Next step in vision to end working equine suffering
THE Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad (SPANA) has announced an “ambitious” new five-year plan as it works towards its ultimate vision of ending suffering for all working animals.
The charity revealed its aims: to help more animals, extend its work to more countries, and “deliver a better future for working animals and communities across the developing world” at a House of Lords reception on 8 March.
Chief executive Geoffrey Dennis said some of the “key themes and ambitions” of the strategy are “treat, teach and train”, as the charity expands its veterinary care, community training and education.
“Last year we treated more than 260,000 animals, from donkeys pulling towers of stinking rubbish to elephants,” he said.
“We eased suffering and distributed equipment to keep animals free from pain. But it’s heartbreaking to think of the millions of animals sick, injured and lame, with no hope of seeing a vet. There are more than 200 million working animals and only the lucky ones have access to veterinary care — we won’t rest until we’ve changed that.”
Mr Dennis said SPANA provides veterinary care in nine
“core” countries, with outreach projects in more, but this number is to expand to 15 core and “many more” outreach countries.
It also aims to reach more owners, improve their animal care skills, invest in training local vets in core countries, and “realign” its children’s education programme.
“As many as one billion people rely on working animals, and many think of them as little more than tools, to be worked to exhaustion,” he said.
“Our aim is to reach them before those attitudes get fixed.”
SPANA will also prioritise spending as effectively as possible, supporting animals and owners affected by emergencies and working with local, national and international agencies as a “champion for working animals” and those who depend on them.
SPANA’s Botswana country director Pippa Young described the work she has been carrying out, including dealing with the Chinese demand for donkey skins in traditional medicine ejiao.
“Whole donkey herds are being wiped out,” she said, adding that SPANA has helped implement a ban on donkeys’ export.
“People are offered £50 for a donkey, a huge amount, but don’t realise the donkeys earn much more. We’re trying to teach them.
“If you can help animals, the people have more ability to help themselves, and in the long term, we can help reduce poverty.”
Charity president Lord Rupert de Mauley praised SPANA’s projects for the “everyday miracles day in, day out, across the world”.
“We can’t rest while millions of working animals are still suffering without our help,” he added. “[We hope] these plans will promise a better future for them.”