MORAVIA, Iowa (AP) - A California woman who has been breeding and training donkeys for 30 years says donkey basketball is not cruel.Donkey basketball remains popular in Iowa, Nebraska and other rural states. The events often are held as school fundraisers.
Animal rights groups decry the games, saying the donkeys are mistreated by participants who ride them while shooting hoops.
But Crystal Ward of Placerville, Calif., says donkeys aren't harmed by being pulled if a halter and lead rope is used rather than a bridle and bit. She says standard-sized donkeys can carry at least 150 pounds of "live weight" with no problem, though she acknowledges that many of the donkey basketball game participants weigh significantly more.
She says donkeys, inch for inch, are able to bear more weight than horses.
On the Net:
Buckeye Donkey Ball Co.: http://www.donkeyball.com/
Donkey Sports, Inc.: http://www.donkeysports.com/
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals: http://www.peta.org/
Associated Press - May 3, 2009 1:25 PM ET
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