In India, the estimated population of donkeys is about 1.85 million. We have been working there since 1998, and now work from five centres - Delhi, Ahmedabad, Gwalior, Sikar and Solapur.

As in many of our other countries of work outside Europe, many donkeys and mules provide support to families in their everyday tasks such as carrying food, water or goods to market. In some situations they are also used more intensively. For example, with India's economy booming, donkeys work alongside some of the poorest people in Indian society as labourers in the construction industry - carrying bricks, sand and other heavy supplies.

These donkeys and mules work with small family groups. In some places, entire families migrate with their donkeys to areas where there is building work or brick making. They live on site in makeshift tents. Some children work, some look after the babies, and some help care for the donkeys outside work hours.

The families are contracted at the start of the building season and are under great pressure to deliver specific quantities of work each day, but earning only a meagre wage. As a result the donkeys are often overworked and overloaded.

In other places donkeys pulling carts in towns provide the delivery service for markets. The carts carry anything and everything, but are almost always heavily laden. The harness is rarely well fitted, maintained or in good condition and some donkeys may end up working constantly with open sores.

We work to improve the conditions of all these donkeys. On our regular visits, we provide routine veterinary care. Working with owners to improve their harness is also a hugely important part of our work. However in the long term we want conditions to improve. So we also provide education and training to the donkey owners, engage with the site or market owners to improve conditions for the donkeys, and try to include anyone already providing services to the donkeys in an area. We try to make our visits a ‘Sanctuary from Suffering’ for the donkeys and enjoyable for the owners and their children - all their lives are hard.

In all our working locations, we find out the main problems that affect the donkeys. We then work with the donkey owners to design a program that will make a difference. This usually includes some harness work, some clinical work and training and education.

In addition, we take every opportunity to raise the profile of donkeys - to influence the next generation of vets, teachers, donkey owners and the general public to respect and look after donkeys better.

On top of this, wherever possible our teams also deal with emergency call outs. There are always more to do, and unfortunately more donkeys in need.