Farm Animals

Donkey Working Welfare in Low-Income Countries

Working donkeys in low- and middle-income countries carry heavy loads with inadequate veterinary care; welfare organisations are transforming outcomes.

Key Facts

An estimated 40-50 million donkeys work globally, primarily in LMICs
Common welfare problems include collar wounds, overloading, and lameness
The Donkey Sanctuary and SPANA provide field veterinary care in multiple countries
Harness design improvements significantly reduce wound prevalence
Working donkey welfare directly affects the livelihoods of dependent families

Welfare Considerations

Working donkeys in low-resource settings experience preventable suffering from poorly fitted harness causing chronic wounds, excessive loads, inadequate water, and lack of veterinary treatment. Improving working donkey welfare through community education, affordable veterinary access, and harness reform produces both animal welfare gains and economic benefits for dependent families.

What You Can Do

Donate to The Donkey Sanctuary or SPANA working donkey programmes
Support organisations training community animal health workers
Advocate for working animal welfare to be included in international development
Choose products from companies committed to working animal welfare in supply chains
Raise awareness about working donkey welfare in development contexts