All over the world animals are put to work helping to provide livelihoods for millions of families, roughly 200 million animals do the jobs of trucks, tractors and taxis. Since 1923 SPANA (The society for the protection of working animals abroad) has been the charity for the working animals that over half a billion people rely on.
In 26 countries SPANA provide free veterinary care to horses, donkeys, mules, camels, elephants and other animals. In the last year alone SPANA treated over 376,151 working animals. The charity also works on improving the welfare of working animals in three ways: free veterinary treatment, education and training along with emergency and outreach projects.
Even though working animals are crucial to the communities that they support, they all to often endure awful working conditions, they carry backbreaking loads, in extreme heat and with ill-fitting equipment. With little to no access to food, water and shelter that they so desperately need they face a variety of problems that will cause them pain and suffering such as infectious diseases, dental and hoof issues and lameness.
In majority of cases there is no veterinary care available to the animals and in other cases the care that is available is simply unaffordable for the owners to pay for.
To help ensure a better future for working animals SPANA work with school children overseas to build empathy and promote a positive attitude towards all animals. This fantastic project has reached more than 63,969 children in developing countries. SPANA also work with animal owners in the local communities to help change attitudes and behaviour and promote humane treatment of the animals and teaching the owners how to reduce preventable problems.
SPANA have created a short film which features working camels at the brick kilns in India, donkeys transporting people, goods, food, water and firewood in Ethiopia and working Donkeys that haul rubbish on the towering dumps in Bamako, Mali.
SPANA receives no government funding and relies completely on donations to continue their work improving the welfare of working animals around the world.
For more information please visit- spana.org