And it turns out it’s not just for donkeys…
Whilst visiting an owner of a herd of cows, the team discovered a young calf amongst the discarded rubbish piles. This small cow had a severe lower leg injury and was struggling to stand as the wound was so badly infected. From the size and depth of the wound we guessed it was the result of a dog bite.
Getting this cow back to Nowzad for treatment posed a problem. The one van we had was not built for transporting cows. So a huge team effort began to get David, as this cow was now being called, into the back of the van for the short ride to the clinic.
Swift treatment and lots of bed rest followed. David the cow is now a very happy resident of the Nowzad donkey sanctuary and can count himself as the luckiest cow in Kabul. This particular cow is over the moon!
Lola the donkey, was discovered near to where she was being made to work. She was tied to a weighted piece of wood to stop her roaming.
Her ear had been completely cut off and the wound had not been treated.
The sight of this cold and frightened little donkey was heart breaking. The Nowzad team comforted her by wrapping her in a discarded blanket they found nearby, and treating the wound as best they could on the spot.
A truck was called to take Lola to the safety of the Nowzad donkey sanctuary, where she could be cared for and receive further medical treatment. Here, over the course of just a few weeks, Lola has learnt to trust our donkey carer ‘Nasir’. They have formed a really close bond. As soon as Nasir arrives for work each morning, Lola rushes straight over to greet him.
DJ had been abandoned in a particularly poor and run-down area of Kabul. She was in visible pain whenever she attempted to walk. DJ was terribly under nourished and exhausted. We soon realised that she was struggling to walk because her hooves had been neglected. They were simply too agonising for her to stand on.
DJ was soon under the protection of the Nowzad Donkey Sanctuary. We immediately called our specialist Farrier to get to work on her overgrown hooves. Still very wary of people, from the years of ill treatment, it will take some time before DJ realises that we will now take care of her and make sure she never has to work again.
You can be the difference for our donkeys by donating today using the following link - thank you!
And you can read all about Azad the Horse here