Donkeys provide essential draft power to millions of low-income farming families globally, and their welfare is inseparable from the livelihoods of the communities that depend on them.
Working donkey welfare in low-income settings requires approaches that recognise the inseparability of animal and human welfare. A harness that causes wounds prevents the donkey from working, which reduces the family income that depends on it. A donkey with dental disease cannot process food efficiently and loses condition that impairs working capacity. The welfare improvements that are most effective are those that demonstrate clear economic returns to the communities using working animals: properly fitted harnesses that prevent wounds, adequate water and rest periods that maintain condition, and basic veterinary care that extends working life. Organisations that invest in community education alongside veterinary access achieve lasting improvements because welfare aligns with owner self-interest.