The Story Behind the Painting II: Alexandra Klimas

Overworked and overburdened.

In developing countries, donkeys are used as draught and pack animals. They are the workhorses of the poor and a great help to their owners. Unfortunately, these hard-working donkeys often suffer under the ignorance or indifference of their owners. They are regularly beaten, forced to carry heavy loads, have open wounds because they are improperly harnessed and they sometimes have to chew on a barbed wire bit. Their lives can be short, and filled with agony. They work day in, day out in extreme temperatures, often with inadequate materials, little food and without veterinary care when they are ill or injured. Many of these donkeys are in constant pain.

Luckily, there are good shelters, like the Donkey Sanctuary and the Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad (Spana), both located in Great Britain. They provide aid worldwide to improve the conditions of working donkeys and mules in the world’s poorest communities. Klimas was moved by their mission. Hope is a symbol for all working donkeys after they have received proper care and that is why the harness says 'save the working donkeys'.