The Donkey Sanctuary operates globally to improve welfare for 50+ million working donkeys in developing countries through veterinary training, community programmes and policy advocacy.
Working donkey welfare in developing countries represents one of the largest but least visible animal welfare challenges globally. Millions of donkeys providing essential transport and agricultural labour in low-income countries work with untreated injuries, excessive loads, inadequate nutrition and no access to veterinary care. The Donkey Sanctuary's approach — training local vets and farriers, educating communities, improving harness design — addresses welfare at scale within economic and social realities. Each veterinary training session multiplies welfare benefit across entire communities and their working animals for years.