Almost half of adults think animals doing work too challenging for humans is a thing of the past, according to a new poll. The survey of 2,000 Brits found that 59 percent rarely or never see working animals in their daily lives. However, donkeys are still used to deliver water where there is no piped supply, falcons deter other birds at airports, and rats help detect landmines.
Lack of Awareness
The majority of respondents were unaware of certain working animal roles: 79 percent had not heard of horses being used to take children to school, and 77 percent did not know about donkeys serving as informal ambulances. The research, commissioned by animal welfare charity Working Animals International (formerly SPANA), also found that 41 percent admitted they do not often or ever think about animals being used for work. Nearly six in ten (59 percent) believe that animals working with humans is something society has largely chosen not to think about.
Linda Edwards, chief executive of the charity, said: "The research shows that while many people recognise the importance of working animals, their role in supporting communities around the world is still not widely understood. Working animals such as horses, donkeys, mules, oxen, and camels play a vital role in the lives of millions of people. They help families earn an income, transport goods to market, and ensure that children get to school, yet too often, their welfare is overlooked. For over a century, we have worked alongside animal owners to improve access to skills, advice, and veterinary care, so that working animals can live healthy lives and be properly valued."
Historical Roles Forgotten
The research also highlighted a lack of knowledge about historical working animal roles. Only 20 percent were aware that ferrets have been used to help lay underground cables, and 83 percent had not heard of dalmatians working alongside horse-drawn carts. Almost two-thirds (64 percent) believe the UK public generally underestimates how much work animals still do for humans.
Surprising Types of Work
Construction or infrastructure support was the type of work animals do that surprised respondents the most (31 percent). Others were shocked to learn animals have assisted humans in detection or sensing work (29 percent) and healthcare or therapeutic support (20 percent). Those polled via OnePoll think animals are favoured over machines for certain jobs because they can access areas machinery cannot (59 percent), are cheaper (42 percent), and faster (32 percent).
Reasons for Unawareness
The fact the topic is not widely spoken about was the top reason Brits believe they are unaware of working animals today (20 percent), followed by the assumption such jobs have been replaced by technology (18 percent). Almost two-thirds (64 percent) think it is important to have a record of how many working animals there are in the world, and 46 percent believe the level of care and attention they receive globally is insufficient.
Linda Edwards added: "We are proud to be launching our new brand and name, Working Animals International. It reflects both who we are today and the global scale of our work to improve animal welfare and campaign on their behalf. It is encouraging that the survey shows strong public support for recognising working animals more formally. We agree and are calling on governments across the world to include working animals in their censuses, as a lack of data makes it difficult to protect their welfare."
Top 10 Working Animals Brits Are Least Aware Of
- Horses being used to take children to school
- Rats detecting landmines
- Donkeys being used as informal ambulances to get people to hospital
- Donkeys working on construction sites
- Dolphins detecting undersea explosives
- Goats clearing land to prevent wildfires
- Horses used to remove logs from forests
- Donkeys delivering water where there is no piped supply
- Goats clearing vegetation and brambles
- Falcons being used to deter other birds at airports
