Donkey basketball has been a long standing yearly tradition in Summers County and many other schools across our nation.  Many areas in the country have long since banned this ‘sport’ after researching and realizing that it is actually abusive to the donkeys, sends a message to our children that bullying and humiliating are okay, has the potential to discriminate against certain students for weight, allergies, or physical handicaps, and is also a significant liability to the school, children, and the taxpayers.  It is my hope that we can replace this event in future years with another fun fund raiser that promotes strong ethics, a sense of community, promotes creativity and innovation, and does not discriminate or put the school at risk of lawsuits for negligence.

The abuse of the donkeys stems from several factors including starvation before the game, exeeding carrying capacity of the animals, poor traction on a gym floor, physical assault with hands, legs, and a flying ball, and a loud environment that is terrifying to the animal.  

Many people are unaware that food is often withheld for 24 hours before the event to reduce manure output.  This is both uncomfortable for them and a health hazard for an animal that does not have a gall bladder and needs constant food in the stomach to protect it.    

Another issue is that weight limits for the size of the animal are excessively exceeded putting them at risk of severe injury including bowed  tendons, torn ligaments, slipped vertebral disks, pinched nerves, bruising, and even broken bones.  The current carrying capacity recommendation for equines is that they carry no more than 20% of their body weight under good footing with a balanced rider.  Peer reviewed research has demonstrated that significant discomfort is displayed at 30% of body weight. There is a video from a 2011 game in Hinton where a miniature donkey is being ridden by a rider whose feet are dragging on the ground.   A donkey this size weighs about 300lbs and should not carry more than 60lbs.  It will be physically uncomfortable at 90lbs.  The rider easily weighs 150lbs which is 50% of the body weight of the donkey.  This is abusive by documented research and can cause serious harm to the animal that can lead to a need to euthanize it.  The standard sized donkeys which are usually used for these games can generally support about 75-120lbs.  That recommendation is under good footing with a well balanced rider, neither of which occur at a donkey basketball game.  

Donkeys are extremely stoic animals by nature and will often not display physical injuries by limping, etc. until the pain is unbearable.  They will walk on a severe injury without limping that would put a horse down for the count.  It can be very difficult to determine when a donkey is sick or injured because of this natural instinct to hide their injuries.  It is their natural defense against predation.  They are very different from horses this way.  Simply because you don’t see them conspicuously limping does not mean they are not in pain.  Their pain cues are very subtle.  When a donkey finally gets to the point of showing something is wrong they are in excruciating pain and often past the point of saving.   Their innate stoicism results in unintended abuse across the globe.  This is one reason why managing the weight limits of the riders is so imperative.    

The general activities of the game result in the donkeys being slapped, kicked, dragged, yanked on, and hit by the ball.  This is often aggravated by the adrenaline and excitement of both the players and the crowd.  It shows kids that we can get what we want by physically forcing a helpless individual to do our will.  Additionally, it is assumed that the nature of the donkey to cry out in a loud humorous bray will be a source of derisive entertainment.  Sadly, they are braying because they are afraid and do not know what else to do and have no escape.  It is an equivalent to a child crying after a parent hits them or yells at them.  Physical assault and mockery for being strange looking or goofy sounding is called bullying and is exactly counter to our school’s mission in teaching children to become respectful and responsible adults.  Children learn by example and they do learn a negative lesson from this exposure.  Children exposed to any form of abuse, be it animal or human, are taught a very dangerous lesson that abuse is okay and a proper way to react to a situation to get what they want.  These games promote a culture of bullying and abuse. 

When we hold a game that mandates weight limits for the players it will automatically exclude a percentage of the student body.  Unfortunately, this may inadvertently exclude students that are overweight or unusually tall and already may be getting bullied and left out for being different.  It also excludes students that may have dander allergies or physical handicaps.  Aside from the obvious reasons why this is wrong, it may open the school up for an ADA violation lawsuit.    

Lastly, it is a significant liability for the school in the event a player or spectator is bitten, stepped on, falls wrong, gets landed on by a donkey falling, or kicked.  Signing a waiver does not necessarily preclude a negligence lawsuit.  There have been several cases filed across the country and won by the Plaintiff.   It would make the fund raising efforts a moot point.  I hope the School Board has discussed this matter with an attorney.

These games are illegal with horses because they are protected under the Animal Welfare Act from such abuses.  However, the way the Federal law is currently written donkeys are omitted by default because the law states “horses” and not “equines”.  The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) have been working on eliminating donkey ball activities by getting donkeys included in the Animal Welfare Act.  Once that occurs these games will legally have to end.  Until that amendment occurs to our law it is up to our local citizens to make the right choice. 

Let's replace this fund raiser with something to inspire compassion, humanity, and good will in our community. There are so many other things we can do. I realize it may be too late to cancel it this year, but I hope that we can seriously consider other options for years to come. 

By signing this petition you agree that donkey basketball needs to be stopped.