The Social Implications of Improved Animal Welfare 41
‘[We are] planning to reach nationally and internationally to teach people the
importance of this animal’
‘We want donkey savings and credit organizations/associations to be all over Kenya’
‘[Before] we hated the donkeys and we hated the owner. The donkey owners
are now people who are organized. They are people who have a future’.
These donkey welfare group leaders from Meru, Kenya, demonstrate how a
One Welfare approach can simultaneously help to tackle pressing challenges for
humans, animals and the environment, delivering impacts that go far beyond
what is possible from a silo approach.
(Case study copyright © Brooke)
Case Study 9. Continued.
Management of this subgroup of animals requires engagement with
owners at educational and preventative levels, and also with the commu-
nity to ensure there is an understanding of the essential value they provide
(FAO/Brooke, 2011). To support this work it is necessary to build up liaison
networks with government agencies, animal welfare organizations, inter-
national development departments and environmental organizations, all of
which are often not engaged in the process.
It is also important to continue work to develop globally recognized
human welfare and poverty indicators; however, the connection with animal
Image credit: Brooke East Africa.
KENDAT are working with the Meru donkey owner’s groups to build on the
progress made so far, as illustrated in the image above, with a key focus over
the next few years on developing a better cart and harness design.
