look what the donkeys did - when good ripples out and back again

The following is copied and pasted from the comments in my previous blog post, and all I can say is wow - this is such a beautiful example of how good things ripple out and back again when animals and the people who love them are involved. I am so grateful for such caring young people AND their wonderful teacher. Thank you to all of you for what you've done for the donkeys and for sharing this here. It has made my day!!


This is what I have written, my class truly believe our message and our wishes will come true. We hope others will also help. Truly children have the innocence and understanding of what an animal would have. They can heal wounds and pain and bring brighter futures for us all.

Here is message,

Dear Jason,

I am a Primary School teacher living in London. One of my children randomly spoke out talking about his worry of donkey roping. I had never heard of this and so decided it was interesting to see what the whole class would think.

We were so hurt by what was happening and it was very difficult for my children to comprehend. They could not understand why someone would do this to an innocent animal just for fun. Their understanding and their opinions is what 'normal' people would feel and think. These children are our future and if we allow abuse such as donkey roping to take place, what will they learn? I am not saying that donkey roping is going to ruin all the children but they are certainly not learning anything of value.

I do my best to teach my children how to take care of the Earth and ourselves and the community. Surely, this is what everything is about? We as humans, who are capable of taking care of everything and deciding how the world works should also take care of the animals around us.

I am sure that as a human being, with a heart and a soul, you will help and support us to stop this cruel 'sport'. My class all say a big hello and are begging you to stop this from taking place, they thank you! Please can you help the donkeys to a safe place to stay and eat and to heal. My children will be having a silence of 10 minutes for the donkeys that are abused, hurt, lost, hungry or sadly dead. These minutes, we will be thinking of your good work and hoping you do your best to take care of the donkeys.

Kind regards,

 Rafer Johnson and Redford (a few months back when it was still cold and they had fluffy winter coats!) say thank you!

Van Horn donkey roping canceled - now we need to get donkeys into a GOOD home

The town of Van Horn, Texas has confirmed that they have canceled the donkey roping event that was scheduled for this weekend (June 23-24), due to public outcry and the number of complaints registered with the town regarding the cruelty and trauma these donkeys experience as a result of this "sport."

However, please do not stop the train just yet. Until these donkeys are in safe and loving hands, this job is not complete.

There are at least two rescue operations willing to take the donkeys, if my understanding is correct. They cannot go in and take the donkeys - at this point, and unless/until charges are filed by the authorities, Jason Owens must release the donkeys into rescue.

PLEASE continue to call and email to make sure these donkeys are out of this man's care.

Further, I would suggest we all let him know that we will be watching his company for future abuse of animals.

Contact info:

Jason Owen of Dos Gringo Productions 432-940-9051 thedollarj@hotmail.com

Oscar Carillo, Sheriff of Culbertson County, Texas, 432-283-2060

No one should make money off the torture of defenseless animals. Keep this candle burning and make two phone calls. 


Civility and respect go further than anger and hate so please model the kind of behavior we would like to see shown to the donkeys themselves!!

LongNow project and donkey torture: the dissonance is deafening

Please GO HERE and read about this amazing project being installed near Van Horn, Texas. I have written to LongNow and Stewart Brand asking them to join the chorus calling for the 40 donkeys to be released to the rescue who is waiting to take them. Join me!

Jeff Bezos of Amazon is also involved in the Long Now project. Writing him shortly.

please read and act for the donkeys TODAY!!

GO HERE for all the info you need.

There are 40 donkeys waiting to be used for donkey roping this weekend. There is a rescue standing ready to take ALL of them and release them from this torture.

Call the owner and proprietor, Jason Owens, who earns a living putting donkeys in arenas to be roped fore and aft and stretched out like a rubber band. Over and over again.

Tell him why donkeys do not deserve this kind of abuse.

Call the Texas Attorney General's office too and tell them to look into it. Just because something is a tradition doesn't make it right. Supposedly humans have the ability to grow and change and enlighten ourselves - why not start now, with THIS!!

Please help stop donkey roping!

Linda Carson at 7MSN has posted two blog posts giving information about an upcoming donkey roping debacle in Van Horn, Texas. This is an extremely cruel sport in which donkeys are prodded with electricity to frighten them into running, then roped fore and aft by two different riders who stretch them out between the two horses.

Needless to say, the psychological and physical injuries that result are hideous.

GO HERE for the update and then go back to the post right before if you need more info. If enough people protest this horrible sport they will stop it. Shame is a powerful motivator. And maybe enough folks will stop and THINK about what it means to the donkeys.

No, this will not save all the donkeys in the entire world from this cruel fate. But for the donkeys lined up to be roped in this particular 'fiesta' it will mean the world.

This is what happy donkeys look like: