The Donkey Sanctuary and similar organisations work globally to improve welfare for the estimated 40 million donkeys used as working animals, addressing training, harness, veterinary care, and end-of-life welfare.
Donkey welfare exists at the intersection of animal suffering and human poverty in a way that requires approaches distinct from high-income country companion animal welfare. Donkeys that are sick or lame are often worked anyway because their owners cannot afford veterinary care or the loss of their labour. Welfare improvement requires building trust with communities, demonstrating that better care improves working capacity and longevity, and providing affordable veterinary access. The ejiao trade has added a new dimension to donkey welfare, creating economic pressure to sell donkeys that supports short-term income but depletes the working animal populations that rural communities depend on.