The Brooke - People can cause animal suffering

People influence animal welfare more than any other factor. The Brooke estimates that around 80% of the ailments suffered by working horses, donkeys and mules are preventable.

The Brooke understands that it is people who cause a lot of animal suffering. This is because:

their owners are often very poor and do not have access to the right advice and information on how to care for their animals
through beliefs in traditional myths, local healers practice treatments that are meant to help but are often very harmful to animals

Superstition and cultural beliefs

Harmful beliefs are often prevalent in developing countries where owners without access to formal training or modern medicine have no choice but to rely on superstition and myths to treat sick and injured working animals. Many supposed 'remedies' are barbaric and harmful, remedies might include those mentioned below.

Firing

An unfortunately common supposed cure-all for everything from open wounds to lameness, an animal’s skin is burned with a red-hot iron or wire. Firing causes third degree burns and leaves many animals in such shock that they are unable to eat or drink for days.

Donkey's firing wounds © The Brooke

Water deprivation

It is vital to give working animals water at regular intervals but often the exact opposite is thought to be true in developing countries. For example, in Egypt denying animals water completely during the day is believed to prevent breathing and digestive problems. Working for 12 hours in temperatures of up to 50° Celsius without drinking leads to heat stress and dehydration and, sometimes, death.

Threading

Threading is used to 'help ease’ infection. An incision is made in the animals flesh with a sharp instrument and a cloth is then sewn underneath. This causes an abscess, which seeps pus through the cloth - seemingly justifying the healer’s claim that it is the poison draining away.

Progress

The good news is that the Brooke brings practical solutions to end such distressing practices. For example, in Egypt, the practice of tying animals’ front and hind legs together (known as hobbling) to prevent them from running away has now been virtually eradicated in the areas where we work. Our vets and animal health teams have shown owners that they could achieve the same outcome by using a head collar.

The impact of our work is far-reaching. The benefits of good welfare messages and basic health care techniques are even being felt far beyond our immediate areas of operation. Animal owners see that the Brooke's approach works and that many traditional practices are not always effective. Our messages ripple through communities and penetrate into areas that we may not have even visited. By sharing our knowledge, we empower local people.