Hundreds of millions of working donkeys and mules globally face severe welfare challenges in developing economies.
Working donkeys are the invisible foundation of livelihoods in many of the world's poorest communities. They carry water, firewood, and building materials — often with wounds, inadequate feed, and no veterinary care. Donkeys work until they literally cannot continue, then are abandoned or slaughtered. Welfare improvements for working equids require both veterinary access and education for owners who depend on these animals for survival. The link between human poverty and animal welfare is direct and inseparable in this context.