The Brooke - Interview with Dr Salah

It was at veterinary college that Dr Salah Wahib first heard about Brooke - and came to admire our work. Spurred on by a passion for animal welfare, he took down our number from the side of a Brooke ambulance and came to join us.

Since then, Dr Salah has treated thousands of horses and donkeys and witnessed many changes – and met many supporters. Recently retired, he speaks about about the changes he witnessed over 32 years.

How did you start working with the Brooke?

'I started working for Brooke in November 1976, I used to hear about it when I was in veterinary college as a hospital that provides free treatments for equines. Since then I admired the work of Brooke.

I saw the ambulance of Brooke in the street one day picking up a sick horse, I felt so excited to discover the place in the beginning.

I took the phone number from the ambulance and visited the hospital where I met the senior vet who told me that it’s the only hospital in Cairo that helps working horses and donkeys by offering free treatment and care.

I started my career with Brooke hospital with only 25LE as a monthly salary; it was really quite little compared with working for medicine companies which offered me 250LE per month at that time. But my passion for animals made me choose to spend the rest of my life helping them with Brooke.

At that time the hospital was working with very limited resources and funds. I was very happy though because I became able to help animals who might have no chances for treatment if Brooke wasn’t there.

Every time I save an animal's life, I feel like I saved a whole family. One day a widow came to me with a sick horse. She said “if he dies, there will be no food on the table”. Brooke vets are facing such situations every day, and this is the source of our pride.’

Can you tell us about your pioneering work in the brick kilns area?

‘While I was helping animals in Ma'adi area near Cairo, I noticed heavy loaded carts pulled by animals in a terrible condition. The drivers guided me to the brick kilns in Helwan, where donkeys were carrying bricks for more than 12 hours a day. I was the leader of the first mobile clinic ten years ago. Now there is farrier care for the animals and owners have the phone number for veterinary backup any time. Moreover, we have managed to control the spread of disease as well as applying the educational and training programs.’

How do you feel about Brooke’s approach?

'I consider advising the owners as preventing bad things from happening for the animals, it's like treating the animals for the present and the future. '

What was the hardest case that you ever treated?

'I'll never forget one horse from the city who was hit by a truck in the street - it's been more than 20 years now since I treated him, but his case was quite hopeless and his owner was really desperate.

The owner brought the poor horse directly to the hospital. The horse had a fracture in the skull and the nasal cavity, and had to be administered with saline and glucose as he was unable to eat or even to move.

I took care of this horse day and night. We would flip his body left and right to avoid bed sores as he wasn’t able to stand at first. And when his owner came to take him back, I couldn’t believe that he was fine. I felt that indescribable feeling that day, and that’s why I'll never forget that horse.'

What were your last words on leaving the hospital in Cairo?

‘I said to my colleagues and managers, “thank you” for the support and for giving me the chance to help all these animals during 32 years.’

We would like to take this opportunity to thank Dr Salah for his dedication and compassion during his time at the Brooke and wish him a very happy retirement.