When Dango the donkey started limping, SPANA vets in Ségou, Mali, were on hand to treat his overgrown hoof.
Dango transports goods around the busy town of Ségou, in Mali. The eight-year-old donkey hauls a cart laden with produce for up to seven hours a day for his owner, Abdoulaye – often covering long distances. Abdoulaye would not be able to earn a basic living without his loyal donkey.
One day, while pulling his heavy cart through Ségou’s hot, dusty streets, Dango started favouring his left front leg. As the day wore on, Abdoulaye became increasingly worried for his donkey. Dango was walking much slower than usual and would not put his full weight on his right front leg. Dango needed help before his discomfort increased or, worse, he became severely lame.
Luckily, Abdoulaye knew that the SPANA mobile veterinary clinic was in town. The mobile clinic had travelled 150 miles from Bamako, the capital of Mali, to make its regular monthly visit. He took Dango along the very next morning.
At the mobile clinic, SPANA vets quickly diagnosed Dango’s problem – his right front hoof was overgrown and distorted, making walking difficult. As well as being uncomfortable and painful, overgrown hooves can lead to health issues, such as abnormal or additional strain on tendons, ligaments, muscles and joints further up the leg.
The vets got to work straight away by the side of the busy street. Using professional farriery tools, they carefully trimmed Dango’s hoof to correct the overgrowth. His other hooves were also checked and trimmed to ensure they were in a good condition.
Abdoulaye was very happy with the vital treatment his donkey received. He said: ‘I would not be able to work without Dango. Thank you SPANA for making my donkey better.’
There are many thousands of working animals in need in Ségou, just like Dango. Thanks to the ongoing kindness of our supporters, we hope to build a permanent veterinary centre in Ségou to provide free treatment to working animals in a clean and secure environment. Sick and injured animals requiring specialist or long-term treatment will be able to stay and rehabilitate at the centre. We will also have a dedicated space to teach animal owners and children how to care for their animals.
Thank you for your continued dedication to working animals throughout 2021. Our work would not be possible without your help, and we are so grateful for your support.
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