The Lilongwe Society for the Protection and Care of Animals (LSPCA) envision a world where donkeys and mules live free from suffering and their contribution to humanity is fully valued. This week, LSPCA has trained twenty two donkey owners in Chigonthi-Lilongwe on tethering hobbles manufacturing as one way of promoting good welfare of donkeys in Malawi.

 Traditionally, donkeys and mules are tightly tethered to poles or trees during grazing using nylon ropes/twines which sometimes cut through their legs causing wounds. This wounds become site of infections which when left untreated can have devastating effects on the donkey’s overall health and performance.

With this understanding, LSPCA has introduced a better way of tethering animals using specially designed and locally available hobbles which does not cause injury to the tethered animal. In grazing animals, hobbles are used to restrict wandering of animals and are normally used only on the front legs. The hobbles are made loose enough to allow for the blood to flow freely to the feet but thick enough not to cut the skin.  

In animals a hobble to a back leg is sometimes used in a stable to prevent animals that are tied close to each other from swinging round and kicking. Hobbles can be made from sacking tubes, cloth or leather. They must not be made of chain, wire, nylon rope or synthetic material, which will cut the animal.

The LSPCA and the Donkey Sanctuary UK are the only organisations in Malawi working to improve the welfare of donkeys.

LSPCA is totally committed to improve donkey welfare at all levels, sharing a vision with the DSP UK and Animal Aid Abroad. LSPCA plans to go to other districts in Malawi and train the next set of donkey owners on hobble manufacturing.