#saveourdonkeys

 

As someone deeply involved in donkey rescue efforts for over ten years, I have witnessed the incredible empathy and courage of these majestic creatures. Most remarkable is what these animals have given back to my family, especially during trying times. When my mother battled cancer, one of our rescued donkeys, saved from a desert and destined for slaughter, also had cancer. As he undertook his gruelling chemo treatments just like my mother, they shared an incredibly poignant bond of unconditional love. Today, as I think about the donkey who shared my mother's journey, I am compelled to fight for those who can't voice their pain.

Each year, between 4 to 6 million donkeys are slaughtered. At this rate, the donkey population, which is an integral part of our world ecosystem, is rapidly dwindling. In China alone, the numbers have gone from 11 million to just under 2 million in roughly a decade. Considering that a donkey can only produce one baby per year and take three years to reach a sellable weight, they are not sustainable livestock. Their health costs, slow breeding, and maturity rates also elevate their cost implications.

By allowing the export of donkeys for the hide and meat trade, we are enabling an industry effectively speeding up the extinction of a species that offers so much to our world and to our families. With this petition, we ask for an immediate ban on the export of donkeys. Take a stand, and help end the cruel and unsustainable donkey hide and meat trade. Sign this petition.