Over 40 million donkeys work globally, often in developing country contexts where welfare awareness and resources are limited. Understanding their specific needs and common welfare problems enables targeted improvements for these stoic animals.
Working donkeys in low-income contexts often suffer from preventable conditions including harness wounds, hoof overgrowth causing lameness, dental disease causing poor nutrition, and chronic overloading. Their stoic nature means owners frequently underestimate their pain level. The Donkey Sanctuary's community-based welfare training programmes have demonstrated that simple, low-cost interventions including harness fitting, basic farriery, and dental rasping dramatically improve welfare. The ejiao trade presents an additional acute welfare crisis through the largely unregulated slaughter of working animals.