Support the Egyptian Society for Mercy to Animals (ESMA)

http://www.facebook.com/esma.egypt
http://esmaegypt.org/
http://esmaegypt.org/blog/how-to-help/

"Like" this Facebook page, "Cat Bless You" by 15 May to help ESMA get much needed funds: http://www.facebook.com/explorecats

The Egyptian Society for Mercy to Animals (ESMA) was founded in Egypt in 2007 by a small group of Egyptians and expatriates determined to make a difference in the lives of Egyptian animals.  United in a fight to stop the government from shooting street dogs as a means of population control, this small charitable group (registered in Egypt with No. 3059/2007) has blossomed to many members and volunteers, with its own shelter and adoption center.

This organization and its band of stalwart animal lovers witness daily atrocities against street dogs, cats, and work animals such as donkeys, horses and camels.  Dogs and cats are deliberately poisoned and left to die or purposefully shot and left with grievous wounds, not dead, but barely alive. Many are hit by vehicles in Egypt's fast paced traffic and left to die in agony on the roadside.  Some are cut with knives, burned or left hungry, sick and scared. Work animals are forced to labor with huge bleeding sores, no food or water and burdened way beyond what their emaciated, sickened bodies can carry.

But these animal lovers, the brave volunteers of ESMA,do not stand by and just watch: they fight for animal rights and humane treatment in a country where no laws stand to protect these weakest of creatures among us. They save the wounded, nurse the sick, and love the abandoned.  They shelter and rehabilitate, educate and foster.  They hold onto the dream of an Egypt, if not of a world, where animals are treated with respect, honor and humanity.

During the recent Egyptian riots, ESMA saw its hardest times as they toiled to provide medical care, food and fresh water to the work animals which were made unemployed when tourism dried up in Egypt.  Even now, ESMA is struggling to help these poor horses, donkeys and camels by providing weekly feedings, medical care and education to their owners, hoping to make humane animal care a sustainable idea among Egyptians from all walks of life.

These people, working tirelessly day and night, deserve our respect, our honor and our unending appreciation.  Truly, they are beacons of light in an otherwise uncertain desert.  Please join me in signing this petition to show your appreciation for all they are doing in Egypt for the suffering animals.

We sign this petition to honor:

Mona Khalil ( Chairperson and Founder)
Bahra Fahmy ( Vice-Chair and Founder)
Debbie Smith ( Treasurer and Member)
Shahira El Khadem( Secretary and Member)
Susie Nassar ( Board Member and Founder)
Kristen Stilt ( Board Member and Founder)
Noha Elsharkawy ( Board Member and Founder)
The tireless veterinarians
The many volunteers