An estimated 40-50 million donkeys work in low and middle-income countries under conditions that cause chronic suffering from overloading, harness sores, and lack of veterinary care.
Working donkeys in low-income settings endure conditions that would be considered severe neglect by Western standards. Chronic overloading, inadequate water access, untreated wounds, and no veterinary care are the norm rather than the exception. Because donkey welfare is intertwined with human livelihoods, the most effective interventions combine welfare improvement with economic benefit to owners. The Donkey Sanctuary and Brooke animal welfare organizations have demonstrated that community-based programs achieve lasting welfare improvements when they address owner needs alongside animal welfare.