Local faces of Mashreq Shams, Kasserine

A description of our day in Mashreq Shams would not be complete without showcasing some of the people we met. These beautiful faces reflect the history and tenacity of the region in a backdrop of many challenges and political uncertainty.

The faces were a reminder to Tricia, the 'sheltered and not very well traveled ' American, that people find purpose and joy within their own cultural context. There are commonalities that all humans have. Parents love their children; kids crave connections and love to laugh; women gather together to share; husbands and wives have their private conversations; and strangers are curious about each other. As veterinarians, we notice animals can often be found as a delicate thread weaving these relationships together.

The pictures from our iphones and GoPro screen shots may not make the cover of National Geographic. Nonetheless, we think when you look at these photos, you will appreciate what we experienced in person. (click on the photo for fuller screen view)

Donkey doctors on duty

The dry empty landscape of Mashreq Shams is not particularly inviting. The mountains in the distance no doubt have frightening military stories to tell. Sparse rows of olive trees and cactus seem perfectly content by themselves. Equine carts with drivers intent on their destination ignore our truck passing by. Amine reminds us this is a challenging community to work with as he points out the fortressed well that had its automatic pump stolen. Nonetheless, we were keen to get to the site; veterinarians have a reputation for being a scrappy clan that are not easily deterred.

a barren landscape says 'there's nothing to stop here for'

An empty building behind the school was designated as our workspace, but as we got closer we saw there was no one waiting for us. Amine said "don't worry, they'll come" and he made a few phone calls.

the walled off school with our work site in the distance

We had a meeting at the back of the truck and waited...

One donkey arrived and we took the time for a demonstration...

students and owner focus on Tricia as she explains hoof trim

When we looked up...we were a little overwhelmed with the number of donkeys and people that appeared and kept coming.

welcome patients and their people suddenly appeared from all directions

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a long line of Mashreq Shams' donkeys wait to be treated

Twice as many donkeys came to the event as we had anticipated and our well laid plans initially got jumbled as we started to work. So many donkeys, so many curious owners eager to see why we were there and what we had to offer. It was difficult to know how much time to spend on each donkey and who to treat next when so many were waiting.

 It is always a pleasure to work with capable people who know how to step up to remedy a chaotic situation and create a system. Amine started an ordered list of owners and Jaber regrouped the teams into two separate work areas. Case by case we tended to the donkeys and made connections with the owners - men, women and children.

Jaber shows a young handler how to gently grasp the tongue to ease looking inside the mouth

Emna gets information from a women dressed in a stylish ensemble

this little guy preferred to stay on his donkey's back during the exam as his mother looks on

The veterinary students wasted no time in proving their professional capabilities and using their new dental and farriery skills.

Zouhair's confidence and smile work magic on the donkeys and the owners

Shadi and Lina use their kind and professional communication skills to give husbandry suggestions to the owners

Ahmed's calm nature easily gains the confidence of two boys as he shows them how to feel the sharp teeth points

Amine (our community development host), who is a drilling engineer, decided to experience being a veterinarian. By the smile on his face, we think he may have missed his calling as a donkey farrier.

Amine, the new hoof engineer

The many donkeys provided an opportunity for us to help each other with challenging cases.

By the end of the day, we'd lost the exact count of the number of donkeys we treated but we know it was at least 48. Our group's good dynamics made the day a success for the donkeys, the community and the team.

teamwork !

 On the next post, we'll highlight some of the interesting cases we saw and the response of the community.

Camel Consultations and Human Connections

There is something universal about the connection between humans who love their animals and the veterinarians who provide care. We listen to the human being, and we treat the animal; in the process we show our caring for the person. If we are lucky, that person expresses their caring for the veterinarian. It may come in the form of money, a handshake, or a dozen eggs. Today, it was a camel ride.

On a drive Saturday, we passed by a seaside area with three camels in a parking lot. As we approached the camels, the owner saw we wanted to take pictures and began to ask for money. Jaber told him Tricia was a visiting veterinarian and the photo opportunity quickly turned into a veterinary consultation.

The camels were a family and the yearling had recently eaten an excess of fibrous cereals. We asked all the right questions about history, inspected the package of probiotics he had administered, and learned about his home remedies, which included vinegar. The camel was recovering from a depressed appetite, but was still weak from acidosis. We made our recommendations to discontinue the vinegar and try baking soda and beer.

The owner expressed his gratitude for our concern and offered Tricia a ride on the Momma Camel. Needless to say, this was a novel experience even though she is an experienced equestrienne.  The owner further showed his trust in us by handing Jaber the leadline.

UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine Ambassadors. One animal at a time.