The Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad, SPANA, works in developing countries worldwide, providing free veterinary care to working animals. Last year, SPANA provided more than 376 151 vital veterinary treatments to such animals. There are more than 200 million working horses, donkeys, camels, elephants and other animals around the world performing vital roles. By doing the jobs of trucks, tractors and taxis, they help provide a small income for families in many of the poorest communities. Without SPANA, most of these animals would have no access to veterinary care when they are sick or injured, or their owners would have no means to pay for it.
The charity, formed in 1923, now works in more than 26 countries. Currently there are permanent veterinary programmes in nine countries, operating veterinary centres and mobile clinics from Morocco to Myanmar. And even more animals are reached across the world through outreach programmes, working with local partner organisations to fund vital care.
SPANA operates an emergency programme, enabling the charity to intervene in response to conflict and natural disasters to help animals and their owners in desperate need.
Additionally, SPANA runs a humane education programme to help schoolchildren overseas — the animal owners of the future — to develop feelings of compassion, empathy and respect for animals and help bring about long term improvements in their welfare. The charity's education programme now operates in 18 countries, reaching more than 63 969 schoolchildren every year.
The charity also delivers sustainable change through our community training programme, working with animal owners to address the root causes of welfare problems, rather than simply treating problems after they have arisen. The programme includes training in basic animal care skills, and community-led projects such as local harness production. It aims to change attitudes and behaviours, promoting humane treatment of animals and reducing preventable problems and the need for veterinary services.
Working animals perform a huge variety of tasks, depending on the local economy, geography and population. In cities or towns, horses, donkeys or mules are often used to pull a cart or carriage to transport people from place to place — an equine-powered taxi. Carts are also used to haul goods, such as fruit and vegetables, to sell at market, and even for delivering water door-to-door. Donkeys, especially, are frequently found working on construction sites, hauling heavy loads of bricks, concrete and other building materials.
SPANA aims to assist as many animals as possible through our veterinary programme, including our fleet of mobile clinics, which often travel vast distances to reach animals in remote rural locations.
The head office veterinary team regularly travels overseas to support and oversee our veterinary programmes and clinical standards, including providing professional development training to SPANA staff, vets and technicians. Additionally, SPANA trains veterinary students in clinical skills centres, equipping the veterinary surgeons of tomorrow with the skills, knowledge and practical experience to provide the best possible care to working animals. Increasing capacity and infrastructure in this way ensures sustainable, longterm improvements and that our reach is significantly extended.
Veterinary teams from SPANA encounter a wide range of common injuries and conditions. Some of these are entirely preventable, such as wounds caused by ill-suited harnesses, bits and saddles. Due to the high cost and lack of availability of appropriate equipment, working animal owners — who often struggle to support their families — can use whatever is available. Over time, the constant rubbing of a poorly-fitting saddle or tight harness can lead to painful sores and wounds, which can become very serious without proper treatment.
Other common problems include eye conditions, poor dentistry and foot problems, often exacerbated by a lack of trained farriers.
Vehicle collisions are not uncommon, as horses, donkeys and mules working on busy roads are very vulnerable to being struck by cars and trucks. Injuries caused by motor vehicle accidents are frequently treated by SPANA vets, and emergency surgery is often necessary.
Colic is another common condition that affects working equines in virtually all of the countries in which SPANA works. Sadly, malnutrition is another issue observed by SPANA staff across our countries of operation.
Many other illnesses and injuries are also treated; these vary in incidence by country and region. For instance, epizootic lymphangitis, a potentially deadly fungal infection, is extremely prevalent in Ethiopia but is seen only occasionally in other parts of Africa.
Veterinary teams are also heavily engaged in proactive veterinary care, such as providing vaccinations, as well as regular deworming treatments. In Marrakech, the local team oversee a licensing scheme for the caleche horses that transport tourists around the medina. The horses must be regularly inspected and passed as fit and healthy by SPANA vets, before they can be worked.
Working animals play an absolutely integral role in maintaining the livelihoods of some of the world's poorest communities, but their efforts and economic value often go entirely unnoticed. SPANA provides this silent workforce with the vital care they need and deserve.
