Update
Dear Friends,
It is always hard to say goodbye, but it makes it easier when there’s an amazing opportunity at the end of the tunnel! In mid October, Dr. Jeremy Campfield and I will be leaving Pacific Crest Equine to live and work in Fes, Morocco. We have recently been appointed as Director (Dr. Campfield) and Associate Director (myself) of the American Fondouk, a non-profit organization run by the Massachusetts SPCA.
The American Fondouk was originally founded in the 1920s to help serve the working animals, mostly donkeys, in the city of Fes. Since then it has continued to grow as a hospital and currently sees more than 100 animals a day! Animals range from donkeys, mules and horses to cats and dogs, pigeons, goats, sheep and even the occasional camel! Whatever walks through the door is welcome. Amazingly, this veterinary care is provided at no cost to the owner thanks to charitable donations; this means that every animal receives veterinary care despite the income level of the client.
One of the reasons the caseload is so high is due to the fact that in Fes, many people still rely on their animals as a sole means of income. Fes’ Medina, an ancient walled part of the city, is the largest non-motorized area in the world and depends on goods and wares being carried via donkey or mule. As you can imagine, this means lots of veterinary work to be done!
Dr. Jeremy Campfield first learned about the Fondouk when he spent one month at the hospital as a fourth- year veterinary student. You may have even read his blog, featured during that time in The Horse magazine! When he and I recently learned that the current Director was retiring after 16 years of service, we both jumped at the opportunity to apply for this amazing job. Apparently they thought we would be as good a fit for the job as we did, and the packing for Morocco soon began! (And a crash course in French for me!)
Although I will miss working with the horses and people in the Exeter, Tehachapi and Ridgecrest areas, it is incredibly exciting to know we will be able to make such a huge impact in veterinary medicine in Morocco. If you’re interested in learning more about the Fondouk and it’s efforts to help animal welfare in Fes, please visit the website www.americanfondouk.org.
And if you’re ever in Morocco, you’re always welcome to visit!
Sincerely,
Anne McDonald, DVM
