Shelter at the brick kiln

Help for hardworking horses and donkeys at the Samar Brick Kiln.

The brick kiln season runs from November to June, and every day horses and donkeys working at the Samar Brick Kiln in Fatehpur, India braved extremes of weather without shelter or water to help them endure the harsh environment. 

Eventually these conditions led to ill-health and they couldn’t work. For the owners whose lives depended on how hard they and their animals worked, the loss of income was devastating. 

I am happy that animals are using [the shelter] for resting and feeding, and also for protection from scorching heat and rain.

Meeting with the owner of the brick kiln, Brooke India’s Fatehpur Equine Welfare Team discussed the lack of basic facilities such as shelter and drinking water, and how this impacted on the animals’ health, which in turn affected their owners’ productivity.  

Happily, he was keen to help and agreed to build a stable for the animals, covering the entire cost of INR300,000 (around £3,200) himself. He said, “The shelter is properly ventilated and has a levelled floor. I am happy that animals are using it for resting and feeding, and also for protection from scorching heat and rain.”

In an environment where humans live in very basic conditions, meeting the needs of equines is not easy. But equine owner Raju feels that the Fatehpur team has really changed the scenario, “I was helpless and could not leave the ill animal under the sun, but now after Brooke’s intervention, the brick kiln owner has built a stable for our equines and become very supportive.

Working equines shelter at the Samar Brick Kiln