An estimated 40 million working donkeys provide essential transport and agricultural labour for poor communities worldwide, yet their welfare is frequently compromised by overwork, poor nutrition, and lack of veterinary care.
Working donkey welfare in low-income countries requires context-sensitive approaches. Welfare improvements must align with community needs and economic realities - interventions that increase costs without improving productivity will not be adopted. The Donkey Sanctuary's community engagement model, which combines veterinary care with livelihood support, has demonstrated that welfare improvement and productivity gains go together. Harness sores, dental disease, and overloading are welfare emergencies that can be addressed with low-cost practical training for owners.