By Dr. Shahabat Khan (Regional Manager, Northern Pakistan)
09 May 2011

When I joined the Brooke as a junior vet in 1992, I was constantly busy working with sick, injured and mistreated horses, donkeys and mules in and around Peshawar in northern Pakistan. Helping needy animals was so satisfying that we did not feel tired, even after working with more than a hundred a day.

Horses and donkeys were living under very difficult conditions in those days. The majority were suffering from lameness, multiple work-related injuries, malnutrition, skin and nasal problems. There was no trained farrier or saddler in the area and the Government didn’t have any vets to help needy horses. As a result the mortality rate was very high.

Now, after 19 years at the Brooke, and with the help of supporters and the sincere efforts of my colleagues, the situation has changed considerably. The Brooke provides a vital role of needs based veterinary treatment and education for owners and users.

The Brooke trains and educates animal owners and users including street farriers, saddlers, community based animal health workers, female livestock workers, Government and private vets and paravets, school children, animal owners and users.

Malpractices such as firing and nostril slitting have almost vanished and shade shelters and water troughs have been constructed with the help of the community. I can see a clear change in the life of these poor horses and donkeys – from suffering and disappointment to relief and hope.

Find out more about our work in Pakistan.