Harness wounds cause working animals terrible distress
In many countries where we work, harness wounds are some of the most common conditions seen by SPANA veterinary teams. For working animals, these injuries are agonising and can be life threatening.
In places where well-made harnesses are hard to come by, owners often have no choice but to make do with what they have, using materials like plastic, wire or rough ropes. As a result, our veterinary teams are overwhelmed by the growing number of working animals whose necks and backs have been rubbed raw by rough straps and unbearable weights. But this is entirely preventable.
In Mauritania and beyond, our teams are providing lifesaving veterinary care to treat these injuries. But more than that, we’re offering essential training to teach owners how to create safe, well-fitting harness padding that will protect their animals from being hurt in the future.
These harnesses can be made using locally available materials, and learning to make them can even generate income, supporting families and boosting the local economy while improving animal welfare.
Will you donate today to stop this suffering and give working animals the care they deserve?
Amou’s agonising harness wounds
Amou is a six-year-old donkey from Mali who helps his owner, Yaya, earn a small income by transporting refuse to the dumps. Day after day, Amou pulls his cart using a poorly fitting neckband that rubs his skin raw, leaving a painful open wound.
As he works, the wound becomes worse and increasingly at risk of infection. In hot and humid climates where bacteria thrive, untreated harness wounds can quickly turn deadly. Even small injuries can become gateways for serious infections such as tetanus – a disease which can cause a slow and painful death.
Fortunately, Yaya knew to take Amou to the mobile clinic team that regularly visits the dumps. The sore on Amou’s neck was red and raw, and he flinched whenever the vets tried to touch him.
The team gently cleaned his injury, applied a soothing ointment and gave him pain relief to ease his suffering.
With guidance from our team, Yaya added soft padding to Amou’s harness and a breeching strap to his cart so that it would no longer slam into Amou’s back and risk injuring him when it came to a stop.
Harness wounds cause unbearable pain in working animals, but they are preventable. With your support, SPANA can provide urgent treatment, safer harnessing equipment and develop the animal welfare knowledge of owners, sparing animals like Amou from a lifetime of misery.
Will you donate today to prevent harmful harness wounds and deadly infections?
Your donation can make a real difference for working animals around the world
As well as providing urgent treatment, our veterinary teams work with local people to transform the lives of working animals. Many owners aren't aware of the devastating effects of ill-fitting harnesses on working animals. With SPANA’s help, people around the world are coming together to help end the cycle of suffering for good.
Thank you
Your generous donations will be used for projects such as those featured in this appeal and where they are required the most to help animals in need. We would be so grateful for whatever you can give to this vital appeal. Thank you.
