Donkey basketball cruel, animal-rights activists

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Shooting hoops from the back of a donkey is one way to raise money for a good cause. And few would argue that awarding teachers $300 grants for classroom projects or after-school activities is not a good cause. But animal-rights activists say Donkey Basketball is also a way to hurt the animals and possibly their riders.Members of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals want to stop a Donkey Basketball Tournament scheduled Saturday at Graham-Kapowsin High School in Graham, Wash. They say it will subject the animals to pain and confusion.But leaders of the Bethel School District Foundation, a nonprofit that supports special programs, say they've hired handlers who promise to treat the animals well."They've assured us that they have rules in place that are ways to protect the animals, and that they will in no way be harmed," foundation spokeswoman Shannon Booth said Wednesday.The group supplying the donkeys is Donkey Sports Inc., based in Entiat, Wash. Owner Bruce Wick said he's been running these basketball games since 1980 and has never seen an animal injured.His company provides a referee to monitor the games and ensure the donkeys aren't harmed."It's not like we just give them the donkeys and let them do whatever they want with them," Wick said.The company also bars anyone weighing more than 225 pounds from riding.But PETA spokeswoman Desiree Acholla said that amount is far more than a donkey can bear."Donkeys can only carry about 100 pounds," Acholla said. "At these events we've seen people take running leaps and jump on these donkeys, and you can see their backs buckling under the weight. They are being forced to perform confusing and painful acts for the amusement of humans."The Humane Society of Tacoma and Pierce County (Wash.) isn't taking a position, said development director Marguerite Richmond."We do oppose using animals in entertainment if it causes undo stress or pain, but we really haven't researched it specifically," Richmond said.PETA has succeeding at getting donkey sporting events canceled at school districts in Illinois and New Jersey, as well as the South Whidbey School District on Whidbey Island, Wash.In some cases, riders have been injured. A rider in a donkey basketball game in Waterloo, Iowa was awarded more than $110,000 for injuries he sustained in a game, and a Wisconsin state senator fell off a donkey and broke her leg in another.The Pierce County Sheriff's Department reconsidered a donkey sports fundraiser it planned in 2006 after hearing PETA's concerns, department spokesman Ed Troyer said.Sheriff's deputies were supposed to play a softball game against local firefighters while seated on the donkeys' backs, but they decided to walk beside the animals instead, Troyer said."The PETA folks had some legitimate concerns," Troyer said. "Most of us don't want to hurt anyone, it was just out of ignorance."Despite the change, the fundraiser turned out fine, he said."It was probably a lot more entertaining," Troyer said. "You couldn't go get the ball unless the donkey wanted to go."Plus, he added, "there wasn't a donkey that was going to carry a few of those guys."Last year the Bethel foundation distributed about $6,000 to teachers in that district, board member Karen Marchesini said.The group has only about one fundraiser a year; last year it was an event with the Tacoma Symphony. This year board members wanted something more inexpensive and family oriented, Marchesini said.With the poor economy, the group has decided not to charge admission, she said. It hopes to make some money from voluntary donations.More than 30 local educators will play in Saturday's game. Wick said his workers will make sure each rider is matched with an animal that can support the player."We always try to make sure we get the right person on the right donkey," he said.(Contact Melissa Santos at melissa.santos@thenewstribune.com.)(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)