Honda the donkey’s wounded ear

Honda the donkey works alongside his owner, Isaac, on a small farm in Chivi, a rural district in south-central Zimbabwe. The six-year-old donkey carries out many tasks for Isaac and his family, including ploughing and transporting produce.

One day, Honda suffered a nasty injury to his left ear. With no access to veterinary care and Isaac’s family struggling to survive one of the worst droughts in decades, Isaac tried to tend to Honda’s wound by himself. Despite his best efforts, Honda’s ear wouldn’t heal. Thankfully, Isaac heard about SPANA’s mobile veterinary clinic, which makes the difficult 400-mile journey from Zimbabwe’s capital city, Harare, once a month to treat sick and injured working animals in Chivi.

In regions facing drought, extreme conditions, and limited access to veterinary care, animals like Honda are the backbone of their communities. Yet, they endure tremendous challenges – facing malnutrition, dehydration, and injuries that often go untreated. Thanks to you, SPANA’s veterinary teams are able to reach these remote areas, offering the care these hardworking animals so desperately need. But to make a lasting difference for animals like Honda, we need to ensure that they always have access to vital care, even when in times of disaster. Your generosity brings us closer to that goal, and we are incredibly grateful for your support.