Actor Brian Blessed OBE, Dragons’ Den entrepreneur Deborah Meaden, and Downton Abbey and After Life 2 star Peter Egan, have joined together to speak up for working animals around the world, in a new animated film for the charity SPANA (the Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad).
SPANA improves the welfare of working animals in 26 developing countries worldwide, providing free veterinary treatment, training for owners on how to better look after their animals and humane education for school children.
The film aims to raise awareness of the lives of working animals overseas by showing the solidarity of our own working animals on strike. A sniffer dog (voiced by Brian Blessed), police horse (Peter Egan) and sheepdog (played by Deborah Meaden) are comically shown ignoring their daily duties and protesting in solidarity with animals in developing countries. According to the characters, the strike is being carried out, “for all the camels, donkeys and mules overseas, working as trucks, taxis and tractors, to be as looked after as we all are.”
“We are so grateful to Deborah, Peter and Brian for lending their voices to our new film, and for speaking up for millions of working animals overseas. SPANA believes that a life of work should not mean a life of suffering, and it is only thanks to people’s generosity and support that we can continue our vital work improving the lives of these animals,” said Geoffrey Dennis, Chief Executive of SPANA in a statement emailed to WAN.
Around the world, more than 200 million working animals, such as horses, donkeys, camels and elephants, support the livelihoods of more than half a billion people in the poorest communities. By transporting food, water, firewood and people, they make it possible for families to earn a small income.
However, these animals often endure terrible working conditions, carrying backbreaking loads in extreme temperatures. In the vast majority of cases, they face short and painful lives, with no access to veterinary care when they are sick or injured.
Deborah Meaden said, “I am delighted to be a part of SPANA’s new film. Working animals overseas often have very hard lives, but few people are aware about the suffering they endure. They urgently need our help and support, and we hope this film will put working animals in the spotlight so they can receive the same care and compassion as most animals in the UK.”
