An estimated 40-50 million donkeys work across the developing world, carrying loads and supporting livelihoods. Their welfare is often severely compromised by poverty, lack of veterinary care, and overwork.
Working donkeys endure welfare challenges that are often invisible to those who do not encounter them directly. Harness sores, chronic lameness, dental neglect, inadequate water and feed, and overloading are all widespread. The poverty of the communities relying on these animals means that veterinary care is rarely accessible, and traditional beliefs sometimes perpetuate harmful practices. Yet donkeys are highly sentient animals with complex social bonds, emotional lives, and significant capacity for suffering. Effective welfare improvement requires community-centered approaches — working with donkey-owning families to provide practical, affordable solutions rather than imposing external standards. The welfare of the animals and the wellbeing of the families who depend on them are deeply intertwined.