When a donkey was suffering from an injured leg, vets in Kenya were on hand to ensure she received the treatment she needed.
Nairetoi, ‘meaning helper’, is a hardworking donkey from Kajiado County, in southern Kenya. Kajiado County is a dry area that, because of the climate crisis, is experiencing more frequent and intense weather, such as prolonged droughts.
Life would be very difficult for Nairetoi’s owner, Miriam, without her three-year-old donkey. Every day, Nairetoi helps Miriam transport water from a water point some distance from her home. This is an especially important role during the drought period. She also helps Miriam’s children travel to and from school and transport agricultural products to market.
Miriam took Nairetoi to a mobile clinic run by SPANA’s local partner in Kenya, Africa Network for Animal Welfare, because Nairetoi had started limping. The vets examined Nairetoi and discovered an open wound on her front left fetlock. They explained to Miriam that her donkey’s wound had been caused by the coarse rope used as Nairetoi’s hobble.
The vets set about treating Nairetoi’s wound. They cleaned it thoroughly, then applied a protective spray. They advised Miriam that Nairetoi should rest for a week until her wound was better and showed her how to keep the wound clean and dry during the healing process. The vets then explained to Nairetoi which materials were appropriate to use for harnessing and how to prevent similar wounds in future.
Miriam was delighted that the vets had been able to help Nairetoi. She said: ‘My donkey is important in generating income to feed my family and to take my children to school. I’m extremely grateful to the vets for their intervention.’
Globally, the climate crisis is leading to more extreme weather from heatwaves and droughts to flooding and landslides, putting the lives of working animals like Nairetoi at risk and threatening the livelihoods of communities. By treating Nairetoi, we have helped her return to her vital work – which is supporting the community in a period of drought.
That’s why SPANA is committed to providing emergency support – including veterinary care, food, water and shelter – to working animals during a crisis. Critically, we’re also helping communities build resilience against future climate-related disasters through emergency preparedness. Your continued support makes this all possible – thank you so much!
