The Brooke Hospital for Animals is an international animal welfare organization whose motto is ‘healthy working animals for the world’s poorest communities”. The Brooke was established in Pakistan in 1991, and has centers in Lahore, Multan, Peshawar, Gujranwala and Mardan. After the earthquake struck the northern areas of the country, they organized donkey trains to carry relief goods to people in inaccesssable areas, as well as treated thousands of injured animals.

From The Brooke:

Over 34,000 animals saved by Brooke
26 January 2006

Since the devastating earthquake struck in north west Pakistan last October, the Brooke’s dedicated veterinary teams have been working tirelessly in the area treating tens of thousands of animals, and helping countless vulnerable people keep their animals alive throughout the bitter winter months.

The Brooke has four mobile veterinary crews based in the worst hit areas of Balakot and Muzzafarabad, where it treated over 34,000 animals in the aftermath of the quake for a range of problems, including lameness and multiple injuries caused by falling rubble and landslides, and hypothermia from lack of shelter.

Together with the Humane Society International (HSI), the Brooke has built over 300 winter-proof shelters for poor communities living high up in the mountains. In addition, the charities distributed hundreds of free sacks of concentrated animal feed, and carried out a comprehensive vaccination programme against potentially fatal diseases for over 13,000 livestock.

One of the bravest relief efforts organised by the Brooke was a 40-strong ‘donkey train’ to deliver medical supplies, blankets and food along a treacherous mountainous route up to 8,000 feet. During the 13-day operation, 50,000 kg of supplies was delivered to desperately needy people. And help was not restricted to the animals – in the immediate aftermath of the quake the vets treated thousands of people where no other medical help was available.

More here.

WPSA has been actively carrying out relief work since the earthquake struck Pakistan on October 8, 2005. They have treated thousands of injured animals, set up veterinary clinics and animal shelters in different earthquake affected areas. Take a look at one of their recent reports.

A devastating earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale hit the northern part of Pakistan on the morning of 8th October, 2005. Estimates of the quake’s magnitude varied. The US Geological Survey put the number at 7.6. With the death toll more than 79,000 and the injuries 75,038. It is a catastrophe on a scale never before seen in this region.

WSPA is working in Pakistan since 1993 for the animal welfare and conservation emphasizing on bear-baiting (A Blood Sport). In addition WSPA has been contributing to provide relief to animal during disaster conditions. WSPA feels animal welfare equally important as human welfare therefore; WSPA has done valuable work during the disaster situations in Rawalpindi Flood, 2002, Sacha Soda Disaster (Sheikhupura), 2003, Ghudab Hurricane Sind, 2003, Punjab & NWFP Flood, 2005 and Earth Quake, 2005.

The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) is the umbrella organization for a global federation of some 600+ animal welfare societies including RSPA (UK) and HSUS (USA). Our web site is: www.wspa.org.uk

Short Term Relief Programme (Earthquake 2005)

After the earthquake WSPA arranged disaster relief teams with qualified veterinary doctors for the animals’ help in disaster hit areas, Balakot, Bagh, Mansehra, Muzaffarabad, Rawala Kot, Shanghala and Bhatgharam. The teams visited the areas and stayed there for a span of ten days from October 14, 2005 to October 24, 2005. During the stay they treated thousands of animals; the detailed profile of relief work is well illustrated through the following table:

Area Animals Treated

Bala Kot, Mansehra 2853
Bagh 7400
Muzzafarabad 4562
Rawala Kot 1155
Shanghala, Bhatgharam 8521

Total Animals Treated 24, 491

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An injured mule treated by the WSPA veterinary team

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Vet operating on a cow

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Veterinary treatment was provided to all animals

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WSPA Relief Camp

Long Term Relief (Recovery)

WSPA aimed to provide long term relief to the animals in earth-quake affected areas. The people living in the disaster affected areas mainly depend upon animals for their endurance and continued existence. WSPA believes that animals are equally important as are human beings. In this respect WSPA proposed to develop a detailed and comprehensive plan for the animals in pain. In this regard an architect Mr. Samuel Price representing WSPA, UK visited Pakistan during late November to improve the design and management of disaster shelters; recognized that since many of the areas, inhabitants are dependent on animals to survive the winter, destruction of livestock shelters and veterinary facilities could worsen the crisis. They had developed small, lightweight frame structures designed for easy transportation, fabrication, modification and replication.

Dr. Tess N Sprayson (veterinary doctor) visited Pakistan from December 1, 2005 to December 22, 2005 to look after this recovery plan. During her stay she attended many meetings with the Director live stock in Islamabad, Director Earth-quake relief, Ministry of environment, Director live stock in NWFP and AJK etc.. As the outcome of these meetings following projects were approved to be done for the affected animals;

a) Veterinary Clinics
b) Mule /Donkey inpatient Facility
c) Provision of Veterinary Medicine

a. Veterinary Clinics

The provision of 32 prefabricated buildings for the temporary accommodation of a veterinary dispensary and personnel attached to the clinic. The siting of these buildings is left entirely to the Directors of Livestock discretion. However, these are provisionally distributed as follows:

NWFP:

• Mansehra district – 7 clinics
• Abbottabad district – 4 clinics
• Battagram district – 3 clinics
• Shangla district – 2 clinics

AJK:

• Muzzafarabad region – 10 clinics
• Rawalakot region – 2 clinics
• Bagh region– 4 clinics

The buildings are to be delivered and erected by the supplier, F.W. Fabrication Ltd (FWF).

