Animal Welfare: Life in the dump

These dumps are the tipping point for the local neighbourhoods’ refuse, and it’s the donkeys’ unrelenting work that makes this rubbish collection from across the city possible.  Under the scorching sun they stand around, eating cardboard and plastic bags before emptying cart loads of rubbish into trucks to be hauled out of the city.

On a recent visit with our vets I saw many heavily laden donkeys and several who fell over. It’s gruelling but critical work.  Sometimes they were lifted off their feet as the carts were turned and tipped out. I saw some donkeys with harnesses made from thin rope tied far too tight, resulting in wounds over their chest, withers and under the tail.  Thankfully many more had SPANA harnesses that our team distribute made of wide webbing, and these donkeys had no skin wounds. The difference is remarkable.   Also recent years of education seem to be paying off as only a few donkeys had beating wounds on the hind quarters; there was a time not too long ago when we would have seen many more of these.

Jane Harry BVSc MRCVS,

Veterinary Programme Advisor

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SPANA
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WC1N 2EB
UK

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UK