Every day, working animals across the world help with critical jobs in places machines can’t reach. These animals often work in some of the toughest environments, pulling huge loads in incredible heat. Without them it would be impossible to transport the essentials needed to build homes and resources that communities rely on.
But despite the essential role they play, access to the care they need is often out of reach.
At Working Animals International, we won’t let them be overlooked. By working alongside a network of partners around the world, we’re increasing access to essential veterinary care for working animals in need and supporting owners as they develop the knowledge and skills to look after their animals with confidence and care.
We’re creating lasting change for working animals, promoting long-term solutions by campaigning for better welfare standards, providing animal welfare education to schoolchildren, and helping communities prepare and respond to emergencies so they can provide urgent relief to animals in crisis.
Together, we’re transforming the welfare of working animals and helping to carry their load.
Supporting animal owners
Myna is a camel owner from India. She works alongside her camel in a brick kiln to haul heavy loads of bricks, sometimes up to 1,000 in one trip, to earn a living to support her family – around 100 rupees (£0.79/$1.49 AUD) per 500 bricks. “All our work gets done through camels, it is our main source of income and is the only way to sustain our family. This is how we meet our daily expenses and pay for our children’s education.”
Myna’s relationship with her working camel is vital, as is ensuring that their needs are met. “Animals should be given respect like a human. If you treat animals badly, you will also be sad. If you are compassionate towards them then that compassion will come back to you.
Sitaram is another camel owner who works alongside his camel in one of India’s brick kilns. He works with his camels to collect sand from the river, haul bricks at the kilns, and to assist with daily life such as transporting his children and carrying goods. He, like Myna, values the partnership he has with the animals that support him to earn a living. “The animal should be given respect and be taken care of properly. The way we take care of our own bodies, the animals should be given even more care. Give them fodder and water on time, give them medicine – then it will become strong and healthy”.
India
Alongside our partners, Help in Suffering (HIS) and Action for Protection of Wild Animals (APOWA), we support the health and welfare of working animals in India through veterinary care, including providing vaccinations, treating injuries and preventing disease. Alongside this we also support owners in developing their skills and knowledge so they can care for their animals with confidence. And we increase the animal care skills of children and teachers through our education and teacher training programmes.
In collaboration with our project partners in India, we reached over 4,780 working animals and provided 11,575 treatments in 2025.
You can find out more about our campaign, and the other essential roles that working animals play around the world, by visiting our Impossible to Overlook page.