By Rana Kamaly, BECAUSE When we think about working animals in Egypt, most of us don’t think much further than carriage horses or the occasional vegetable seller’s cart. “However, there are between three and five million working horses, donkeys and mules in Egypt,” says Maryanne Stroud Gabbani, owner and founder of the not-for-profit Rural Wellness Initiative at Al-Sorat farm in Giza. Here, Stroud Gabbani and her team of volunteers promote good animal care practice amongst the rural community. Working animals are central to the rural economy, providing the main means of transport for most of Egypt’s small farmers. They haul recycling waste, building supplies and a huge amount of agricultural materials from field to market. ”So if they were to suddenly disappear, Egypt would have nearly nothing to eat, would be covered in garbage, and would have no new construction,” Stroud Gabbani told BECAUSE. “Most urban Egyptians, however, are completely unaware of the work in these sectors.” The primary focus of the Rural Wellness Initiative is on treating animals and educating rural families on basic medical care. This includes parasite control, hoof trimming, hygiene practices and wound treatment, as well…
