Working donkeys provide livelihoods for millions of people in developing countries but often suffer from overwork, inadequate veterinary care, harness injuries, and malnutrition.
Working donkey welfare reflects a complex intersection of poverty, culture, and animal welfare. Owners who cannot afford veterinary care or quality feed often work donkeys beyond their capacity, not from cruelty but from economic necessity. Harness designs in many regions cause chronic pressure wounds that become infected and severely painful. Overloading causes musculoskeletal injuries and exhaustion. Water deprivation during long working days causes dehydration and metabolic stress. Community-based veterinary outreach by organizations like The Donkey Sanctuary improves welfare while maintaining the working role that supports family livelihoods. Addressing donkey welfare requires engaging with owner communities to identify practical, affordable welfare improvements rather than simply condemning existing practices.