The covid pandemic and its consequences

Dramatic changes at a time of international crisis

The pandemic has brought dramatic changes. At a time of international crisis, when we need solidarity and help for the most vulnerable, we are witnessing an indescribable irresponsibility towards animals.

• People leave the country in panic and leave behind their animals at the airport and in the streets
• Restaurants, souks, etc. are closed, so the street animals are losing their sources of food
• Every day we find bags with puppies in front of the door

Dogs are handed in en masse due to unemployment and they are in bad conditions. We are hitting our financial limits, the number of animals has increased dramatically. We feed the street animals every day.

The lockdown caused famine

Every day, whether glowing heat or crowded streets, the carriage horses drove tourists through Marrakech - but then the pandemic happened. The Mecca of tourism in Morocco in lockdown. The horse owners were no longer able to look after their animals. Sad reality: Carriage horses were sent to slaughter for €40. We had to help, and we started a fundraising campaign to get food for the carriage horses. Very successful: 40 tons of force could be collected food for the carriage horses.

On a Mission to help the Marrakech carriage horses

In order to help the Marrakech horse-drawn carriages that have been severely affected by the tourism freeze following the Covid-19 sanitation crisis, SPANA organized the 3rd support mission for the Marrakech carriage horses on the 20th of August 2020 at the SPANA/Marrakesh Center. This support mission was initiated in partnership with SOREC, Fondation Helga Heidrich SOS Animaux and two friends of SPANA (Ms Bouhlal and Mr. Walter Gunz). SPANA distributed 40,700 kg of industrial horse power feed to 300 horses from 148 horse owners.