Bahrain Rescues urges public support to stay afloat

TDT | Manama                                                               

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Reported by Julia Cassano

A prominent animal rescue shelter in Bahrain is running at full capacity and struggling financially, it has been revealed.

Bahrain Rescues which is run by three regular volunteers is now appealing to the public for assistance. Money donated to the shelter covers the costs of safe drinking water, food, vet bills, utility bills, and rent.

How do the animals end up at Bahrain Rescue?

Mojda Banahi, who handles public relations for Bahrain Rescues, told The Daily Tribune that their Instagram message board was constantly bombarded with fresh cases. Since they are already at capacity and have limited volunteers and funds, they must prioritise these messages. She said that they were in a desperate situation, with up to four canines living in a cage (about 2 by 3 metres in size), and can only accept cases that, based on their long expertise, cannot live without human assistance. “Animals do not end up in our shelter unless they need critical medical care, which, unfortunately, has become all too common,” Mojda said.

As Bahrain Rescues only contains three volunteers and limited funding, the responsibility of caring for all the animals can become overwhelming. She said that even after years in this field, people still do not comprehend or understand the extensive amount of time and energy it takes to care for these animals, as well as running a rescue centre with limited resources.

“We are still met with hostility and threats when we do not accept cases, but the public must understand how difficult it is to find appropriate forever homes for the animals,” she emphasized.

“We have experienced several failed adoptions in the past, meaning that now, our screening process is extremely strict as we do not skip corners when it comes to the animals’ future.”

Responsibility

Many also do not understand the critical responsibility that comes with owning a pet. Mojda said that the welfare and safety of the animals is their number one priority, especially after the extensive time it takes on their physical and mental recovery journey.

To make matters worse, a few months ago, their Instagram account, where they receive most inquiries and funding, was deactivated and never retrieved. “This was a major blow to us financially, as people were not able to find our new account to stay updated with our cases and donate money,” Mojda relayed.

Moreover, she said, years of their history at Bahrain Rescues were erased. However, she said: “What keeps us going is the sense of joy that comes over us when seeing our animals in new homes, finally feeling safe, and bringing them happiness.”

Despite the adversities, Bahrain Rescues continue to do its best to take care of rescue animals, she added. To support Bahrain Rescues, contact bahrainrescues on Instagram.