A CHARITY improving the difficult lives of working horses, donkeys and mules has marked its 90th anniversary.

Brooke was set up by Salisbury-born Dorothy Brooke who was living in Egypt when she found hundreds of emaciated ex-warhorses wandering the streets having been abandoned after World War One.

Dorothy vowed to do whatever it took to ease the suffering of these animals, writing a letter to The Morning Post (now The Daily Telegraph) exposing their plight.

The British public were so moved, Dorothy received £20k in today’s money to establish the Old War Horse Memorial Hospital in Cairo in 1934. Over the next three years, Dorothy purchased five thousand ex-warhorses to care for.

Salisbury Journal: Old Bill - one of the first war horses rescued by Dorothy in 1931.Old Bill - one of the first war horses rescued by Dorothy in 1931. (Image: The Brooke)

Today, Dorothy’s legacy continues, as Brooke works in 13 countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America, protecting working animals who are the backbone of communities in the developing world.

Reaching 10k communities and 5k animal health service providers, Brooke makes long-lasting, positive changes to the health of vulnerable horses and donkeys.

A spokesperson for Brooke said the charity will "continue to inspire generations of animal welfare champions and help give working animals a life worth living".

For more information about Brooke’s history, visit thebrooke.org/about-us/our-history.