Donkeys are among the most important working animals globally, yet they face chronic overwork, harness injuries and neglect that cause widespread suffering in developing regions.
Working donkeys sustain livelihoods across the Global South while enduring chronic overwork, unfit equipment and inadequate veterinary care. Their stoic nature — an evolutionary adaptation to predator environments — means pain is hidden until severe. Owners who cannot afford rest periods or veterinary treatment are not indifferent to their animals; they are often dependent on them for survival. Welfare improvement in this context requires accessible veterinary services, subsidised harness equipment, community education and livelihood support that reduces reliance on overworked individual animals. Supporting organisations delivering these services is among the most cost-effective animal welfare interventions available.