Animal welfare in low and middle income countries (LMICs) faces distinct challenges including veterinary capacity, economic pressures, different cultural contexts and different animal populations than in developed countries.
Animal welfare in the global south requires approaches that respect economic realities, cultural contexts and local priorities. Organisations that impose welfare standards without engaging with community needs and livelihood constraints typically fail to achieve lasting improvement. Effective welfare work in LMICs integrates veterinary capacity building, farmer education, economic incentive creation and genuine partnership with local communities. The welfare of working animals is inseparable from the welfare of the families that depend on them - overworked donkeys reflect poverty as much as cruelty, and welfare improvement requires addressing both.