Basketball Doesn't Need Donkeys!
Norwich Bulletin
April 2000

Connecticut is a state who loves basketball, and with the men and women who make up the teams for the University of Connecticut, we have a right to be proud. In order to play, you need a great pair of shoes and a basketball. So why would anyone need to add a donkey to this already perfect game?

A Connecticut school had a donkey basketball game as a fundraiser. There was a picture of a donkey sprawled on the floor. People were laughing, thinking this was very funny. Well, many schools have canceled donkey basketball games and vowed never to sponsor them in the future, once they have researched the facts.

I hope the following information will convince other schools who may be contemplating a donkey basketball game to find an alternative fund-raiser, and if that fails, I hope I will have convinced some high school students and their families not to participate.

The concept of donkey basketball is similar to the regular sport of basketball except that players are required to sit astride donkey for the duration of the game. Only mounted riders are permitted to pass or throw the ball or attempt shots. Donkeys used for this purpose may be subjected to a variety of abuses.

During the heat of competition, inexperienced riders often mishandle donkeys, pushing, pulling, kicking and even punching "uncooperative" animals. Donkeys have been injured by misthrown balls or by falls on slippery surfaces. Most of the donkey used are small so they are easier to mount, and because it is considered comical to see large people riding about on small animals.

Because they are stressed and frightened, the donkeys often throw their riders. Of course, pregnant donkeys are oftentimes used, as they tend to be more docile. A human participant may fall from a donkey's back or pull the donkey down on top of him. Both players and spectators may be kicked by frightened animals. Individuals involved in this activity have cracked their ribs, broken legs, arms and wrists, or sustained concussions and other injuries that may require hospitalization.

What is defined as a "good" company? I would assume it is one that does not have any violations and fines attributed to them. That sounds great, however, unless a person were to follow and monitor the animals on their regular circuit of events day after day, week after week, it would be difficult to prove that cruelty laws are being broken. A giant bruise, a ripped ear, or an anemic appearance are problems that most prosecutors would call "marginal."

The fact is though, these donkeys are most often forced to travel over great distances and spend virtually their entire lives in cramped, windowless trailers. Food and water are often withheld from the animals, forcing them to endure long periods of hunger and thirst before and during the games, as a preventive measure against "accidents" happening on the gym floor.

Stress from ceaseless traveling can weaken the animals' immune system, increasing their susceptibility to a common and potentially fatal respiratory disease known as "shipping fever pneumonia." Spine damage to the animals is common, as the weight of riders is often excessive and because riders are constantly jumping on their backs after being thrown off.

If it is still unclear to anyone that this is a cruel and exploitive use of an animal picture this: take your own pet, a dog or cat and strap something heavy unto its back - make sure that a ball will continually bounce all around your pet sometimes hitting it in the face.

Take your pet to a school gym with hundreds of screaming people and put it with 10 more similar pets of other people. How does your pet feel? How do you feel about what you have done to your pet? The typical answer to this question is often, "but the donkeys are trained to do this." So how much do you think the donkeys enjoyed this treatment the first time they were "in training." Do you think the fear and stress goes away just because they are forced to do this day after day after day?

Perhaps the most important fact of all is that the donkeys have no choice. It is doubtful if they would freely choose "donkey basketball" as a form of recreation. They are being forced into a situation of exploitation merely for the entertainment and profit of people. These games send a clear message to high school students and young children that it is okay to exploit animals in the name of "family fun."

The state of Maine has made donkey basketball illegal, because it violates the state's anti-cruelty laws. The State of Connecticut also has an anti-cruelty law, which clearly defines the types of behaviors found in donkey basketball; "anyone who…harasses or worries an animal for the purpose of making it perform for amusement, diversion or exhibition…" The penalties for violation of this statute are up to $1000 in fines and up to one year imprisonment. I would like to see Connecticut authorities stand behind this law and cite organizations holding donkey basketball games.

This column ends with a quote from professional basketball player James Donaldson (Dallas Mavericks): "Sports should be played with balls and bats, or basketballs as I play with, but not animals." I would never recognize the exploitation of animals as sport. Such exploitation of donkeys is cruel, totally unnecessary and can be potentially harmful to the animals.

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