Donkey Basketball…again

Donkey Basketball, Again
By Kate Chamberlin

In my Cornucopia column, 03/25/1998 Wayne County STAR Newspaper, I called a member of the Wayne County Humane Society to ask if they had a policy on Donkey Basketball.
“What?” she said. “I’ve never heard of donkey basketball.”
“It is a fund raising event sponsored by the Wayne Central High School Yearbook Committee,” I explained. “A five-person team of humans riding donkeys try to make more baskets than an opposing five-person team of humans who are also riding donkeys.”
Riding is actually a mis-nomer. The person has to be sitting on the donkey for a basket shot to count, but It is rare that any given donkey will knowledgeably trot to your designated basket. Participants, therefor, try to push the donkey, pull it by the halter on it’s head, or clamber up on it’s back and kick it’s flanks to try to get it to move.
The donkeys I saw were hairless on their back from the constant rubbing of jeaned legs sliding on and off. Some white talc was sprinkled on before the game, but, it soon rubbed off leaving very red skin exposed. The crowd yells, stomps and jeers as the humans curse and pummel their asses.
The Wayne County Humane lady referred me to the Wayne County District Attorney’s office, 946-5905. Rick Healy is on the Board of the Humane Society and is handling the case of the alledgedly neglected horses found in Wayne County.

When his office returned my call, they referred me to Ron Storm, an investigating officer with the S.P.C.A., Lollypop Farm, 1-716-223-1330. He was out, but, I talked with
Frank Nezille, also an investigating officer.
He stated flat-out that he has no jurisdiction in Wayne County, only Monroe County, but, he said donkey basketball is not illegal, (such as pit bull or cock fights which are bloody fights that can be to the death).
”Usually an officer would attend the animal event, such as donkey basketball,” he said, “to inspect the animals’ living conditions, how they’re cared for and watch the event to insure no cruelty occurs. Wayne County does not have any investigating officers.”
Ron Jones, the yearbook advisor told me that the donkeys are brought in by the Shaw Brothers from Sayre, PA. They have rubber shoes on their hooves so no special covering is needed for the gym floor and the donkeys will be on the premise about four hours. The outfit supervises their animals during transport and the event. There are, also, lots of Wayne Central adults around during the event.
Mr. Jones also mentioned that the faculty would not be participating this year. The State Education Handbook of Regulations says it is ill-advised for faculty to pit themselves against students.

In chatting with several students, they feel the reason the faculty won’t participate has something to do with the on-going contract negotiations!
I didn’t really think Wayne Central would knowingly do anything illegal. I question the appropriateness of this type of event. There are other kinds of events to raise money for good causes, have fun and build character in ways that do not take advantage of gentle critters put in our stewardship.
When this event takes place, you are likely to witness frustrated students hit their mounts and swear at each other while the crowd cheers. Is this a role model you want your children to participate in and/or imitate?
Perhaps we should support positive role models and activities that we can be proud of in our school rather than donkey basketball.
It is 2011 now and it is unfortunate that this event is still being featured at Wayne Central.