OPINION: Why shifting perceptions is key in championing animal welfare

It’s 8 o'clock in the evening, and you’re at a friend’s dinner party. You’ve just served yourself a generous portion of beef stew, savouring its rich flavours while absorbed in lively conversation. Suddenly, the host casually remarks, “By the way, that stew is made from donkey meat.” A wave of disgust crashes over you, and you instinctively push the bowl away.

But then, the host laughs. “Just kidding—it’s beef!” Relieved, you continue eating. Yet, in that moment, something profound happened.

The meat itself didn’t change, but your perception of it did. And long after the meal is over, the thought lingers: Could it really have been donkey meat?

This disconnect between perception and reality lies at the heart of countless ethical dilemmas, like the controversy over “Samosa,” a delicacy some might joke is cat meat. Or the growing unease caused by recent reports of donkeys being slaughtered in the bushes—leaving some wondering, when they are buying meat; could this beef actually be donkey?

Dr. Melanie Joy, in her groundbreaking book Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows, examines how our emotional and ethical responses to animals are shaped by cultural narratives rather than the animals themselves.

For example, the idea of eating donkey meat often evokes disgust in most cultures, but if one is assured it’s beef, those feelings disappear instantly. This reaction reveals a troubling truth: our acceptance of animal exploitation depends not on the nature of the animal but on the stories, we tell ourselves about them.

Similarly, in his book Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat, Hal Herzog explores these contradictions in human behaviour. In one part of the world, dogs are beloved companions, while in another, they’re dinner.

Cows are revered as sacred in India but considered food animals elsewhere. The same applies to places like Turkana, Kenya, where donkeys serve both as food animals and as essential companions during migration, given the region’s pastoralist nature.

In 1999, Kenya gazetted donkeys as food animals. However, according to Dr. Vincent Oloo, an animal welfare officer at Brooke East Africa, there is no inspection code for donkey meat, posing a significant public health risk since it is consumed without proper inspection.

These inconsistencies highlight how cultural conditioning—not moral reasoning—dictates our treatment of animals.

The story of donkeys illustrates this narrative shift most starkly. Once valued as indispensable partners in transportation and agriculture, donkeys are increasingly viewed as commodities exploited for their meat and hides.

This change has catastrophic consequences. Families lose essential working animals, livelihoods are destroyed, and entire communities face economic collapse.

At the same time, donkeys endure unimaginable suffering—stolen from their owners, transported in horrific conditions, and slaughtered without mercy.

Jonathan Safran Foer, in Eating Animals, explores how cultural detachment from animal suffering enables such exploitation. This detachment blinds us to the humanitarian and environmental consequences of practices like illegal donkey bush slaughter.

It’s not just about the donkeys—it’s about the families and ecosystems that rely on them.

Dr. Joy, in her book, highlights the concept of “psychic numbing,” which explains how this cruelty persists. When animals are reduced to mere commodities, we disconnect from their suffering.

Donkeys, once viewed as sentient beings capable of forming bonds, are now seen merely as resources. Peter Singer, in Animal Liberation, describes this detachment as “speciesism”—a bias that prioritizes human interests over the welfare of animals.

Cultural narratives can normalize exploitation, but they also hold the power to dismantle it. Dr. Joy reminds us that our perceptions aren’t fixed; with awareness and effort, we can reshape how we view animals like donkeys.

Legislation must work hand-in-hand with community-driven advocacy and education campaigns to highlight the irreplaceable role donkeys play in rural economies.

Revisiting and updating legislation is also critical. Given the devastating impact of donkey exploitation, their classification as food animals is increasingly untenable.

Protecting them is not just ethical but necessary for safeguarding livelihoods, ecosystems, and public health.

Beyond ethical concerns, the illegal slaughter of donkeys poses significant public health risks.

Unregulated practices in unsanitary conditions create a breeding ground for zoonotic diseases such as anthrax, brucellosis, and rabies. The way we treat animals directly impacts not just their welfare but also human health.

Change begins with us. By questioning the narratives that perpetuate cruelty and embracing empathy, we can build a future where donkeys and other animals are treated with dignity and compassion.

Changing laws and shifting cultural mindsets are both essential to creating a safer, more compassionate world for animals and humans alike.

The writer is an animal welfare enthusiast and digital communications specialist.