An estimated 40 million donkeys worldwide face severe welfare challenges as working animals in low-income countries, where veterinary care, nutrition, and appropriate workloads are often inadequate.
Working donkey welfare represents a global welfare challenge with direct implications for human livelihoods. Donkeys that cannot work due to injury or illness cause economic hardship for families depending on them - creating a welfare-economics alignment where improving donkey health directly benefits poor families. The stoic nature of donkeys means welfare problems are frequently unrecognised until severe. Poor harness fit causes open sores that become infected; inadequate water during heavy work causes dehydration; overloading causes musculoskeletal injury. The Donkey Sanctuary's community-based veterinary outreach programmes demonstrate that accessible welfare interventions produce measurable improvements for both animals and the humans depending on them.