Working animal charity Brooke has called for compassionate treatment of donkeys after recent scenes in an episode of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City showed reality stars riding donkeys up steep hills in Santorini.
Brooke is asking people to recognise working animals like donkeys as sentient beings with intrinsic value rather than as props for entertainment.
The charity has contacted Bravo, who are the production company for The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, to condone this behaviour and emphasise the poor welfare implications donkey rides can have.
Animals need to be ‘treated with dignity’
“Tourism can coexist with compassion when animals are treated with dignity,” said Dr Laura Skippen, global head of animal health and welfare at Brooke.
“Good welfare should ensure that animals are cared for, respected and not pushed beyond their needs.
“Leisure use that is unnecessary or purely for spectacle should never come at the expense of an animal’s wellbeing, particularly when alternatives exist.
“We ask that producers and TV stars refrain from using donkey rides for entertainment and follow a strict internal protocol for filming.”
Raising standards
Horse and donkeys working in tourism are often used to travel long distances over challenging terrain and with limited access to water and shade.
Brooke asks people to consider: Is the animal happy and healthy? Can the animal carry or pull my weight? What alternatives are there to using animals?
The charity is asking tourists to contact their tour operator, local police or authority if they believe an animal is being exploited.
History
Brooke, which was founded by Dorothy Brooke in 1934, works with communities, local health providers and policy makers to create a better life for working animals and their owners.
The charity recognises that working animals are an essential part of many communities around the world and without them they would be unable to earn a living, provide food for their families and send their children to school.
Read Brooke’s guide to responsible use of animals in tourism.
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