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photo copyright of the World Society for
the Protection of Animals (WSPA) |
Ground breaking animal charity initiative helps rebuild Afghan
livelihoods
A major new project to help working equines and their owners
in Afghanistan is to transform the lives of thousands of people
struggling to rebuild their lives in this war-torn country.
This week, two international charities, the Brooke Hospital
for Animals and the World Society for the Protection of Animals
(WSPA), launched a jointly funded project to provide free
veterinary care for working horses and donkeys in the southern
Afghan city of Jalalabad, as well as run an equine education
and training programme for owners.
In Jalalabad, thousands of people work with horses and donkeys
and, in the vast majority of cases, entire families depend
on these animals for their livelihood.
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photo copyright of the World Society for the Protection
of Animals (WSPA)
Working at five of the busiest horse and donkey carriage stands,
the project involves a team of specially trained local vets treating
sick and injured animals, offering saddlery and farriery training
and running education programmes.
Many of the animals treated so far have been substantially underweight,
some in very poor condition. The reasons are badly overgrown teeth
and heavy worm infestations and these problems are now the major
priority for the veterinary work. Horses are also suffering from
overgrown feet, which can cause severe lameness. The project - aided
by the Afghan agency Committee for Rehabilitation Aid to Afghanistan
(CRAA) - will also install fresh piped water supplies at carriage
stands. This will be a lifesaver for people and
animals, especially in the harsh summer months, since the nearest
water supply is currently over three miles away.
photo copyright of the World Society for the Protection
of Animals (WSPA)
photo copyright of the World Society for
the Protection of Animals (WSPA) |
The
Brooke was previously able to help the Afghan people when
they fled to Pakistan in search of refuge during the war.
There, Brooke mobile clinics tended to their horses, which
had survived two weeks of gruelling trekking to reach safety.
At around this time, at the start of 2002, a WSPA team went
to the aid of the long-suffering animals of Kabul Zoo and
also restocked the city's veterinary clinics with desperately
needed medicines. However, this is the first time both charities
have been able to work directly with returning refugees inside
Afghanistan to help rebuild their shattered lives.
Brooke's Veterinary Advisor, Joy Pritchard, explains the importance
of the project: "In Jalalabad many equines suffer from
lameness, body sores and heat stress. However, both people
and equines face intense hardship, which we hope to address,
through the provision of free veterinary care and piped water.
"
Trevor Wheeler, WSPA's Director of Companion Animals, added:
"The people of Jalalabad recognise the value of their
equines. What they lack is anyone with the necessary expertise
to provide health and welfare care for the animals. This is
the legacy we hope to leave behind when the project is complete."
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There
are an estimated 30 million working equines worldwide. These animals
are usually the only source of income for their poverty-stricken
families and work under extreme conditions of heat, pain, exhaustion
and illness. The Brooke Hospital for Animals was founded in Egypt
in 1934 to improve the condition and well being of equine animals
overseas by providing free veterinary treatment for the working
horses, donkeys and mules in some of the most hard-pressed communities
in the world and by advising and training their owners. It is the
only organisation dedicated to providing veterinary treatment for
working equines, alongside training owners, to
bring about lasting change. It operates in Egypt, Jordan, India
and Pakistan.
The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) is one of
the world's biggest and fastest growing animal charities, with hundreds
of thousands of supporters worldwide and an international network
of 13 offices. The Brooke Hospital for Animals is one of more than
400 WSPA member societies in over 100 countries worldwide. WSPA,
which enjoys a special consultative status with the United Nations,
aims to promote the protection of animals, prevent cruelty and relieve
animal suffering, through a combination of animal rescue and disaster
relief operations, humane education programmes to encourage respect
for animals, practical workshops to improve standards of animal
care, and campaigning and lobbying for greater protection of animals.
This project is also being supported by the American Zoological
Association.
More
info: www.brooke-hospital.org.uk
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