
dogs locked in dreadful conditions. There names are
Bruno and
Egypt. Bruno is an alsation doberman cross and Egypt is a
local
breed of some sort. Both are very loyal and loving dogs and I have
been lucky enought to spend a lot of time in their company.
When I found them they were in an old
generator house about
3ft by 3ft. They were able to go outside into a
small horseshoe
shaped area but this was even smaller than the
concrete box they
could get their shade and shelter from. I remember
when I first
arrived, a local mentioning dogs and pointing in the
direction of
where they were. I thought they were saying they
intended to get
some or build a kennel near there perhaps. It was a
few days
later I heard a noise and climbed up and behind a water tank
to
investigate. There cowering in a tiny space was Bruno, his
ears
back and eyes so sad like a child getting into trouble is
the only
way I can describe it. Egypt then appeared and they
both sat looking
at me in quite a timid manner. I leaned over and
I managed to stroke Egypt, but Bruno did not move from where he was.
In Tanzania people are so afraid of dogs and dogs of people.
Especially big dogs and Bruno is the biggest dog in Uchira, a village
with a population of around
7000 people. Iv lost count of how
many times people have told me that
dogs are not pets here they
are for securtity only. I investigated a
little and looked inside
where they slept. They had no water supply
and were eating black
mouldy unwanted meat and maize flour. They
weren't too thin
though and this is more than most dogs get fed here.
Most dogs
are forced to scavenge to survive.
The way they behaved made me realise they had been beaten, an they had a knowledge and fear of a hose pipe so no doubt they had been soaked and treat terribly.
I immediately decided I wanted to free
them both and help them
somehow. A metal door barricaded with rocks
was blocking the only
way in or out of where they were. My heart
broke as Egypt's nose
poked through the only gap in the bottom corner
of the door
looking for another stroke I suspect. It dawned on me
that I had
to be cautious. I had been warned before arriving here to
be
careful of dogs as Tanzania still has many case of rabies.
I
decided not to free them that day but had plans to the next
day
whilst I had some people with me.
I discovered that night they had been
kept like that since
they were puppies, They are both 2 now. The next
day I removed
the door and Egypt came running out and disappeared
into the long
grass! Some locals who were with me went after him calling
his
name. Bruno was not so eager. I crouched down and went
inside
this tiny space. The smell was the first thing that hit
me, I couldnt
work out if it was their food or where they had
been to the toilet.
It was so hot in there too. Not as hot as the
direct sun but so
stuffy I cant imagine how bad it must have been
for them both on
sunny days. Bruno was in the outer part of the
enclosure and beofore
I knew it he was stood face to face with
me. I was unable to move
properly, I was squatting and my head
touched the roof, I was
reluctant to touch the walls with the
mess and smell in there also.
At that point in truth I tought I
might have gotten myself into
trouble. The locals had told me
that Bruno was the biggest baddest
guard dog in the village an
now he was staring at me about and inch
or two from my face! He
then, to my utter delight, gave me a gentle lick
on my nose! I
knew then these two were not the viscious guard dogs the locals
thought they were.
I backed out of the enclosure and Bruno
made a run for it too.
He ran like a clumbsy new born deer. He was
jumping about in the
grass and just looked so happy and so clumbsy
too! I will never
forget that sight as long as I live. I watched as
they both
played and ran for quite some time. I then realised that
they
werent going to be overly keen on coming back! It took nearly
and
hour or more to get Egypt to come to me. Egypt was less timid and
more
keen for affection than Bruno. I think as Bruno was the
biggest he had recieved the worst treatment. Once Bruno saw Egypt with
me he came
cautiously over to us. After countless attempts we
managed to get two
ropes around them and tied them to a tree.
What I didnt want was them
to run off as they would have no idea
how to fend for themselves. I
had a chance to look at them close
up. They were covered in sores
from the concrete floor they had
spent all of their lives on.
It dawned on me that I had no where to
put them. I washed were
they had been living and placed water and
made it as comfortable
as I could unitl I could find a new place for
them to live.
Putting them back in there was a hard decision and it
broke my
heart to do so. Had I not though they would have been
fending for
themselves against packs of local strays and a busy road
is
about 1km from there so I had no choice but to lock them
back
away until i found somewhere new for them to go.
I set about planning and buying what
we needed to make them an
enclosure to live in. Thanks to some help
from some of the
locals and also two volunteers who were here to
help with our
community projects I got the enclosure built.
Whilst waiting for it to be built we
walked them, the locals
thought I was crazy walking two dogs on
ropes. The first time I
did I remember Bruno could not move the next
day he had pulled
his muscles. Also when we were out walking it was all very
bewilidering for them. Bruno was even terrified of a goat at one point
bless him. I am happy to say that now they are in their new home.I
give them regular tick and flea baths and they are in the most part
much happier
dogs. They always greet me with frantically wagging
tails and jump up
for cuddles. Both are very affectionate, Egypt
more so. He will pull
at the fence when your near, eager to get
some attention. They really
are the best of friends, a team! To
give an example, I discovered
whilst walking them that Bruno who
is far bigger than Egypt is scared
of motorcycles. Egypt was fine
until he saw them scaring Bruno, once
he saw this he now stands
guard between Bruno and any motorcycles and
barks frantically
until they pass, he then checks Bruno is ok. They
are so loving
toward one another. That is just one example of many.
However it is not a happy ending.. For
all they have more space
now I had to leave them in the care of the
locals a few times due
to my being ill with Malaria and busy with
some projects I am
involved with. Upon returning they often had no
water again and
their mess was mounting up. I understand it, in a
place where
people are fighting to provide for themselves remembering
to feed
and water the dogs takes a back seat. Some dogs here are so
thin
you would not believe.
I now fear the worst as I am about to
leave Tanzania for the UK
and I feel they will both be locked away
and not cared for again.
This is why I have started this page. I have
writtend to many
organisations, to hopefully find help. Thanks to the
advice and
support of 'TheKrisKellyFoundation' we came to the
conclusion
this is the best way to go. I have had offers in the UK
to
provide them a home which has been so moving to receive, now
it is
just getting them there..
The problem is now the funding
quarantine once I fly them into
the UK. I was advsed to reduce the
costs that it will be best to
have them microchipped and vaccinated
for rabies in Tanzania.
Then Quaranitine is only 3 months and not 6.
The only place to do
this is a 16 hour round trip by car so I will be
setting off to
do that as soon as possible.
I know KLM can fly them to the UK so
long as I can get two carry
cases from somewhere. If anyone has some
I can borrow, please let
me know. Or if they can think of a way to
get two in Tazania also.
Quaranitine and airport fees for 3
months is
£2400.00 GBP or $3833.00 USD
The flights are in the range of £250
per dog.
With a loving home waiting for them
back in the UK I am eager to
raise the funds needed to help Bruno and
Egypt make their journey
there. Where I hope they can live out their lives
in a loving
comfortable home with the affection and love they deserve.
Thank you so much for taking the time to look at Bruno and Egypts story
John
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