“In the shadow of Cairo's medieval aqueduct, Mohamed Mustafa teaches his 5-year-old son the family's trade, one shear at a time. Mohamed is one of Cairo's donkey barbers, an expert in trimming and styling horses, camels, mules, sheep, goats, dogs and donkeys. He is a third-generation qassasseen, the Egyptian Arabic term for animal barbers, and his grandfather worked in Cairo's Abdeen Palace. It is a profession often looked down upon in Egyptian society, as he works with the beasts of burden that still roam modern Cairo's streets, pulling carts filled with vegetables or loads of trash from neighborhoods. But workers rely on the animals and take pride in them, getting them haircuts or having their fur shaved with designs or their initials ahead of major holidays. Mohamed charges between 20 and 30 Egyptian pounds ($3 to $5) per customer, with each appointment taking him less than 30 minutes to finish – depending on the order, and the animal's sensitivities. “All the horses are clever – in fact all the donkeys, cows and dogs are clever. Without a doubt, dogs will slip out from under you”, he says. But the work is dangerous. Later in his family's one-room home, Mohamed traces to a scar across his right jaw with a finger missing its first joint. “One horse bit my finger off, another horse hit me here”, Mohamed says, pointing to a scar on his jaw visible through a thick beard. He says a dentist told him he might lose most of his lower teeth soon. Despite that, Mohamed takes pride in his work”. – Samuel McNeil via The Associated Press

In this Saturday, March 8, 2014 photo, Mustafa Mohamed, 5, reaches to trim a horse at his father's makeshift animal barber shop in Cairo, Egypt. The boy's father is one of Cairo's donkey barbers, a unique trade in the region, an expert in trimming and styling horses, camels, mules, sheep, goats, dogs and donkeys. (Photo by Maya Alleruzzo/AP Photo)

In this Saturday, March 8, 2014 photo, Mohamed Mahmoud trims the hair on a donkey's tail at his makeshift shop in the shadow of the medieval aqueduct in Cairo, Egypt. Mahmoud says he is the third generation of qassasseen, or animal barbers. (Photo by Maya Alleruzzo/AP Photo)

In this Saturday, March 8, 2014 photo, Mohamed Mahmoud, left, takes a break with his son Mustafa, center, and a horse owner and his son at his makeshift animal barber shop in the shadow of the medieval aqueduct in Cairo, Egypt. (Photo by Maya Alleruzzo/AP Photo)

In this Saturday, March 8, 2014 photo, a donkey takes a break from his day job pulling a cart carrying plastic household items as he waits for a haircut from Mohamed Mahmoud, a qassass, or animal barber, at a makeshift barbershop in the shadow of the medieval aqueduct in Cairo, Egypt. (Photo by Maya Alleruzzo/AP Photo)

In this Saturday, March 8, 2014 photo, Mohamed Mahmoud, right, clips the mane of a donkey as his father, Mahmoud, left, holds an ear at their makeshift barbershop in Cairo, Egypt. (Photo by Maya Alleruzzo/AP Photo)

In this Saturday, March 8, 2014 photo, animal barber Mahmoud holds the ear of a donkey as his son, Mohamed Mahmoud, trims the donkey's coat at a makeshift shop in the shadow of the medieval aqueduct in Cairo, Egypt. (Photo by Maya Alleruzzo/AP Photo)

In this Saturday, March 8, 2014 photo, Mohamed Mahmoud walks with his daughter to his makeshift animal barber shop in the shadow of the medieval aqueduct in Cairo, Egypt. Despite injuries and low pay, Mahmoud takes pride in his trade, saying he is sought after as an animal barber across Cairo and neighboring cities. (Photo by Maya Alleruzzo/AP Photo)

In this Saturday, March 8, 2014 photo, a man who sells plastic house wares from the back of a donkey cart leads his donkey to a makeshift barbershop for a haircut by donkey barber Mohamed Mustafa and his five year-old son, Mustafa, right, in Cairo, Egypt. (Photo by Maya Alleruzzo/AP Photo)

In this Sunday, March 2, 2014 photo, animal barber Mohamed Mahmoud shaves a customer's initials onto the rump of a donkey in Cairo, Egypt. Clients typically request for regular trims to keep animals cool in the summer, initials in English letters, and patterns – but sometimes they give Mahmoud full creative license. (Photo by Maya Alleruzzo/AP Photo)

In this Saturday, March 8, 2014 photo, a horse reacts during a haircut by animal barber Mohamed Mahmoud in Cairo, Egypt. (Photo by Maya Alleruzzo/AP Photo)

In this Saturday, March 8, 2014 photo, Mohamed Mahmoud, right, trims the hair of a horse as the owner entertains Mahmoud's five year-old son, Mustafa in Cairo, Egypt. “My grandfather began the trade, but my father and uncles were barbers too. My father taught me and I am teaching my son”, Mahmoud said. (Photo by Maya Alleruzzo/AP Photo)

In this Saturday, March 8, 2014 photo, animal barber Mohamed Mahmoud works on a donkey as his children play nearby his makeshift shop in the shadow of the medieval aqueduct in Cairo, Egypt. (Photo by Maya Alleruzzo/AP Photo)