Donkey roping, penning, and sorting are extremely cruel "sports". In donkey roping, once the donkey is in motion two people on horseback run the donkey down, one throwing a rope around its neck, the other around its rear legs. Once roped, the donkey is then stretched between the two horses. Broken bones and death are all too common during these events.

This petition was created to stop a 'donkey rodeo' from occurring during a fundraising event that Cowboy Church of Colbert County, AL, along with other cowboy churches in Alabama, are doing to raise funds for St Jude's Children's Research Hospital on May 1, 2015.

It should be noted that the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association does NOT condone donkey roping, penning, and sorting.  These are not and never have been officially sanctioned events.  They are events created by some for money making purposes.  Donkeys can often be purchased cheaper than cattle, which often leads to donkeys being used.  Calves are generally used only once or twice so as not to damage them.  Donkeys are used over and over compounding the damage done to their bodies and minds.

Donkeys are equine, like horses, their physical makeup – anatomy, is not like a cow.  Their joints articulate differently. They have a long cervical spine (neck) easily broken when being roped and stretched between two horses who weigh 3-6 times as much as a donkey.  Roping or lassoing is a fine art and has to be performed in a particular manner having parts of the rope land in correct locations ON CATTLE.  These specific locations on a cow are different that on a donkey or don’t exist at all.

Death, broken necks, legs and backs are common in donkey roping, as well as in penning and sorting.  Their tracheas (windpipes) are exposed, not buried deeply in the neck structure as are cows, so they are crushed and they suffocate.  They can’t eat for days because their throats are swollen.  Their legs are delicate and easily broken.  Their hides (skins) are not thick like cattle so the ropes cause burns, abrasions, blisters.

For those that survive this physical torture they are guaranteed to suffer from psychological issues.  They ‘shut down’ mentally, display severe distrust issues.  Their minds and hearts are naturally trusting and they desire to be with humans. The behavior of these men is a betrayal; the donkeys don’t know how to differentiate between these torturers and the loving rescuers/caregivers.  It can take years and sometimes never for them to trust another human.  They often segregate themselves from other donkeys by hiding in corners of their pastures or stalls, not being able to socialize with their own kind.

Click here to view the event flyer