Well meaning owners think they are helping their faithful animals by having their nostrils slit. The Brooke works with communities to dispel the myths surrounding some traditional treatments such as nostril slitting which are passed from generation to generation.

Allah Ditta, a brick kiln worker from Pakistan, took his donkey to a local healer to have his nostrils slit because he had heard it would help his animal work better and breathe more easily. He was horrified with what happened:

"Blood was everywhere, my donkey was in terrible pain."

Allah rushed his donkey to a Brooke veterinary clinic. A Brooke vet, Dr Rab Nawaz quickly alleviated the poor donkey's pain and gave him emergency veterinary treatment. He also advised Allah that nostril slitting caused nothing but distress to a donkey and could put an animal in serious danger.

It's education and training that will save working horses and donkeys from mutilations based on traditional beliefs. With your help we can put an end to this miserable and unnecessary practice, and provide emergency treatment to the victims who need us.

A five day course of treatment for tetanus costs £3.50. A week's supply of painkillers costs £13. Running a community training session to teach owners kinder ways to treat their animals costs £40. Please set up your regular gift today.

For more information about the Brooke and their work with horses and donkeys and their owners overseas, read our FAQs.