Harnessed and forgotten, Ethiopia’s working animals find hope in a new welfare law

(Special to The Reporter)

When his horse began to fall ill and age rapidly, Girma Tadele faced an impossible choice. For more than five years, the 27-year-old had relied on the animal to transport vital goods and earn a modest living. But as the horse’s health declined, so too did Girma’s ability to care for it.

“It became difficult to feed and take care of it with my limited income,” Girma said. “I didn’t know what to do—but then someone told me about a method that many others were using.”

That method, he explained, was to blind the horse with a sharp object and abandon it far from his village. The horse never returned. Girma suspects it died alone in agony.

“I didn’t understand animal welfare at the time,” he admitted. “We were taught that you use working animals until they drop dead.”

Now, Girma is seeing veterinarians visit his rural village for the first time, raising awareness about animal welfare and introducing basic veterinary services. His horse, like many others, had never seen a vet in its lifetime.

Girma’s friend, Tesfaye who declined to provide his full name, said his own horse is still healthy. But he confessed he might have made the same decision had it become sick.

“I’m a poor man. I’ve never seen a doctor myself,” Tesfaye said. “When I’m sick, I rest, drink tea, and get back to work. The idea of paying a doctor for a horse? That’s hard to imagine.”

This dilemma is not unique to Girma or Tesfaye. Across Addis Ababa, particularly in suburbs like Ayat and Summit, abandoned horses have become a common and haunting sight. Many suffer from untreated illnesses, hunger, or dehydration. Some collapse in the middle of streets, creating traffic hazards. Others die and are left unattended for days.

Yared Kebrewold, a resident of the capital, has witnessed the growing number of forsaken horses on city roads. “In the past, people would feed these animals or give them water,” he said. “Now, it happens so often that no one seems to notice anymore.”

Ethiopia is home to one of the world’s largest equine populations—estimated at over two million, according to the UK-based animal welfare organization, Brooke. The country’s long-standing equestrian traditions contrast starkly with the current crisis.

“Ethiopia faces significant challenges in ensuring the welfare of its horses,” said Klare Kennett, Head of Brand Marketing and Communications at Brooke. She cited major concerns including poor management, preventable diseases, lack of veterinary care, overworking, and outdated shoeing practices that often involve driving construction nails into the animals’ hooves—causing deformities and pain.

Legislation and Learning

Ethiopia’s parliament appears to be taking notice of the silent suffering of the nation’s working animals. In a rare legislative move this year, lawmakers introduced the Animal Health and Welfare Bill, a sweeping proposal designed to protect domesticated animals, regulate veterinary practices, and establish standards of care for equines and other working animals.

For veterinarians like Medhanit Berihun, who practices in Addis Ababa, the bill marks a long-overdue shift in public policy—though cultural attitudes will take longer to change.

“Most owners still treat their horses like tools, not living beings,” she said. “This leads to early physical breakdown. In rural areas especially, there’s little willingness to spend money on treatment. So when the animals get sick, they’re dumped.”

She believes the issue is rooted not in cruelty, but in lack of awareness—and often, poverty.

Still, attitudes are beginning to shift.

A growing number of owners are opting for euthanasia—a humane and medically supervised end—rather than letting their animals suffer, a decision once unthinkable in many parts of the country. Animal rights organizations working across Ethiopia have helped introduce this option and shift public perception.

For Seleshi Gezachew, a horse and donkey owner, the concept of euthanasia was difficult to accept at first. “I couldn’t bear the thought of killing an animal I considered part of the family.”

But after watching YouTube videos and learning from international animal rights groups, his view changed. “Over time, I realized that euthanasia—when done ethically—is more humane than letting them die in pain and neglect.”

He added, “I wish animals lived forever. But we all die—and if I can give my companions a dignified end, I will. They’ve worked beside me. I owe them that.”

In many parts of Ethiopia, horses remain central to life, especially in areas where paved roads are few and public transport is scarce. They pull carts, carry goods, and provide access to markets, clinics, and schools—often traversing harsh terrain.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, a new model of care quietly emerged. The London-based Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad (SPAA) partnered with the Addis Ababa College of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture in 2018, launching a USD one million initiative to train local veterinarians, establish mobile clinics, and reach remote communities with animal welfare education.

For Germame Kiflework, a horse owner in Bishoftu on the outskirts of Addis Ababa, the program was life-changing. When the pandemic paralyzed the economy, he could no longer afford to care for his animals. But SPAA’s mobile clinic stepped in—providing vaccinations, treatment, and feed for his horses.

“I used to think animals were meant to be used until they drop. But I learned they need support, just like us,” Germame said.

Today, he owns three horses and continues to participate in animal welfare programs in his area. While he hasn’t yet accepted euthanasia as an option for his older animals, he welcomes the growing support system for equine care in his community.

The fate of working animals—especially aging horses—remains a blind spot as Ethiopia urbanizes and transitions economically. For families like Girma’s, these animals are both lifelines and burdens. Without accessible support systems, owners are left with few humane options.