A man wearing a green coat standing with his working horse. The horse is carrying tree logs on its back.
A man wearing a green coat standing with his working horse. The horse is carrying tree logs on its back.

Helping working animals in Iraq

Iraqi Kurdistan has a troubled history, and its population has survived conflict, isolation and poverty. Working animals in the region suffer from poor husbandry, even though they are relied on for work ranging from shepherding and agriculture to transportation and construction. SPANA is working there to provide vital veterinary care to donkeys and horses in desperate need.

A man feeding a donkey a syringe of yellow liquid while another man holds the donkey still

Iraq at a glance

  • Population: 5.1 million 
  • Area: 40,643 square km 
  • Location: Middle East 
  • Capital city: Erbil 
  • Number of mobile clinics: One 
  • Number of working animals treated in 2023: 4,479 
  • Number of animal owners trained in 2023: 441 
  • Number of veterinary professionals trained in 2023: 580 

Our work in Iraq

SPANA’s mobile clinic visits isolated, rural communities and regularly travels long distances to treat working animals in need of lifesaving veterinary care. Three quarters of the animals we treat every year are donkeys. The main problems they face are internal and external parasites, harness wounds and severe wounds.

We also provide essential training to animal owners and veterinary professionals to improve animal welfare.

Other countries we work in

Camel pulling a large cart full of wooden logs

Helping Working Animals in India

Discover how SPANA is helping working animals across India.

Donkey carrying four large containers with a man wearing a white shirt walking alongside it

Helping working animals in Tunisia

Find out more about how SPANA helps working animals in Tunisia.

Camel pulling a large cart full of wooden logs

Helping Working Animals in India

Discover how SPANA is helping working animals across India.

Donkey carrying four large containers with a man wearing a white shirt walking alongside it

Helping working animals in Tunisia

Find out more about how SPANA helps working animals in Tunisia.