Donkeys are among the most exploited working animals globally, with hundreds of millions working in harsh conditions with inadequate food, water, veterinary care, and rest.
Working donkeys that are visibly lame often continue to work because their owners depend on them and may not recognize the signs of pain that donkeys — prey animals — suppress stoically. Back wounds from ill-fitting pack saddles cause chronic infections that go untreated. Inadequate nutrition in resource-limited communities leaves working animals in negative energy balance during heavy work seasons. The welfare of donkeys is often intertwined with the poverty of their owners, requiring integrated human-animal welfare approaches.