Terms and conditions

Guest blog by The Brooke.

‘The phone ringing at one minute to five’ is cited amongst the top complaints of British office-workers.
These aren’t called ‘first-world problems’ for nothing. Imagine not being able to have a drink in your working day. No lunch breaks, no work mates and no holidays? It puts moans about whose tea-round it is into perspective. This is the reality for animals working in some of the world’s poorest communities. No matter how annoyed we are by our work life, it doesn’t compare with their daily hardship. This animation features a young ‘Don.K’ who, over the course of a disturbing job interview, discovers his fate.

There are over 100 million horses, donkeys and mules working in extreme conditions around the world. Despite their huge contribution to people’s livelihoods, many are under-valued and not well cared for.
They are not the proud and well cared for animals we see in the UK’s Household Cavalry or police. Or even the carriage horses of New York City, currently in the news over safety and welfare concerns. These horses don’t start work until they are at least five years old, have four welfare checks and a five week holiday every year. If only the good people protesting at the working conditions of these horses could also see beyond their own back yards.

The Brooke works where the suffering is greatest. We are standing up for the world’s most vulnerable working horses, donkeys and mules. Simple things like a well-fitting harness, a regular hoof-check and providing shade to rest can significantly improve a working animal’s life, and the Brooke works with owners, communities and governments to teach them this.

We believe suffering is preventable, and that every working horse, donkey and mule should live:

Free from hunger & thirst
Free from discomfort
Free from pain
Free from fear
Free to express natural behaviour.

If you believe this too visit our website

One place where it is hardest to maintain these freedoms for working equines is in brick kilns.  They are dry, hot and arid open areas with no shade – tough for animals and humans.  Overloading, disease and injuries are constant.

In the Jiskani brick kilns in Sukkur, Pakistan, we found a pack donkey called Kalo who was suffering from severe dehydration. Fortunately the team reached him in time. They gave Kalo the food, water and medicine he needed to survive. They hooked him up to an IV to rehydrate him and found owner, who looked in no better condition himself. He was very poor and was supporting six family members, as well as Kalo. He didn’t realise just how much water and food Kalo needed in this harsh environment.

Kalo

There was a myth in the Jikani brick kiln community that an animal would not work if it was fed in the day. Thanks to the Brooke teams, the community is now more aware of the importance of water and feed and realise the dangers of over working their animals.

The Brooke’s in over 3,500 brick kilns around the world. If you want to support our work and help save more animals like Kalo, click here