Brick Kilns: Heavy Loads. Horrific Heat. Little Hope.

Working animals in brick kilns are at risk of injury and disease.

In the brick kilns of India, working animals suffer in silence.

In India’s brick kilns, thousands of donkeys and mules are quietly enduring unimaginable hardship every day. These animals work tirelessly, carrying heavy loads of bricks across rocky terrain in intense heat, often without proper nutrition, hydration, or care.

Many of these animals have injuries and wounds caused by poorly fitting harnesses, but with no access to veterinary care, these injuries go untreated, leading to infections like tetanus and sepsis, both life threatening.. They work for hours, day after day, without hope of relief.

That’s where SPANA comes in.

Our mobile clinics are ready to bring life saving treatment to animals in need. But without your support, we cannot reach them. We need your help to make sure that more animals get the urgent care they deserve.

By donating today, you will help us:

Expand our reach to more brick kilns.
Provide immediate medical treatment to sick and injured animals.
Offer nutritional support to help malnourished animals regain their strength.
Train owners in safe harnessing to prevent pain and injuries.

Will you donate to stop get them the medical care they need?

Dholu the donkey receives care from one of our vets at a brick kiln in india

Dohlu receives care from a SPANA vet. Without treatment, Dholuwould be forced to work in pain and be at risk of disease.

Dholu’s story

Every day, Dholu helps to carry heavy loads of bricks under the blistering heat of a brick kiln in Gujarat, India. His owner, Dalpat, relied on him to work tirelessly for hours, hauling bricks from one place to another. But the work took a brutal toll on Dholu’s body.

The harsh harness that dug deep into his skin caused painful, open wounds that refused to heal. With every load he carried, the burden grew heavier. Dholu’s body became weaker, his ribs clearly visible beneath his fur as he struggled to stay on his feet. The weight of the bricks and the constant pain made every step a battle.

Dalpat could see that something was terribly wrong. Dholu wasn’t the strong, vibrant donkey he once was. His suffering was visible, he was exhausted, malnourished, and in constant pain. Without help, Dholu’s situation would only get worse, and Dalpat feared he might lose his loyal companion.

Then Dalpat remembered the SPANA mobile clinic, which had started visiting brick kilns in the area and knew he had to act fast. Without immediate treatment, Dholu’s suffering could reach a point where he’d never recover.

Dalpat rushed Dholu to the clinic, and when the SPANA vets saw him, they didn’t waste a second. Dholu was in critical condition. His wounds were cleaned and treated to prevent any infection from taking hold. He was rehydrated and given nutritional supplements to build up his strength and begin the healing process.

But Dholu’s problems ran deeper than just exhaustion and malnutrition. The vets discovered that Dholu was suffering from parasitic infections, a dangerous condition that could have been fatal if left untreated.

How the SPANA team treated Dholu

The team quickly administered anti-parasitic medication to clear the infection and stop it from spreading.

Most importantly, they identified that the rough, poorly fitting harness was a major factor in Dholu’s suffering. The vets worked with Dalpat to replace the harness with a softer, safer one that wouldn’t cause further injury, easing Dholu’s pain with every step.

As days passed, Dholu’s health began to improve. The pain that had weighed him down for so long was starting to fade. His strength returned, and his wounds slowly healed. For the first time in months, Dholu could carry his load without agony.

But Dholu’s story is not unique. Hundreds of donkeys and mules working in India’s brick kilns endure this kind of suffering every day. They don’t have access to care, and they can’t wait for help.

Will you give now to help save lives like Dholu’s? Thank you so much.