Beldi Refuge

Helping Stray Dogs in Morocco

Finally, the time had come – we embarked on our first project! On June 1, 2022, we set off for Morocco and visited Beldi Refuge, an animal shelter located 115 km south of Tangier.

Within the first two days in Morocco, we encountered countless stray dogs and cats struggling to survive daily. Unfortunately, there are no legal regulations in Morocco to control the prevailing situation and help these animals. The sight of these visibly distressed animals was initially shocking, but it fueled our desire even more to support them.

Excited and hopeful to gain a better understanding of the situation, we visited the shelter near the city of Chefchaouen on Friday, June 3rd.

Beldi Refuge was founded in 2019 by Leeny from Germany. After witnessing a mass culling of dogs in Chefchaouen during a visit as a tourist, she decided to move to Morocco to fight the injustice and suffering of the animals. She gave up her apartment in Germany, bought a camper, and set off for Chefchaouen.

Upon arriving in Chefchaouen, Leeny founded Beldi Refuge. The shelter currently houses around 140 stray dogs spread across 16 enclosures. The dogs are provided shelter due to medical emergencies or are rescued from the streets by locals and tourists. Additionally, there are three isolation enclosures for dogs suffering from leishmaniasis, a disease that can have severe consequences if left untreated. The shelter also has its own small hospital, as the nearest veterinarian is two hours away. Since Beldi Refuge is the only facility of its kind in the Rif Mountains, Leeny and the volunteers must often provide emergency care themselves. Malnourished dogs are nursed back to health in the hospital, and they can recover from surgeries in a safe environment.

At the shelter, the dogs receive care, vaccinations, and rehabilitation. The shelter relies heavily on the work and support of volunteers, as there is a wide range of daily tasks. When we visited Beldi Refuge, there were five volunteers from around the world working there.

Besides daily feeding, the enclosures must be cleaned, and the dogs must be treated and cared for if needed. It’s physically demanding work, but speaking with the volunteers quickly revealed how rewarding and fulfilling it is, as the dogs give back so much love. The effort is worthwhile because it’s beautiful to help the animals and support them through their recovery journey.

Each dog taken in receives a name and is placed in a suitable enclosure. In addition to the work at the shelter, Leeny has also launched the “Taggy Dog” project. Through this project, stray dogs can be vaccinated and neutered and then tagged with an ear marker for identification. Thanks to the TNVT (Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Tag) community project, not only the dogs at the shelter are cared for, but many street dogs can also receive better protection and safety.

It’s surely our responsibility to do everything within our power to create a planet that provides a home not just for us, but for all life on Earth.

David Attenborough

So far, Beldi Refuge has rescued over 200 dogs. Some have already been adopted, some belong to the Taggy Dog Project, while others are still waiting for a forever home.

We are impressed by what Leeny has already accomplished with Beldi Refuge, how many dogs she and the volunteers have helped, and how many animals have found a new, safe home. That is why we at Mission Positivity want to support Leeny and the dogs of Beldi Refuge and raise awareness about her organization and the situation in Morocco. We were deeply moved by the affection and love shown by the dogs despite their tough past. The day at the shelter filled us with so much joy, and we hope that you are also touched by their stories.

Help us find loving homes for these loyal souls or support them with your donations for medical care. 

Beldi Refuge urgently needs funds to renovate the hospital to better handle emergencies and prevent new infections. The shelter also requires financial support for food, medication, surgeries, and vaccinations for the dogs.

Ways to Support

Would you like to support Leeny and help the dogs of Beldi Refuge? You can easily reach out through Workaway or Social Media (Instagram: @beldi.leeny) or send an email to beldirefuge@gmail.com. If you’d like to make a donation, you can do so via PayPal (@beldirefuge).

Every volunteer is warmly welcomed. Gain invaluable experiences in the Chefchaouen mountains and enjoy an unforgettable time!

If you are interested in adopting a dog, please contact adoption@beldi-refuge.org. Thank you for supporting the dogs!