Donkeys in developing countries face significant welfare challenges from overloading, poor harnessing, inadequate water, and lack of veterinary care, with welfare interventions demonstrating significant livelihood co-benefits.
Donkey welfare in developing world contexts is inseparable from human development. When a family's donkey is sick, injured, or overloaded to incapacity, the family loses their primary means of transport, water collection, and income generation. This creates a powerful alignment between animal welfare improvement and human wellbeing: treating injuries, fitting harnesses correctly, and providing access to veterinary care directly improves both the animal's welfare and the family's economic security. Organizations like Brooke and SPANA demonstrate this alignment repeatedly — communities that learn basic donkey welfare practices report improved animal welfare alongside improved livelihoods.