World Vet Day

Throughout the pandemic, people have worried about their pets: not being able to train them properly, give them the outside time they crave, or seek much-needed advice from veterinary professionals.

However, it’s not just the welfare of UK animals that deserve our attention. It’s also those animals that are out of sight and inevitably out of our minds.

The impact of the pandemic is having a disproportionate impact on developing countries, with devastating consequences for working animals in the world’s poorest communities. Lockdowns, restrictions on movement and the collapse of tourism have left many people with no work or income. Owners have been unable to feed their families, let alone their animals, leaving many working animals struggling simply to survive.

It’s estimated between five and 20 people depend on each working animal, including horses, donkeys, mules, camels and elephants, with these animals supporting more than 600 million globally, according to research by SPANA (the Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad).

Aston spoke to Dr Ben Sturgeon, director of veterinary services at SPANA to talk about the care that SPANA provides for those animals who are so easily forgotten, to uncover the small part we can all play in creating a better world for working animals and their owners across the world.