14 June 2025: New findings released today (14 June 2025) ahead of International Working Animal Day on 15 June, reveal that if the UK were hit by a major drought, the British public would prioritise drinking water for pets over showering, washing clothes or cleaning the house, second only to drinking water for their household.
The survey, commissioned by SPANA (The Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad), also revealed that 84 per cent of British people say that they would share water supplies with their pets if faced with drought (1).
With the Met Office warning that a hotter than normal summer is twice as likely in the UK this year (2), concern about the climate crisis is growing. Many countries at the sharp end of the climate crisis are already experiencing more frequent droughts and water scarcity.
Deciding how to ration limited water during a drought has become a harsh reality, with people carefully dividing scarce supplies between their family, crops and working animals such as horses, donkeys, mules, camels and oxen. At the same time, climate change is also increasing the frequency and severity of flooding in some regions, further threatening water supplies.
This International Working Animal Day, global animal welfare charity SPANA is urging governments to prioritise inclusive water services that meet the needs of working animals and the people who depend on them. The charity calls for effective water management strategies, like multiple-use water service schemes, to ensure fair and reliable access for all.
Linda Edwards, Chief Executive of SPANA, explains:
‘Millions of people across the world depend on working animals for farming, transport and daily survival – especially in regions hardest hit by poverty and climate stress. They are the unsung heroes of the water crisis, transporting water from sources such as pumps and wells to communities. Yet, their essential contribution is too often overlooked.’
Cheikhny, 30, lives in Nouakchott, Mauritania’s capital. He supports his wife and two children by transporting water for the local community using a three-year-old donkey. His donkey carries heavy containers across sandy terrain and dunes, with no paved paths or shaded rest stops, often working nine to 10 hours a day. In Nouakchott, donkeys typically pull a cart holding two drums of water, weighing around 400kg.
When Cheikhny saw his donkey was unwell with external parasites and multiple infected skin wounds caused by poor harnessing, he brought him to a SPANA mobile clinic for help.
The SPANA team treated the donkey with an anti-inflammatory pain relief injection, antibiotics and an anti-parasitic injection and advised Cheikhny on care, including rest, lighter loads, a padded and properly fitting harness and improved diet. Cheikhny says:
‘My donkey is important. Without him, I can’t earn money. My children wouldn’t have food. He’s my partner in work. People told me that SPANA treat animals well, and it’s true. As soon as I arrived, they took care of him.’
Iman Bechir, Social and Behaviour Change Communication Officer, for SPANA in Mauritania, says:
‘In Mauritania, many working animals live in extremely difficult conditions. The climate is arid, and access to running water is limited due to a lack of infrastructure. We see many animals suffering from dehydration, heatstroke and extreme fatigue. With a critical shortage of vets in Mauritania, many animals would not survive without SPANA’s support.’
SPANA and its local partners around the world support working animals and communities affected by the water crisis. They provide veterinary care, work with communities to improve understanding of animal welfare, and install or rehabilitate vital water infrastructure, such as boreholes, that communities can manage sustainably.
Despite the devastating impact, the survey found that one in three (33 per cent) of the British public were not aware that working animals experience thirst and heat stress due to the climate crisis. Yet this issue causes half of Brits (50 per cent) to feel sad, and a quarter to feel angry (24 per cent) and frustrated (20 per cent).
This gap between awareness and compassion highlights the need to raise understanding of the issues faced by working animals and the communities that depend on them – a core aim of International Working Animal Day, held each year on 15 June.
In 2024, SPANA and its local partners worked across 22 countries to help 486,746 working animals, provide training for 117,212 animal owners and teach 112,690 children about animal welfare.
To help working animals affected by the water crisis, please consider donating to our appeal via SPANA’s website.
SPANA is the charity for the working animals of the world, transforming the lives of horses, donkeys, mules and camels in need. Founded in 1923, the charity improves the welfare of working animals by ensuring the treatment and care of animals, training animal owners and teaching children about animal welfare. Please see the charity’s website, www.spana.org, for more information.
