Families rely on animals
Families invest in a donkey, horse or mule in the same way that someone might buy a van or lorry. To make a living families need the animal to collect drinking water, carry farm produce to markets, or haul heavy loads. The income an owner makes from this buys food, clothes and sends the children to school.
But even if a family is lucky enough to own an animal and make an income from it, people often struggle to avoid falling deeper into poverty.
When a working animal falls sick or becomes injured, there rarely is a qualified vet nearby. If there is one, most people cannot afford the treatment. So, while the animal remains sick and untreated, it won’t be earning any money for the family. They will be going to bed hungry every night.
In pictures: Animals and their families at work
Case study: One mule and a family of ten
Living in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, Hammou Lahoussine supports his family of ten by renting his mule Baba to tourists to carry them up into the mountains.
When Baba caught his face on a door bolt, leaving a 25cm wound through his cheek, Hammou was incredibly worried, knowing he would loose his source of income and jeopardise the future of his family.
With no immediate veterinary care available and the visit of SPANA’s mobile clinic two weeks away, Hammou spent a week’s wages to bring Baba to our clinic in Marrakech, 70km away.
Our vet, Dr Boubker, cleaned and stitched up the wound before making Baba comfortable in our stables. The wound healed within two weeks and he was able to get back to work.
Having had to cope without his mule for two weeks, Hammou realised just how much he and his children depended on Baba. Once they were reunited everyone took great care of him.
Later that year Hammou even won a SPANA award for the great condition Baba was in.
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