Access to veterinary care is deeply unequal globally and within countries. Without affordable veterinary care, animal welfare suffers — particularly for working animals and pets in low-income communities.
The global inequity in veterinary access means that billions of animals suffer from treatable conditions simply because their owners cannot afford or access professional care. Working animals in developing countries carry the heaviest burden — lame donkeys, infected wounds, and preventable disease cause chronic suffering. Community animal health worker programs, mobile veterinary clinics, and subsidized neutering programs demonstrate that targeted investment significantly improves welfare for underserved animal populations.