Donkeys are stoic animals that mask pain extremely well. Their welfare needs differ significantly from horses and require specialized knowledge to address effectively.
Working donkeys in low-income countries experience some of the most severe welfare problems of any domestic animal population. Overloaded beyond their physical capacity, harnesses that cause open sores, inadequate nutrition, and complete lack of veterinary care are the norm rather than the exception for hundreds of millions of working donkeys globally. These animals continue working through injuries and illnesses that would immediately retire a horse, because their owners depend on them for survival and have no resources for veterinary care. Their stoic nature means even significant pain goes unrecognized. Improving working donkey welfare requires combining practical veterinary access programs with education about donkey-specific behavioral pain indicators and appropriate harness fitting.