ACE Newsletter.......Winter 2005/6

As we near the end of 2005 it is time to reflect on the work we do for the animals that you support at the Centre in Luxor.

It is now five and half years since we opened the Centre and each year we have more and more animals visiting us for care and medical treatment. A member of staff on gate duty records every animal that visits ACE. And these past 12 months 49,450 animals of all kinds, large and small, have come for washing, grooming and veterinary treatment. Some need to be in-patients and they will stay sometimes for a few days and the more serious cases, up to a month or more. We employ 13 staff including 2 qualified Egyptian veterinarians. We must not forget the wonderful volunteers who give up their precious time to assist Kim, and all the staff.

LAND & BUILDING FUND UPDATE

In our summer newsletter we launched our appeal for donations for the land and building fund as it has become necessary for us to look to the future and buy land instead of renting. This in turn will enable us to build a clinical hospital for the many operations that our vets need to perform. ACE is happy to report that through your generosity and hard work of our fundraisers we are on the way to reaching the target of £50,000 for the land purchase. To date in total we have raised £35,000. As soon as the remaining £15,000 is raised we will be able to make this historic purchase. Please think about an extra donation to help us raise the remaining short fall in the Land Fund account. We then have to plan for the building project. We are very grateful to an English lady traveller to Egypt who was on holiday with a travel company called INTREPID. On a visit to the Centre she was impressed with the work of ACE and wanted to give a substantial donation. As a traveller with Intrepid her donation was matched by them, giving us double the amount. This was the start of our building fund. If you are thinking of a holiday, not only to Egypt , but anywhere else in the world take a look first at the Intrepid website at www.intrepidtravel.com and choose your holiday from one of the many countries around the world. They are a very caring travel company helping local charities with a policy to leave only footprints thereby helping the environment. ACE has been chosen by Intrepid as the animal welfare charity for Egypt. Our sincere thanks to both our English lady traveller and Intrepid.

ACE would also like to thank Fellenberg-Stiftung a Foundation in Switzerland for their generous donation to our land / building fund and past support.

Not forgetting of course you, our supporters, for your generosity and hard work with fundraising and digging deep into your pockets to help us and our dear animals. Without ACE presence in Luxor and your support, the animals would be in a very sorry state. Pat yourselves on the back because together we are making a difference.

Have you seen one walking down your road?

NO, not very likely if you live in Europe , but of course a daily sighting in Egypt . It is very common to see at the ACE Centre. Both Camel and Water Buffalo, (Gamousa in Arabic) are regular visitors.

Like our other animal visitors they come to be washed and if necessary have medical treatment. Both are used for working purposes and have been used in this way in Egypt since the time of the Pharaohs. This particular Camel in the photograph above is a little spiteful and the owner needs to keep him muzzled. He comes to ACE to be washed and has treatment for his skin complaint. Likewise with the many Water Buffalo that come daily. A very big animal, larger than a cow. Most love to be washed, but can also be aggressive.

Governor of Luxor visits ACE

Following a meeting in September between Founder of ACE Julie Wartenberg and the Governor of Luxor Dr Samir Farag an invitation was extended to him to visit the Centre and see for himself the work that ACE achieves every day for the animals of Luxor . One week later on 4th October Dr. Farag arrived with his entourage of personal staff, Channel 8 Egyptian TV and his bodyguards. In Egypt this is considered quite a big event with banners up across the road outside the Centre welcoming his arrival and local villagers making the effort to get cleaned up and looking smart. Even the town road sweepers came early in the morning to make sure the road looked presentable for the Governors arrival. Manager Kim Taylor and all the staff greeted Dr. Farag and showed him around the Centre explaining everything to him. In his interview on Channel 8 he commented that he was delighted to see the animals waiting their turn to get in for treatment, and that he had no idea that such good work was being done for the animals in his town. His final comment in his interview was that as we had taken the trouble to help the animals of Egypt, that he and the Government must help us. We are hoping for his help with planning applications for the new land.

Staff pose with our very welcome guest Kelly Bowlt, a qualified veterinarian spending one month in the summer of her very valuable time to help in the Centre and passing on her expertise to the ACE staff. This is now her second year at ACE. We are very grateful to her and we all look forward to her visit again next year.

Conclusion

This is a critical time for ACE. With more and more animals visiting the Centre, more medicines and staff are needed, adding considerably to the costs. Furthermore, we are in the exciting position of soon being able to buy some land and build our own Veterinary Hospital and care facilities.

All this depends upon your generosity and we are grateful for any contribution you can make at this time.

ACE staff and animals wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Peaceful New Year.