The humble stoic donkey who has for thousands of years served as a beast of burden needs your help! Donkeys can easily carry 30% of their body weight in live load and 20% in dead weight. Sadly, they are often forced to carry much more than this, even when malnourished and/or injured.
Donkeys can live for 25 to 35 years of age. However, donkeys in third world countries rarely live over 10 years. They are managed poorly with low-quality and/or inadequate water, feed and shelter. They are deprived of proper general health, hoof and dental care.
These very affectionate animals are subjected to inhumane hobbling and tethering. They are fitted with harnesses made from incorrect, rough, synthetic materials. Bits are fitted poorly. The harness itself is of poor design with little or inadequate padding. Wounds are often treated with inappropriate and unhygienic substances like cattle dung, battery acid, burnt oil, etc.
Impacted by poverty, even when the owners are educated and aware, they don't always have access to and/or cannot afford the resources they need.
We respectfully request steps be taken by the South African Government that will best implement access to these resources and enable the donkeys to receive the proper care that they so badly need.
http://www.donkeywhisperer.com
http://www.veganpeace.com/animal_facts/Donkeys.htm
Please sign and share.
Please read the petition letter
President: Mr Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma president@po.gov.za
Deputy President: Mr Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa. Private Secretary to the Deputy President: Ms Malebo Sibiya malebo@po.gov.za
Director: Office of the Director-General: Mr Thabo Makhubedu TMakhubedu@tourism.gov.za
Personal Assistant to the Director-General Mr Victor Tharage :Ms Margaret Mathebula mmathebula@tourism.gov.za
Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry
Chief Veterinary Officer Dr. A. Maseke MasekeA@mawf.gov.na
Deputy Chief of Veterinary Public Health Dr. J. Kamwi KamwiJ@mawf.gov.na
Dear
REFERENCE PETITION:
CALL ON SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT TO PRIORITISE DONKEY CARE & MAKE ACCESS TO EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR OWNERS
We respectfully request that action be taken immediately to end the abuse that donkeys have suffered and are still suffering.
For too long this abuse and neglect has been ignored. Donkeys are relied on by many for the work they perform. Most often this work involves loads too heavy, ill-fitting and poorly made harnesses. The donkeys are forced to work long hours with little food or water.
An average donkey of approximately 11 hands high or 160 kg can carry up to 50kg (8 stone) on its back or can pull up to twice its bodyweight on level ground.
There is an urgent need for:
i) Laws to stipulate weight limits.
ii) A great need for the education of owners in learning to properly care for injured donkeys and identifying when ill or injured donkeys must be rested and/or treated.
iii) Education on fitting harnesses etc.
iv) Access points where donkey owners can easily receive advice and help.
We do recognize that this will be a mammoth undertaking to set in place, but it is of paramount importance that changes are made immediately.
We thank you for your time.
http://www.ed.ac.uk/files/imports/fileManager/donkey%20fact%20sheet.pdf
https://donkeywhispererfarm2010.wordpress.com/2012/04/17/what-is-the-weight-limit-to-ride-a-mini-donkey/
