TAHUCHA working to improve donkey welfare in Bukombe

AAA partner group, Tanzania Humane Charity (TAHUCHA) have sent through a recent update for us on their work:

"We want to extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to the entire team at AAA for empowering us to respond to the plight of working donkeys in the Geita region of Tanzania.

From August the team has reached and treated 700 donkeys in various conditions and of those, 140 donkeys were vaccinated for Tetanus. We also provided education to 88 children and 108 adults within the Geita region on issues around animal welfare best practice.

In the Geita region, from July through to October, the welfare of donkeys is usually worse due to the demanding regime of work and the number of orders across all local industries including mines, kilns, construction, farming, logging as well as in households for fetching water, collecting firewood etc. We usually observe more wounds in need of dressing. These wounds are a result of beating, overloading and ox yoke carts. We also attend cases of colic, lameness, hoof care and undernourishment due to donkeys not being given enough time to eat, as well as the scarcity of grass due to the dry season in June to October.

In all seasons, our mission has remained the same: we reach all working donkeys in Bukombe serving in a range of environments that include kilns, households, markets, forests, to mines, TAHUCHA and its partners Animal Aid Abroad through regular donkey treatment in large clinics, train donkey users and owners not to mistreat their donkeys and to teach the younger generation for sustainable change and through this, we are making difference in our area.

This message goes all over the community: that families and the community have every reason to take good care of their donkeys - if a donkey is injured, a whole family/community suffers.

TAHUCHA's plans include:

New model carts construction program and setting up a cart workshop for substituting traditional carts. We have managed to start making carts in our own workshop, with twelve carts already constructed out of the 30 to be made in August to October.

To address the issue of wounds and pain associated with ox yoke carts, beating and overloading TAHUCHA are determined to make proper carts, train donkey riders and owners to observe load limits, treat donkeys that need immediate veterinary assistance and provide education as a key to behavioural change.

We have twenty more carts in use in August 2019, making a total of 32 carts currently in use.

With our own cart workshop, we shall make more carts and help more donkeys suffering today and for generations to come.

Secondly, Our donkey clinic program [on-site and outreach], with our animal hospital on wheels - SYLVIA, has made our work rich and resourceful, so now TAHUCHA volunteers to cover a wide area and reach more donkeys and people who are looking for veterinary advice and help.

Our truck also helps with harness workshop services, sanctuary services, sick animal transportation, drugs and volunteer transportation.