Donkey basketball

Donkey basketball is a variation on the standard game of basketball, played on a standard basketball court, but in which the players ride donkeys. A donkey basketball game is usually staged as a one-shot fundraising event, typically in public schools. Commercial farms provide donkeys and equipment, splitting the proceeds with the hiring party. Donkey basketball has been practiced in the United States since the 1930s.[1]

Photograph of a donkey basketball player.

Donkey basketball has been targeted by animal rights activists because the sport is cruel to animals,[2][3] for reasons such as the inexperience of participants with handling the donkeys, the beating and kicking of donkeys by the riders and donkey owners and the intentional starvation of donkeys a few days prior to a basketball game to prevent them from urinating or defecating on the install basketball courts. Promoters attempt to counter that the events are "supervised" and the animals are "treated humanely."[1]

References

  1. Thomas, Katie (2009-04-17). "Donkey Ball Holds On Despite Criticism". New York Times. Retrieved 2011-09-16.
  2. Pulley, Mary (2010-03-04). "PETA Calls for Valley School to Cancel Donkey Basketball Game". WHSV. Retrieved 2010-03-06.
  3. Roth, Anna (2014-12-09). "The Dark Side of Donkey Basketball". Modern Farmer. Retrieved 2015-09-23.


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