An estimated 40 million working donkeys support the livelihoods of some of the world's poorest communities. Their welfare is deeply connected to human poverty, requiring integrated approaches that serve both animals and people.
Working donkey welfare requires welfare thinking that integrates the social, economic, and cultural context of the communities involved. Donkeys that are overloaded, wounded, or malnourished belong to people who are often themselves living in poverty, without access to veterinary care, quality harnesses, or reliable food and water supplies. Welfare interventions that work at scale in these contexts are not about blame but about practical support: better harness design, simple wound management training, community animal health workers, and market access for owners who improve their animals' welfare. The welfare of working donkeys is both an animal welfare issue and a development issue.