Morocco, Mules, and Mental Health

01.04.26

Hello everyone and Happy New Year! I just got back from my trip to Morocco where I was able to indulge in Moroccan culture, hang out with some camels, shop in the souks, but most importantly… visit an animal sanctuary!

Visiting the American Fondouk

Towards the end of my trip, my family and I were able to sneak in a visit to the American Fondouk: a nonprofit organization that offers free veterinary care to the donkeys, mules, and horses of Morocco. Their mission is to better the lives of the working animals of Fez Medina and all the families that depend on their labor. Being able to see the work they do for each of the animals—ranging from cleaning simple cuts to helping the animals overcome diseases—was incredible since each employee puts so much love and dedication into their work. But the truth is, it is a hard field to work in. Not every situation can turn out positive, and that can take such a toll on the workers’ mental health.

So today, instead of focusing on the specific medical stuff that the employees do, I will be focusing on how the proximity of animals and working with them day-to-day can positively benefit human mental health, despite it being a draining field to work in.

First things first, I want to answer the question about why humans feel better when around animals…

No matter if you are hanging with a pet or observing an exotic animal in its natural habitat, being in the proximity of animals significantly enhances human well-being. The Animals Tracks Team highlights how interacting with animals reduces levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, and lowers blood pressure. Not only this, but your body naturally releases endorphins, the body's “feel-good” chemicals, when around animals, evoking feelings of tranquility and happiness.

One of the animals being cared for at the Fondouk.

Apart from just reducing stress and providing social support, proximity to animals shows that human-animal interaction (HAI) influences your oxytocin, β-endorphin, prolactin, phenylacetic acid, and dopamine levels! Oxytocin specifically causes many physiological changes, like slower breathing and heart rate, inhibiting stress hormones and creating an overall sense of calm.

When I was in Morocco, we passed by many of the mules and horses that the Fondouk Team had been working on. “This one is about to get discharged as she just got over her disease.” “He is feeling a lot better after his surgery on his left leg.” The guide kept highlighting the work they did to help these animals, which was truly amazing, but then we came across one mule that looked so sick and fragile. The guide’s face dropped and she apologized, but when I kept asking questions about the sick mule she said, “I truly care about all of these animals and helping them, but it makes me so sad when there is one that is just too hurt to help.”

Her words really stuck with me, because despite the amount of cases she might have with animals that cannot be saved, she is still passionate about her work and helping them to the best of her ability. But why?

95% of veterinarians highlight that the human-animal bond (HAB) is the reason they entered the field. Having a strong bond with animals increases job satisfaction because it reinforces the intrinsic value of the work they are doing. In the case Trauma-informed veterinary practice: linking emotional labor, moral distress, and occupational well-being, conducted by Begüm Serim-Yıldız and others, they highlight how many participants say that interacting with animals outside of their stressful workplace helps restore emotional balance and refind the reasons they chose the profession.

Simply reconnecting with animals allows humans’ emotional balance to be restored, allowing them to find happiness in those interactions and continue with the work they are doing.

The same way that people become doctors to save lives, veterinarians have a true passion for their field; they find deep fulfillment in alleviating suffering in animals and solving the complex puzzles of what is wrong with their non-verbal patients.

As I have said in the past, spending time in nature is vital to human health and well-being, and animals are indeed elements of the natural world! No matter how you interact with animals—whether it is inside playing with your cat or being in the outside environment with exotic animals—you are alleviating stress and boosting your mental health in some way!