Over 40 million donkeys provide essential work for rural communities worldwide, often in conditions that cause chronic pain, overwork, and preventable suffering.
Working donkey welfare represents one of the largest concentrated welfare problems in the world. These animals provide irreplaceable transport, agricultural, and livelihood services for some of the poorest communities globally, yet are frequently worked beyond their capacity, given inadequate nutrition and water, and receive no veterinary care. Their stoic nature means severe welfare problems go unrecognized by owners who have never been taught to identify them. Mobile veterinary clinics and owner education programs from organizations like The Donkey Sanctuary have demonstrated that welfare improvements are achievable and also improve donkey productivity — a genuine alignment of welfare and owner interest.