Mobile clinic support for Aly the donkey
Working animals like Aly are at the heart of communities across Mauritania. Aly, a four-year-old donkey from Nouakchott, spends long days delivering water to households that have no access to a piped supply. For his owner, 21-year-old Mettan, Aly is not only a working animal — he is the lifeline that enables him to support his elderly parents.
Every day, Aly pulls a heavy water cart over steep sand dunes for up to 12 hours. It is physically demanding work that takes a toll. When Aly became increasingly unwell, Mettan feared he might lose both his companion and his only source of income.
A working donkey in crisis
When our member charity SPANA’s mobile clinic arrived in their neighbourhood, Mettan brought Aly for urgent treatment. SPANA’s veterinary team quickly identified several serious issues affecting Aly’s welfare, including an infected wound caused by an ill-fitting harness, external parasites, and pain and inflammation from overwork. Aly was also showing clear signs of dehydration.
The team cleaned and treated Aly’s wounds, administered antiparasitic injections, and provided antibiotics and fluids. Anti-inflammatory medication helped ease Aly’s pain and accelerate his recovery.
Supporting working animals also means supporting their owners. SPANA’s team helped Mettan refit Aly’s harness to prevent rubbing injuries and advised him on giving Aly regular water and rest breaks throughout the day.
Mettan was deeply relieved: “I thank SPANA for coming to our neighbourhood and treating my donkey. He’s very important… this means a lot to me.”
How your support helps working animals worldwide
Your generosity didn’t just help Aly — it has made an enormous difference for working animals around the world during one of the hardest years in recent memory.
In February, severe flooding swept through Tanzania’s Nyarugusu Refugee Camp, leaving over 1,000 donkeys stranded in deep, contaminated water. Thanks to you, SPANA provided dry shelter, clean water, food and urgent vaccinations to protect donkeys from deadly disease.
In June, Kenya’s Turkana County was hit by a catastrophic drought. More than 10,000 donkeys and camels were in urgent need of feed and water. Your support helped deliver lifesaving emergency supplies and prevented unimaginable suffering.
Thank you for transforming the lives of working animals
Because of you, animals like Aly receive vital veterinary care, and owners like Mettan can continue supporting their families. Your compassion ensures working animals around the world are protected, treated, and valued.