ALEXANDRIA: More than 30 working animals stand in one of the streets of Alexandria, readying for a race down the road. The owners of donkeys, mules and horses come together every few days to market their animals in the street race, in the hopes they can sell the animals for high prices. The race attracts a wide variety of prospective buyers, where they can examine the strength of the animals before they purchase them. The owners set giant loads on their carts in an effort to show onlookers and potential buyers their animal is stronger. Unlike the animals, the owners are motivated and excited, they hit harshly the animals on their faces before the race to get the animals angry and excited and on their backs while they race because of their urge to get a buyer. Abdel-Fatah, one of the owners, when asked about the reason for the race, told Bikya Masr, “We work very hard all day long. Is it a big deal to entertain ourselves a bit in the evening?” Another owner, Morsi, said, “The animal needs recreation, so we give it some.” When asked if the physical abuse of the animals is considered recreation, he laughed. Their statements came in contrary with their intentions, exposed by Ahmed Ismail, from The Brooke Foundation for equine welfare. “They set up the race to showcase the abilities of their animals, so they can sell them for high prices, and not for fun,” he said. “We really wish they can be stopped, the races are not just hazardous to the animals but to citizens in general,” Ismail added. He also said that many accidents occurred, and cars were damaged. Even his and many animals were injured as part of the race. Similar races are held in different parts of Alexandria and Cairo, but in major, heavy traffic streets and at earlier times causing more damage and harassment to citizens, which have required the interference of police. Even though The Brooke condemns the owners and the race, the question remains: will be any action taken against this violent abuse of citizens' safety and animal welfare? The number of working animals in Egypt has not been fully studied, but The Brooke says there are thousands of working horses, donkeys and mules across the country. In rural villages, “they are used in place of cars, which are expensive, so our goal is to help ensure welfare standards and health practices are upheld,” said The Brooke. BM
