This image shows a donkey at a brick kiln whose front and back legs are hobbled together.
This stoic donkey’s bound legs are a sobering reminder of the barbaric restraints still used on animals forced to work.

There were plenty of hobbles among the 205 torture devices the team recently confiscated. These cruel constraints can cause serious injury—from open wounds if tied too tightly to dislocated joints and broken bones should the weary victim collapse or try to run. When visiting a brick kiln to provide free veterinary care, staff removed the ropes from this fellow and educated his owner about compassionate alternatives, such as using human oversight to monitor without physical restraint. The conversation doesn’t end there—it’s a foot in the door to talking about mechanization and putting an end to forced labor and allowing these gentle animals to retire in peace.