Molla needed help for muscle pain and weakness. Our team of vets in Mali provided him with essential treatment during a stay at our centre.
Molla is a four-year-old donkey who works hard at a rubbish dump in Mali’s capital city, Bamako. Donkeys like Molla transport tonnes of rubbish from the city’s neighbourhoods to landfill sites, helping their owners to earn an income. The city faces a severe waste management crisis. With a growing population and a lack of formal waste services, working donkeys are relied on for waste removal.
The work is incredibly tough and the rubbish dumps are a difficult and dangerous working environment, putting the donkeys at serious risk of injury and illness from hazardous materials and debris. This difficult but important work helps Molla’s owner Sabre earn essential income to support his family.
Sabre became worried when he noticed that Molla was struggling to pull his cart and appeared in pain. He was walking much more slowly than usual and had started limping on his left front leg. He took Molla to our centre in Bamako for help.
At the centre, our vets examined Molla and diagnosed him with muscle trauma, likely caused by the strain of pulling heavy loads in his cart. He was admitted to our centre for two weeks for treatment and rest. During his stay, Molla was given a daily anti-inflammatory injection to relieve his pain and reduce any soft tissue swelling, along with nutritious feed to support his recovery. Before Molla was discharged, our team advised Sabre on how to distribute the weight in his donkey’s cart to prevent overloading and avoid possible future injuries and strain.
Sabre said: “My donkey is very important to me and I would not have been able to afford vet treatment for him. Thank you for all your help.”
It’s thanks to your continued support that our teams can help working animals like Molla. Your kindness enables us to provide essential veterinary care and support owners to develop the skills and knowledge to care for their working animals.
We’re committed to transforming the lives of working animals around the world, but we can’t do it without your help. Thank you so much for your ongoing support.
