6 April 2011

Brooke’s expansion into new brick kilns set to benefit more working animals

International animal welfare organisation, the Brooke, is expanding its work into 117 new brick kilns in India

In total the Brooke will deliver veterinary and community awareness programmes in almost 1000 brick kilns across India this year, benefiting 45,000 working horses and mules in need.

 “Working conditions in the brick kilns are harsh,” said Dorcas Pratt, Brooke’s Director of International Development. “There are currently 50,000 brick kilns in India with more than 5,000 found in Uttar Pradesh alone, so demand for the Brooke’s services is high. We’ve expanded our programme in Utter Pradesh to reach more animals, which is a very positive step.”

The Brooke offers advice on disease and prevention, as well as providing emergency vet treatment and vaccinations. It is also creating equine welfare groups, which encourage owners to contribute to a joint savings account for use in emergencies. Owners also have access to first aid kits.

India is the second largest brick producer in the world, with an output of 140 billion bricks annually. The process is largely manual and there is little or no technology involved.

Extreme temperatures, lack of shade, difficult terrain and overloading can cause suffering for horses, donkeys and mules. Disease and injuries are common. Local services such as veterinary care, farriery, saddlery and cart repairing are often difficult for poor communities to access.

“To ensure lasting change, the Brooke’s approach involves working closely with animal owners, their communities and local service providers to address the root causes of problems, as well as find affordable solutions. It’s the simple things that make all the difference, for example our work with cart makers has improved balance and stability of carts, which improves conditions for working animals.” adds Dorcas Pratt.

The Brooke provides treatment, training and community programmes across Africa, Asia and Latin America to improve the welfare of working horses, donkeys and mules and their owners.

For further information or case studies, please contact Kirsty Whitelock on 020 7653 5824 or Kirsty.whitelock@thebrooke.org