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Floor plan of the 3 roomed prefabricated buildings

b. Mule /Donkey In patient Facility

At the request of the Director of Livestock, NWFP, WSPA will provide two buildings to be used for the purpose of in patient care of working equines used on the donkey/mule trains to areas inaccessible to vehicles.Each building will be constructed to the size of 40feet x 22feet and capable of housing between 4 – 6 animals (Annex D) whilst they recover from any injuries or wounds they may receive when working on the trains

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Design for the Equine In Patient Hospitals at Balakot and Kaghan
Dimensions: 40′ x 22′ and is to include 6 partitioned stalls of 10′ x 10′ for individual stalls and a treatment area.

c. Provision of Veterinary Medicine

The provision of 68 veterinary equipment, consumable and drug packs. These packs have been distributed in the regions at the discretion of the Directors of Livestock. The list of Medicines and the consumables provided in the disaster hit area is as follows;

Table 2 List of consumables provided to animals in earthquake affected area

ITEM NO. INCLUDED IN EACH PACK

EQUIPMENT

Trocar & cannula, small ruminant 1
Trocar & cannula, small ruminant 1
Scissors – curved 3
Scissors – straight 3
Hoof knives 2
Needles holders 2
Scalpel blade holders 2
Surgical needles – curved (12) 1
Surgical needles – straight (12) 1
Artery forceps/haemostats 4
Tissue forceps (serrated/rat toothed) 2
Tissue forceps (smooth) 1
Mouth gags 2
Stomach tubes 2
Teat Cannulas 2
Automatic vaccination guns 2
Embryotome & Wire 1
Fluid giving set 2
CONSUMABLES
Cotton Wool (100g) 48
Iodine tincture (450ml) 24
Iodine benzylco tincture (450ml) 10
Disposable syringes 2ml (box of 100) 2
Disposable syringes 5ml (box of 100) 6
Disposable syringes 10ml (box of 100) 10
Disposable syringes 20ml (box of 50) 6
Needles 14g (12) 10
Nedles 18g (12) 50
Needles 22g (12) 30
Disposable gloves 100 per box arm length 6
Disposable gloves 100 per box hand 10
Disposable gloves – sterile (per pair) 20
Bandage material 25
Cat gut (per pkt) 20
Nylon suture (per reel) 6
DRUGS -
Pen Strep (100mls) 6
Tylosin (100ml) 20
Amoxycillin LA (50mls) 30
Gentamycin (100mls) 6
Oxytetracycline (50mls) 30
B12 inj (50mls) 30
Corticosteroid (100mls) 3
Dipyrone/hysocine (50mls) 15
Phenylbutazone (50mls) 6
Xylazine (25mls) 6
Thiopentone (1g & dilutent) 3
Local anaesthetic (50mls) 6
Saline fluid therapy (1L) 10
Calcium (300 mls) 10
Sodium Phosphate Acid (Kg) 5
Gentamycin eye oitment (per tube) 30
Oxytetracyline spray (per can) 20
Dermatological cream (per tube) 30
Triclabendazole (flukicide) (500mls) 10
Ivomectin (50mls) 10
Neguvam (ectoparasites per kg) 3

Table 3 Equipment, Drugs and Consumables for Equine In Patient Hospitals at Balakot and Kaghan
(in addition to standard veterinary packs)

Item No. per hospital

Mouth Gag 1
Hoof knives 2
Stomach tube 1
Tissue Forceps 2
Haemostats 2
Scissors, curved 2
Scissors, straight 2
Fluid giving set 2
Cotton Wool(100g) 30
Iodine Tincture (450ml) 20
2ml syringes (per box) 1
5ml syringes (per box) 1
10ml syringes (per box) 2
Bandage material (ea) 20
Disposable gloves (hand, per box) 1
Sterile gloves (per pair) 20
Phenylbutazone – inj (50mls) 10
Tribrissen inj (50mls) 10
Tricin (TMS oral, 200mls) 20
Pen Step (100mls) 5
Dipyrone (50mls) 10
Local anaesthetic (50mls) 10
Oxytetracyclin spray 10
Gentamycin eye ointment 20
Rehydration therapy (1L) 30
Xylazine (25mls) 8
Dermatological cream (per tube) 20
Cat gut (per pack) 5
Nylon suture (per reel) 4
Ivomectin 5

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Ms. Sprayson shaking hands with the Director Livestock, AJK

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A view of prefabricated building set up in Muzzafarabad

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A stock of medicines provided for the clinics in the disaster affected area

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A stock of medicine provided for the equine clinics

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Medicines provided for the animals to Livestock Department, NWFP

Text and Photos courtesy WSPA

Two puppies were rescued by a team of veterinarians sent by Dr. I.H. Kathio from underneath a pile of rubble in Muzaffarabad. The veterinarians handed the puppies to a family who had lost family members in the earthquake.