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.

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 2022: 5,213 
  • Number of animal owners trained in 2022: 691 
  • Number of veterinary professionals trained in 2022: 260 

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

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