An estimated 40 million donkeys work in low- and middle-income countries under conditions that cause chronic pain and shortened lives due to inadequate veterinary care and overwork.
Working donkeys underpin agricultural economies in dozens of countries but receive minimal recognition and care. Chronic pain from harness wounds, hoof neglect, and overloading impairs both welfare and productivity. Veterinary education programs and harness design improvements deliver simultaneous welfare and livelihood benefits that resonate with working animal owners.