Hi, my name is Michaela, German designer and consultant living and working in Ethiopia since 2016.

Over the years I become part of AAP - Addis Animal Project, a group of passionate people, who volunteer to save cats and dogs in urgent need, give them medical treatment and are always doing their very best to find foster families and loving forever homes. 

Yet, in our current situation, we are a drop on a hot stone - we have to make a change for those animals that are still suffering and surely will suffer if society won't change their perception and behaviour.

In most parts of Ethiopia, the well-being of animals is no priority, especially in the cities. In Addis Ababa and other cities, we see the population of stray dogs out of control and further growing. Often we find badly injured dogs, hit by cars or people, left in pain, left to die or suffer. Dogs are chained up, used as house protectors, fed poorly, kicked and beaten. We find horses and donkeys in extremely poor condition on the street, left to die as the owners cannot and would not afford to pay for medical treatment. Animals are tools for labour or protection. The consequences are painful to watch.

In general, people are extremely scared of dogs and often situations escalate as people throw stones out of fear of rabies and for protection or out of fun, the consequences are aggressive and fearful dogs. Care for an animal can turn against the animal in some cases as people have shown extreme aggression towards the animal in need after it got attention, wanted to make a profit of it and in a recent case, the puppy was killed by people.

As things are right now, we can't be everywhere fast enough and rescue all animals immediately.

Let me tell you the story of Coco and Crispy, the most heartbreaking cases I have found.

COCO

Coco, was hit by a car a long time before I found her. She was a curled-up dog, skin and bones with destroyed back paws and the saddest look and pain in her eyes one can imagine. We don’t know how long she must have suffered. She pulled her back paws behind her when moving with her pack, I could see the bones. With a brave vet's help, we saved her.

She is a big girl now! Healthy and happy and loves to play with her best friend Simba, even though one paw is still bent as the muscles and nerves are destroyed.

CRISPY

Crispy. A couple came to see puppies I fostered and reported an injured tiny puppy up my road. We went, and found a tiny puppy of maybe 8 weeks, sitting on the wet dirty road beside a motorcycle with completely bent back legs. One look and my heart broke. She must have been in so much pain. I took her in. The vet assumes she was either bitten by a big dog, beaten or dropped by a human, her lower spine was injured so her back legs were hanging like lifeless attachments. She has become a beautiful dog full of energy. Unfortunately, she never recovered from the injury and needs full-time assistance which is extremely challenging in this country as no animal care supplies are available.

Crispy with her hazelnut eyes always wants to be part of everything

In my old neighbourhood alone I would pass 4 dogs with mange, a massive tumour, vaginal prolapse, and broken legs. It is a nightmare. We don’t have the capacity - funds and space to help those poor dogs. We see horses and donkeys in the saddest conditions, people won’t let them rest, or give neither water nor food and you can see the agony in their eyes.

Those are just 2 of the named cases who need absolute urgent help

EARS - ETHIOPIAN ANIMAL RESCUE & SANCTUARY

To create a more impactful and sustainable solution I have found fantastic partners on the ground in Ethiopia with who we will set up "EARS - Ethiopian Animal Rescue & Sanctuary".

We do need your support and therefore I am now calling on everyone’s heart for animals to contribute so we can set up a proper animal rescue shelter and sanctuary with the structure and space it needs to save more animals' lives.

We need to secure land, and build a shelter structure with a clinic on site where we can treat urgent cases, spay/neuter and release. The space will serve both as a home for animals in foster care as well as to provide a place of rest for animals who have served for many years and deserve to rest in peace, as every animal deserves a life of dignity and love.

Furthermore, we will work with dog trainers who will be further trained by international trainers, to ensure our dogs are ready for adoption.
In fragile situations, rapid action is crucial for urgent rescues and can decide life and death, as it has been a major challenge in the past. Hence, an animal ambulance is urgently needed so we can act immediately.

To generate income and cover our costs in the future, we are developing different products and partnering with companies in order not to be completely dependent on donations but to offer service and products.

Our space will have an integrated dog and cat hotel so people can travel, knowing their beloved family member is in good care and company with us.

It shall be a space where families can meet the animals, learn about them and get to know them better.

To reach the whole of Ethiopia we will run awareness and educational campaigns to change people's perceptions and understanding of animals. Educating people about animal welfare is key if we want to make an impact and create change.

It is a lot we are asking but we we want to be realistic and therefore I have worked out the project in phases, and have carefully put together the budget that will help us setting up and start the operation.

If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

For Ethiopian based supporters: You can contact me directly if you would like to support us as we are in need of many things in kind other than financial support.

- land

- an old vehicle we can fix, garage service

- metal/steel, wood, bamboo to build the shelter

- foam

- meat

- and much more we can discuss in person

You might need more transparency what the requested sum is for - we have to start somewhere:

LAND LEASE - 15.000EUR

SHELTER / CLINIC / AMBULANCE - 25.000EUR

STAFF 13.000EUR

FOOD & MEDS for 12 months 12.000EUR

TRAININGS 2.000EUR - collaboration

MARKETING 500EUR - collaboration

Listen with your heart and you will find a loyal new friend in the animal by your side.

BECOME A HERO for Ethiopian animals and CHANGE A LIFE - be the voice for those animals who are suffering in silence.

Thank you for caring and helping us make a difference!