As an adamant believer of animal rights, Monica, a Swiss national, has turned a plot of land she had purchased to settle with her husband in Hurghada into a small animal refuge for stray animals and many other creatives in need of a home.
Monica has given names to two hundred animals, including dogs, cats, donkeys, horses, camels and goats, all hosted by the shelter. She has even provided a veterinary record of every creature.
“The zoo is divided into two sections, sheltering stray animals that are picked up from streets, especially dogs and donkeys,” says Monica. She explains that prosecution and police have no place to keep those animals. “So I take care of them for free after sterilization to guarantee they do not reproduce.”
The other part, according to Monica, is a five-star facility hosting pets belonging to foreign tourists, which includes a kitchen, sleeping accommodations and games.
“The shelter has become so famous among Egyptians and tourists that some of them have volunteered to help me take care of the animals,” says Monica.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
