Animal Aid Egypt is affiliated with Animal Aid Abroad Inc. Australia with the purpose of improving the living conditions and treatment of animals in developing countries.

Animal Aid Abroad Inc (AAA) was formed in 2007 with the purpose of improving the conditions and treatment of animals around the world.

Animal Aid Egypt came about when Janet Thomas, a teacher, was living and working in Egypt where she witnessed on a daily basis the appalling and cruel treatment of animals on the streets and in the local zoo in Alexandria.

Janet left Egypt with a mission – to build a clinic and shelter for the street animals and working animals (donkeys and horses) in Alexandria, where there was no medical facility and shelter for these animals.

The new clinic

• Provides medical treatment and rescue of injured, suffering and distressed animals.
• Spay and neuter cats and dogs including stray, street and owned animals and vaccinate animals against diseases such as rabies.
• Provides a mobile clinic service for rescues and medical treatment of equines, camels and farm animals. The mobile clinic will also serve as a mobile educational facility to help and teach equine owners, farm animal owners and people who have pets how to care and treat their animals humanely.
• Provides on-going awareness campaigns and workshops for pet owners and people who have animals.
• Promotes re-homing and adoptions of rescued cats and dogs, locally and internationally.

For more information on Animal Aid Egypt visit their website www.animalaidabroad.org/animalaidegypt

You require comprehensive travel and health insurance for all of our Pathways. Travelling overseas and working in animal care is a wonderful experience, but while Pathways endeavours to make your volunteer assignment as safe as possible, we cannot foresee accidents or illness. For further information on travel insurance see the following websites:

Volunteers are not required to have any immunisations to work with AAA. However Egypt is a high risk for diseases that are normally preventable in Australia and boosters for childhood diseases are recommended.

The World Health Organisation also recommends:

Hepatitis B - Click here for more information on Hepatitis B vaccines.

Hepatitis C - Click here for more information on Hepatitis C vaccines.

Schistomsomiasis - Click here for more information on preventing Schistomsomiasis.

Tuburculosis - Click here for more information on Tuburculosis vaccines.

For information on the recommended immunisations and health issues when visiting Egypt see www.traveldoctor.com.au.

Pathways recommends that all immunisations are received before travelling.

Please ensure that you contact Animal Aid Egypt and organise your passport and visa before organising airfares.
Animal Aid Egypt will need to schedule in the dates of your volunteer assignment.

Animal Aid Abroad Egypt may provide a rented apartment close to the clinic for veterinary volunteers which will include bathroom, toilet, shower, etc.

Alexandria has a humid Mediterranean climate, with temperatures averaging 31°C in summer and dropping to 12°C in winter. Dress for the weather conditions depending on the time of year you volunteer. Egypt is a Muslim country and volunteers should dress conservatively. Western women may leave their hair uncovered but they shouldn’t show cleavage, wear shorts, short skirts or sleeveless shirts and tank tops.

Volunteers need to be aware that the Australian Government has classified Egypt as a high terrorist risk for Australia travelers. Volunteers are recommended to read the threat information at www.smartraveller.gov.au and need to understand that they are travelling at their own risk.

You can register your travel information with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Travel so that they may find you in case of an emergency - www.orao.dfat.gov.au

Alexandria is the second-largest city in Egypt, is the country's largest seaport and is built on a delta where the Nile River meets the Mediterranean. Alexandria is also an important tourist destination for Egypt with modern cinemas, malls and Starbucks, internet cafes and laundry services as well as access to pyramids, oases and archaeology sites.

Water in Alexandria and throughout Egypt contains high levels of bacteria, which causes diarrhoea. Tap water is only safe to drink if purified with iodine tablets, boiled or correctly filtered. Take care eating from buffets, since salads, other vegetables and fruit may have been washed using tap water. Drink bottled water.

The main languages spoken in Egypt are Arabic, followed by English and French.

1 Australian Dollar = 4.73796 Egyptian Pound

Egypt is a predominantly Muslim country. It should be noted that Islam teaches its followers to treat animals with compassion but there are rules about the hygiene of animals in particular the touching of saliva and also rules that prohibits the consumption of pork.

Poverty, lack of education and some religious beliefs by animal owners result in neglect (both intentional and unintentional), being imposed on work and domestic animals. Companion animals (dogs and cats), many of which run free in the towns and villages, are usually not neutered due to the high cost of veterinary care and the logistics of transportation to facilities, as well as lack of awareness on the part of the owners.

Horses in Egypt are used to pull carriages for the tourism industry and horses and donkeys are used for all sorts of work around the city, from pulling carts loaded with vegetables, to carrying timber and materials to and from building sites. They have a very tough life - they work long hours, in very hot dusty trying conditions not just in cities, but towns and rural areas as well. They are often owned by people who are very poor who cannot afford any medical treatment of their animals. Animals may pull loads beyond their capabilities, made to work in very hot conditions without shade and water and are kept working even when they are sick, old and injured - they continue to work until they either drop or can no longer walk. They are usually just left where they are to die.

Animal Aid Abroad also rescues wildlife, treats farm and companion animals and works closely with Alexandria Zoo.

Pathways provides a checklist for all the things you have to organise before you go. You can also use it to work out the cost of each item on the list to help you work out your budget.

Click here to download and print the checklist for the Pathway to the Animal Aid Egypt.

Pathways has created an Info Pack to take overseas with you. This pack includes addresses and phone numbers of the Australian Embassy, a local Immigration office to extend your visa if required, as well as other helpful information for your stay in Egypt.

Click here to download and print the Information Pack.