Dog lovers in Barrie Ont. bring warmth to suffering shelter pups in Cairo, Egypt

Canadian dog lovers donated 1,100 coats to a dog shelter in Cairo, Egypt. (Golden Rescue)

Warning. The details and images in this article may be graphic for some readers.

Dog lovers in our region united together to make a difference for thousands of pups struggling to survive the harsh winter in Cairo, Egypt.

Through the “Coats for Cairo” campaign, organized by Golden Rescue, more than 1,100 coats were collected and delivered to a shelter on the northeast corner of the African continent.

Golden Rescue is one of Canada’s largest single-breed, not-for-profit rescue groups, with a local cluster right here in Barrie.

The initiative came after two Golden Rescue volunteers from Barrie visited the shelter and witnessed the heartbreaking realities. “Emaciated bodies, ravaged by mange and scars of abuse, eyes hollow with despair, cowering in fear… their hopes shattered by the cruelty they have endured,” shared members of Golden Rescue in Barrie.

While the donated coats provided comfort to each pup, pictures also revealed the extent of their suffering. Images sent from the shelter in Egypt showed dogs bundled in colorful jackets with thin frames and sad expressions. “The coats can’t cover the suffering,” the organization said.

According to Golden Rescue, the situation in Cairo is exacerbated by Canada’s recent ban on importing dogs from over 100 countries, including Egypt. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) say they implemented the ban to prevent the spread of rabies, despite the disease being preventable with vaccinations.

Golden Rescue Co-Chair Viive Tamm expressed her frustration “Canadians care deeply, and this campaign proved that,” she said. “So why is our government making it impossible to help these dogs? Let us rescue within stricter protocols. Hear us out, work with us. Give us a chance to help them.”

In August 2021, there was hardly a dry eye at Pearson Airport in Toronto as dozens of animals were flown in from Egypt after being rescued from these hazardous conditions.

Despite the despair, the campaign provided over a thousand coats offering a glimmer of hope to pups living in these harsh conditions.

Golden Rescue says they continue to advocate for solutions that would allow them to resume rescue operations while adhering to protocols.