As some of my friends know, I am on an extended holiday here in Egypt. Its a great country and I've grown to love it.

But one thing has really been disturbing me while I am here. I am constantly seeing horses and donkeys being ill-treated. Donkeys are used here a lot for pulling carts laden with various goods around the city streets and I've seen them pullling way too heavy cart loads and being beaten into submission while doing so. One donkey I saw in Cairo had a deep cut around its chest from the rope that was used to tie the cart to it.

Also at the pyramids, when I visited, I saw horses drawing carriages with tourists. The horses were being whipped so hard by the carriage drivers that they were literally jumping in the air. Every time I told them to stop, they just gave me a look as though I am crazy.

Most of the poorer people here in Egypt understand only arabic and I don't think that if I told them that they are doing wrong in their own language that they would stop.

I'm hoping my friends here at Yuwie can give me some ideas about how I can make a difference here. I have tried to make my voice heard with the police here, but I doubt that they even care, at least that was the impression that I got.

Please, what can I do? My heart breaks daily for these poor animals.