Brooke outreach in Pakistan, Afghanistan

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, June 2006:

MULTAN–Often the young pro-animal organizations of the
Islamic world can do little beyond raising awareness, with
proclamations such as a June 3, 2006 resolution by the Animal Save
Movement of Multan, Pakistan, objecting to overdriving oxen,
donkeys, and horses in the summer heat.
But Pakistan is among the seven nations, four predominantly
Muslim and two others with substantial Muslim minorities, in which
the British-based Brooke Fund for Animals operates equine
clinics–including a clinic in Multan.
The Brooke began working in Pakistan in 1991 with a mobile
clinic operating out of Peshawar in 1991. That project rapidly
expanded into a base clinic, two field clinics, and six mobile
veterinary teams.

“Our work spread to Lahore in April 1993,” recounts the
Brooke web site. “There are now ten mobile teams working from two
field clinics in Lahore. Our Multan clinic opened in 1995, and in
1996 our Dutch Supporters’ Group helped to raise enough money to open
another clinic in Mardan. In 1997 we began operations in Gujranwala.”
In addition, “A mobile team now provides free veterinary
care for working horses and donkeys in the southern Afghan city of
Jalalabad, as well as saddlery and farriery training and equine
education programmes for owners,” the web site says.
Altogether, the Brooke treats about 250,000 animals per year
in Pakistan.
After several months of helping Afghan refugees’ animals in
camps along the Pakistan border, the Brooke in February 2003 began
working within Afghanistan, in partnership with the Committee for
Rehabilitation Aid to Afghanistan, the World Society for the
Protection of Animals, and the American Zoo Association.
“Since the start of the Shahzada Health Equine Foundation for
Afghanistan project, i.e. February 2003, our vets have de-wormed
more than 35,000 equines, and nearly 14,000 equine owners have been
educated about equine management,” Brooke publicist Niki Austin told
ANIMAL PEOPLE.
“For 2006-2007,” Austin said, “we aim to continue to
support our five teams, four of which cover Nanghahar Province from
Jalalabad. One works in the areas around Kabul. Routine treatment
numbers in established areas of work have dropped dramatically over
the period of the project, as the community education programs have
developed.
“In Kunduz Province,” Austin added, “where many horses are
used for ploughing, the Brooke has sunk four wells– for use by both
people and animals. Three wayside stations offer places of rest and
water on the roadside. In Kabul Province, two wells have been sunk
in the brick kiln areas.”