Working donkeys that can no longer work face a welfare crisis in many countries, with few retirement options and cultural norms that lead to abandonment or sale for slaughter.
Working donkey retirement welfare reflects a cruel irony: animals that have served their communities for decades face abandonment or slaughter when they can no longer work. The ejiao trade has intensified this vulnerability by creating a financial market for donkey hides that incentivises selling rather than caring for animals who have outlived their working utility. Sanctuary provision for retired donkeys -- those who have been faithful working companions for families at the poverty line -- is both a welfare need and an expression of basic reciprocity. Organisations working in this space understand that sustainable retirement welfare requires community engagement alongside direct care.