October News Round-Up

Amazon under pressure to ban donkey skin products

Animal welfare groups, including Brooke in the USA , have delivered over 370,000 petition signatures to Amazon, to ban its sale of donkey skin products.

A coalition gathered at Amazon’s Virginia headquarters on 16 October 2024 to deliver the petition, asking the organisation to stop selling ejiao, a gelatine made from donkey hides used in cosmetic products.?

"Amazon must set the example and remove all products containing ejiao from its online platform." - Jim Hamilton DVM, Chairman of Brooke USA

A global movement has been launched by Brooke USA to stand against Amazon’s sale of eijao. ?

Brooke is?calling for a global ban on the trade, including the enforcement of current bans and a crackdown on cross-border trade.?

Brooke launches virtual learning platform for equine vets in developing countries

Brooke is inviting vets and animal health professionals to its new online learning platform, to boost equine welfare knowledge.?

The Academy for Working Equids (AWE) platform will help provide vets with equal access to animal welfare education in low-resource settings, including low and middle-income countries.?

Animal health professionals are often the most trusted source of welfare advice to communities globally. Improving access to training allows them to offer better advice to owners, who in turn can support their animals.??

Dr Laura Skippen discusses benefits of the Academy for Working Equids (AWE)

Dr. Laura Skippen, Head of Animal Health and Welfare at Brooke, has also written a blog introducing Brooke's virtual learning platform.

This platform is uniquely aimed at providing training on practical animal welfare and working equid management in low-resource settings, with a focus on making learning manageable for busy vets amongst their routine work. ?

A recent study by the United Nations found most veterinary paraprofessionals in low- and middle-income countries can access online learning via smart phones, so all our training has been developed with this in mind. ?

"Improving access to training will help them (vets) offer better advice to owners, who in turn can better support their animals."

The same research indicated that online learning was especially important in helping women to access education, with more female than male paraprofessionals more likely to own a phone.?

These women often have many other roles to play in their household, and attending training can be a huge barrier in terms of cost and time - one we hope the AWE will overcome.

Rory Bremner and Annette Badland will attend Brooke’s Christmas carols

Brooke is inviting people to its festive carol service in London this Christmas, with guests including comedian Rory Bremner and Ted Lasso actress, Annette Badland.?

Brooke will host the service at the Royal Military Chapel (or the Guards’ Chapel) in Westminster on 12 December, to mark the charity's 90th anniversary of improving the lives of working horses, donkeys and mules globally.

Guests can listen to a performance from the Guards’ Chapel Choir and readings from special guest speakers, including Rory, with Annette and some four-legged mascots in attendance.??

The service will take place from 6.30-7.30pm, with a drinks and festive nibbles reception for VIP ticketholders at 5pm.??

Tickets for the carol service are available from ￡27.80 on Eventbrite here .?

Contact [email protected] for any queries.