Stray Dogs in Egypt Find Sanctuary Abroad

Chance Anubis, the Wonder Dog

At six weeks old, he was left abandoned in a garbage ditch by the Autostrad, one of Cairo’s most notorious highways. Chance’s story is one of love, one of hope, and resilience. He had his happy ever after when Mai Bassiouni and Monica Lebo stumbled upon his almost lifeless body by sheer coincidence.

Loaded with ticks and weighing about 900g (the approximate weight of a three week old puppy), it was clear that he needed undivided medical care and attention, and would not survive in a shelter.

“We couldn’t take him to a shelter, he wouldn’t stand a chance” said Lebo when asked what had happened to the puppy. “Neither of us could foster him. I have 25 cats to look after and Mai has 2 dogs in her care.”

Aida Rashid, an avid animal rights activist, took the dog in and nursed him back to health. She fed him, sheltered him, and cared for his everyday needs. She gave him a chance.

Anubis Bastet Adoptions (ABA), a non-profit organization specializing in the adoption of stray dogs and cats in Egypt, came to the rescue when they heard Chance’s story. They quickly helped secure a permanent adoption.

Now living on a ranch named Colorado in Canada, Chance found his forever home with his human mom, Dani Scott. He has two doggie brothers, over 20 horse friends, and likes to snuggle with his cat siblings. He is also a frequent traveler to the U.S., and is a big Seattle Seahawks fan.

Myla

Often referred to as “the princess”, Myla was found crying on El Nasr Street in Maadi, Cairo. This beautiful little puppy was chasing a man she wanted to play with, but he wouldn’t have it and decided to kick her away instead. Her rescuer, Menna Awad, picked up the delicate pup, took her to the I-Vet Clinic to give her all the necessary vaccinations, and then brought her home for her very first bath.

In a few weeks’ time, Menna was about to start a brand new job and could not foster Myla for much longer, and soon after, the Touch of Life Organization, a well-known shelter located in Shabramant, took the dog in until a new foster-home or adopter was found.

During Myla’s stay in Touch of Life, ABA worked closely with Menna to assist with finding a home for her. Within a short period of time, a home for Myla was found in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Rules and regulations for pet transport are more lenient when it comes to the U.S. and Canada compared to those in Europe.

For entry to the European Union, a blood test must be done on the pet by a local veterinarian, then sent off to a lab abroad to ensure that the animal is in fact healthy and not ill in any way. The animal must have a flight parent to accompany them, and it is also necessary to ensure that the animal has no ticks or fleas upon arrival. Otherwise, they will be sent back to the country they came from.

In addition, it is mandatory for the animal to have an international microchip, a rabies test plus a three month wait before flying into EU.

A fundraiser was started to help with the fees that accompany these procedures, and due to the fact that it the entire trip is costly in itself, Myla stayed at the shelter for over three months. A flight parent was found in a short matter of time, and Menna’s little princess was off to Amsterdam on July 29th, 2014.

An unfortunate twist to Myla’s story happened when she got to Amsterdam. Her “adoptive” mother decided she didn’t want to keep her and let her loose on a random road. Alone and abandoned, Myla was found by an empathetic and kind individual who took her to Dierenasiel Amsterdam, a no-kill shelter (Amsterdam is a no-kill city).

As any rescuer and animal lover would feel, Menna felt heartbroken, betrayed and responsible for what had happened. She contacted the shelter and they confirmed that they have had Myla for a few days, but she was very quickly adopted.
Myla’s story proves how popular baladi dogs are abroad, and that even they can be given a chance.

Writers Note: Sadly, ABA is now due to shut down due to the lack of funding. If you are moved by Chance and Myla’s stories, ask what you can do to help this and other shelters in Egypt.

Edited by Kari Megeed.