Donkeys provide essential livelihoods for millions of people globally but suffer from overwork, poor nutrition, and lack of veterinary care in many low-income settings.
Working donkey welfare operates at the intersection of animal welfare, human livelihoods, and development policy. For the rural poor who depend on working donkeys for income and food security, donkey welfare is inseparable from human welfare: a sick or lame donkey means lost income, reduced food production, and increased poverty. This connection creates genuine common interest between welfare advocates and development organisations that is sometimes overlooked. The welfare problems affecting working donkeys, including harness sores from poor equipment, lameness from unmanaged hoof growth, and overloading, are largely preventable through training, improved equipment, and basic veterinary access. The additional threat from the global skin trade is accelerating donkey population decline in countries least able to manage the loss.