An estimated 40 million donkeys work as beasts of burden worldwide, often in conditions that cause chronic pain and shortened lives.
Donkey welfare is a significant but underrecognized issue in international development. Working donkeys are often family assets, meaning welfare improvements must be economically viable for owners. The Donkey Sanctuary and Brooke Animal Hospital have shown that basic welfare training for owners improves both animal welfare and productivity simultaneously — a powerful model for sustainable change.