Donkeys and mules get help in Morocco at the Jarjeer Mule & Donkey Trust

Posted on 5:00pm Friday 8th Feb 2019

There’s a wonderful video on the BBC website about an amazing couple who live in Morocco who have set up a retirement home, orphanage and care centre for working animals there.

The centre is in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains near Marrakech.

Charles Hantom is a retired solicitor from Manchester, and Susan Machin was a barrister in Manchester too. They moved to Morocco and as well as caring for these equines, they also provide work for local people. You can find out more about them here.

The muleteers are all Berbers raised alongside animals and who have ridden since childhood so they are experienced in the handling of donkeys and mules.

You can help by making a donation or adopting a mule or donkey. And don’t miss Tommy’s Blog.

Thank you to Charles, Susan and the muleteers for all you’re doing to help the equines of Morocco.

Does your search engine plant trees when you search online?

Posted on 8:00pm Monday 22nd Oct 2018

Does your search engine plant trees when you search for stuff online?

If not, please take a look at Ecosia.org.

It's a rather amazing search engine because every time you search you can help plant a tree and it won't cost you anything! On average it takes 45 searches to plant a tree but these days that won't take long to add up!

Ecosia's goal is to plant one billion trees and they've just hit the 40 million tree mark - so 40 million trees have been planted as a result of people using their search engine to search for stuff online.

Not only that, but you can buy t-shirts - and they'll plant 20 trees for every t-shirt you buy. I bought one and I love the quality and feel of it - and best of all, I know my purchase is helping to plant trees :-)

So take a look at Ecosia and plant trees as you search!

Please help Save Life for all Algarve animals

Posted on 9:00pm Wednesday 4th Jul 2018

One of Portugal’s largest animal sanctuaries is being built in the central Algarve.

The sanctuary will consist of 3 rescue centres, jointly able to offer refuge to 600 animals in all in the boroughs of Loulé and São Brás de Alportel.

The recently formed Animal Rescue Algarve is behind the project and British businessman and animal lover Sidney Richardson has launched Animal Rescue Algarve and brought the project to life.

“Our mission is to help abandoned and sick animals by providing veterinary treatment, neutering, socialising and re-homing them” Richardson explained.

Work on the Cabanita rescue centre should complete in October, whilst the second rescue centre was unanimously approved by the municipal assembly on Monday 25 June. This second centre should be completed within 8 months.

The third phase is waiting for approval from the local council.

ARA is very concerned that it treats animals with dignity, respect and comfort, so they are building a modern re-homing centre from scratch with an eco-friendly design. Even the sewage system is eco-friendly as all the waste from the dogs goes to a container that filers the detritus. This means the sanctuary can both save water and reuse it in other works.

The facilities will include a reception, veterinary practice with operating theatre, sections for puppies, adults and senior dogs, a quarantine area, a training ground to allow for interaction between volunteers and animals, and a cat shelter. Accommodation for employees and volunteers will ensure the rescue centre is efficiently run and surveilled around the clock. Volunteers from abroad can help with daily tasks in exchange for accommodation and food.

There are about 10,000 abandoned animals in Portugal and the sanctuary appreciates it cannot help them all and it pays tribute to the other rescue centres in Portugal are working with very limited resources to help animals.

Support will be needed to help the ARA with on-going income to help care for the animals and look after them, so donations and volunteers are very welcome.

And it wants to raise awareness of the importance of neutering in the local area and to allow the public to visit and volunteer to enable the animals to socialise with people. They hope to allow local school children to visit the shelter and see what work it does and how much love and companionship caring for animals can give people.

Richardson is doing an amazing thing by spearheading the project. He came to Portugal from Essex 25 years ago, attracted by the climate and lifestyle and his passion for golf. And 12 years ago, he rescued a dog who has become his best friend and changed his life. “Instead of leaving a substantial sum of money in my will, I decided to use some of it now and see this project through,” he says.

Which just goes to show there’s no point in waiting for the right time to help animals around the world. The right time is now to get out there and make a difference.

We wish the Animal Rescue Algarve sanctuary well. You can find out more here and donate here.

Animal Rescue Algarve is registered charity 514692049, and registered in the council of Loulé in Faro. Its registered name is Abrigo dos Animais and the charity name is Animal Rescue Algarve.

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