The horses and donkeys that pull the carts are left on the streets when they get old or sick and stop providing service. Their owners abandon them and they can be seen roaming the roads, covered in fleece.    

Though the horses and donkeys are owned by individuals, there are other stakeholders in the running of the business. The stakeholders include the municipality, urban agriculture, transport, security, environmental protection sectors and other administrative bodies. This confusing array of organizations leads to poor communication and management of the donkeys and horse’s health and the transport. 

Nobody is willing to get the both animal’s  medicated as they are usually owned by people with low means of income who are unable to take them to veterinarians.  

The horses and donkeys  are not taken care of even when they are providing service. Apart from feeding them inadequately, most of their owners don’t  do anything to look after them. Some owners even leave their horses eating grass in public green areas. 

A Police Officer told me that an owner of a horse cart provides transport service to the people  and once the animal gets old its is normal that is abandoned. The other challenge is the disease that horses get constantly makes the animal inefficient to work; it is costly to get them treated by veterinarians. One of the most common diesis it is the  Epizootic Lymphangitis (EPL)[1], locally known as Nidift, dermatitis, foot disorder, severe abdomen pain, and urinating problems are the diseases which afflict the animals. “Epizootic Lymphangitis (EPL) is the most feared horse disease because it has no medication or treatment.

Most Horse owners use some methods to treat an infected horse when the symptoms are seen on the animals’ bodies. Rashes in different parts of the body, especially around the joints, are symptoms of EPL or Nidift. When the symptom is observed, owners wash the horse’s body with soap, water and detergents. 

Some owners take extreme measures such as rubbing acid from car batteries or other chemicals on the rashes. The acid it corrodes the skin of the animal until it reaches the flesh and then the bone, causing terrible pains.
 

They say the chemicals dry the bruises and give the horses relief.  “Most of the time Nidift is not curable, so they say they do not have we option but to abandon the horses.

Streets are full of skinny skeletal horses covered with flies, with wounds and sores. In the confusion of the traffic of the capital, one can see the equine's suffering and confusion to the point of wanting to collapse on the boiling asphalt. It is common for these horses to be run over and cause serious accidents. Injured or severely injured people involved in fights with the horse's owner who wants payment for the animal's loss.

According to the 2021 report of the Ethiopian Statistics Agency, there are almost 3 million horses, 9 million donkeys, over 300,000 mules and 8 million camels in the country. 

Including some parts of the capital, Addis Ababa, horse carts are used all over the country. 

However, given their services, the horses are not given due attention. Seeing horses left on the streets with infected wounds and swollen limbs is common. These horses on streets are becoming the main cause of traffic blocking and car accidents. The animals can be seen everywhere including around markets and residential areas.     

A study entitled Review on Epizootic Lymphangitis: Epidemiology and its Diagnosis revealed that fungal infection affects horses in Africa, especially Ethiopia, the most. The research states that the infection results in a reduction in working ability. This itself has a direct impact upon the livelihoods of horse owners and their dependents. 

The Drugs used to treat the disease are not available in local drug stores because they are expensive. He also said if it’s not properly treated, it can affect the horse’s health directly and the owner's prospects indirectly. 

Whether they are standing idly on asphalt roads or feeding on the greenery in the town, the horses are suffering and putting into danger the drivers, causing traffic accidents.

We are sure that with this petition will be encouragedblob:https://www.change.org/9f9f5aca-3cd3-4853-ac99-7500e9b0b362

Government of Ethiopia is strongly encouraged to apply a law punishing those who are cruel to animals and committing cruelty to animals (Article 822 Criminal Code).

The Government of Ethiopia is urged to assign responsibility for animal welfare, in addition to animal health, to a Ministry. This Ministry should be responsible for enacting animal welfare legislation and for monitoring the implementation of animal welfare standards.

• In addition, the Government of Ethiopia is strongly encouraged to create a multi-stakeholder committee in order to effectively engage all actors involved in maintaining animals’ well-being to find solutions for welfare concerns. This committee would guide the country’s policies and strategies on animal welfare, in line with international standards. This committee should include representatives of animal welfare organisations.

 

 
[1] Flies and ticks can also transmit the disease from one horse to another. It impairs the lymphatic system of horses.”