World Animal Day 2026

From extreme weather and heavy loads, to busy roads, plastic pollution and untreated injuries, working animals face a range of challenges in their everyday lives.

At Working Animals International, we know that by seeing the world through their eyes we can better understand how best to support their welfare. And that this understanding shapes how we work.

Alongside communities and local partners, we work to improve access to veterinary care, equip owners with the knowledge and skills to care for their animals, and advocate for global policies and systems that recognise and protect working animals. And, should disaster strike, we can be there for the working animals who are often forgotten in times of crisis through our emergency intervention work.

Every day, Dima pulls a “gharry” taxi through the dusty roads of rural town of Adami Tulu, Ethiopia. He carries people to markets, schools and hospitals, helping his owner Kedo earn a living for his family.

He can’t say when something hurts.

As his harness rubbed against his skin, painful wounds developed and became infected. With every journey, they became harder to ignore.

Concerned that Dima’s wounds weren’t healing, Kedo brought him to our mobile clinic, run with local partner Addis Ababa University.

The team cleaned and disinfected his wounds and gave him pain relief. They also advised Kedo on how to treat the wounds at home and how to fit a padded, comfortable harness, protecting Dima from further pain.

But Dima isn’t the only working animal whose pain can go unnoticed. Every day, animals are living and working with injuries and illness they cannot tell us about.

If you’re interested in learning more about our work to transform the welfare of working animals around the world, you can sign up to receive our emails! We’ll send all the latest working animal news and updates directly to your inbox – including some exclusive content not seen on our website or social media pages.