The dogs in Gambia are mostly short-haired mixed breeds, reflecting a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and temperaments. Occasionally, there are purebred dogs that have been abandoned or left behind by private owners.
What all of these dogs share, however, is the absence of a home, a loving hand, regular food and clean water, and, most urgently, medical care. They are often infested with ticks, fleas, and other parasites, which can cause severe skin infections, anaemia, and transmit diseases. Internal parasites such as hookworms, roundworms, and heartworms further weaken their bodies, leading to malnutrition and chronic illness.
Many suffer from open wounds, untreated injuries through abuse, neurological impairments, and infections, with some carrying life-threatening diseases such as rabies, which are also dangerous to humans. Despite their resilience, these dogs endure unimaginable suffering every day, simply longing for care, protection, and compassion.
The photos below show dogs I photographed in November and December 2025 during our stay in The Gambia. Some of these images may be unsettling, but it is important for us to reveal the harsh reality of the daily struggles these dogs face.
© 2026 miuara.org