We can't let the stray cats of Morocco starve!

1. In Morocco, Valerie is running out of kibble to feed the street cats, they will starve if nobody helps them! 

"Essaouira being a very touristic city, restaurants used to give their leftovers to stray cats. But ever since the beginning of the crisis, and until today as everything is still closed, there are no more tourists, no more restaurants, and therefore no more food for the cats...

This is why our Street Shepherd team was launched, to feed the strays who were now left to their own devices, without anything to eat. Since then, the cats have become used to us and they gather at the places where we feed them. However, despite our efforts, the number of stray cats continues to increase. It is the birth period, many kittens are found outside, abandoned in boxes...

In total, there are about 800 cats who rely on us, in the streets of the city of Essaouira and its surroundings. Unfortunately, our current lack of means has forced us to reduce our food distributions, and it has been the case for more than two weeks already... Right now, we only have 2 bags of 20 kilos to give them... We need this collection to succeed, the survival of the stray cats depends on it!"

2. Threatened by diseases, street cats are particularly vulnerable, but the association will not be able to do anything for them if they don't find kibble.

"Within the stray population, there is a resurgence of diseases such as coryza and typhus, especially for kittens because they are often abandoned in unsanitary or inaccessible places.

Without our distributions, their immunity will continue to weaken, there will be even more diseases... Our Street Shepherds action is important because there is at least a daily follow-up of these young animals.

And beyond our distributions, we also take care of socializing them, sterilizing them, treating them... We only live for them and it is essential to find solutions to be able to continue helping them. Without us, they will go through distress, suffering and the weakest ones will die..." 

3. Valerie's shelter is also home to 34 sick or handicapped cats. Without kibble, they too risk starving!

"At the shelter, we have been caring for disabled and injured animals for over 14 years. We have 34 cats, dogs, horses, cattle... Given the current lack of means and the difficulties we already have to feed them all, we are unfortunately no longer able to take in any more animals...

Before the beginning of the COVID crisis, the cats had unlimited food, but now we have been forced to reduce the daily dose of food for each of them. These cats rely on us for food, they are too weak to survive on the streets on their own.

Many of them will stay with us for life, as adoptions of disabled cats are still very rare. This is why we have to find a solution. It is inconceivable for us to release them or let them starve to death..."

4. Gilberte is a young and blind cat, suffering from chronic coryza. Her immunity weakened and her reflexes diminished, she needs kibble to survive!

"Gilberte is a 1 and a half year old cat.  She came to the shelter already blind with a very bad coryza that unfortunately became chronic. 

She often needs to be put back on antibiotics and must therefore have a good diet in order to keep a minimum of immunity to fight the disease during its relapses.

Without enough food, she will wither away very quickly and not have enough strength to fight the disease."

5. Donations are in free fall, while expenses do not cease to increase... The association no longer has enough resources to feed the cats.

"Our biggest difficulty in providing for the cats right now is the lack of resources. We have too many expenses and increasingly fewer donations because the crisis is affecting everyone. We simply cannot afford anything anymore...

This situation is unprecedented and calls everything into question, we are afraid to lose everything, afraid for the future of the shelter, afraid for the work and the involvement of the Street Shepherd volunteers... We launch calls for help on the social networks and try as best we can to sell some products on a market every two weeks.

But all these initiatives unfortunately do not allow us to cover all our expenses for the cats. We have had to take on debts from family members. We need more support, otherwise nothing will be possible to help the cats anymore!"

6. Valerie is not asking for money, only kibbles to keep the street cats from starving.

"I see the mentality of people changing since the creation of Street Shepherds and I am delighted. At the same time, I am extremely saddened because every day we see more and more cats abandoned, injured and in need....Sometimes we feel like we are fighting without results.

Deep down, I know that our work will change things for the best. It is what will allow any future action to be done in good conditions. Our role being also to make the human population aware of the fate of these animals. 

We are currently discussing with the authorities, the governor of the province came to the shelter and if all goes to plan, a room will be made available and new measures will be put in place for the sterilization of cats and dogs! The authorities will finally help us and work with us! Things are progressing little by little, and we like to think that we have something to do with it!"

7. If this campaign succeeds, Valérie will not receive any money but 1140 kg of kibbles, delivered from Animal Webaction's logistics platform in Morocco.

Animal Webaction has a logistics platform in Morocco, which enables us to intervene quickly and deliver kibbles.

8. Donations have dried up since the beginning of the crisis. The association needs this harvest to succeed in order to feed the cats!

Our posts on Facebook give us visibility and recognition but unfortunately no donations, which we depend on entirely to finance the shelter. On this collection depends the survival of the stray cats... We hope with all our heart that it works!

9. Campaigns launched on Animal Webaction often fail.

When a campaign fails, Animal Webaction cannot deliver the collected products, the beneficiary receives nothing and the buyers get a refund..

9. In Morocco, donors are scarce, and there are no foundations or subsidies . It is very difficult to find funding for kibbles, many cats remain starving in the street!

If you know of a foundation or NGO that could help Valerie, please invite them to contact us so that we can put them in touch.

If you represent a Foundation or an NGO for animal protection, please help the cats supported by the association, contact us and we will put you in touch!

If you would like to come to Valérie's shelter, or if you would like to send her directly some kibbles or a cheque, please contact her via the association's Facebook page (note: you are entirely responsible for direct help).

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