Parasailing Donkey Unhurt
ABC’s Alex Marquardt reports from Moscow: It’s ok, the donkey is fine. After pictures of a parasailing donkey in Russia caused a global furor, news from the south is that the beast has been examined by a veterinarian and is unhurt. “The veterinarian has come to a conclusion that the animal is clinically healthy,” a police spokesman told Agence France-Presse. Watch video of the incident below. The report noted that “the donkey’s mental state however remained unclear.” Last week, a team of men hitched the female donkey to a parasail before a boat yanked the braying animal off the beach for a 30-minute flight above the Sea of Azov. It was then dragged through the water after landing. Local Russian entrepreneurs borrowed the donkey for an advertising stunt to attract beachgoers to their nearby private beach. Animal rights activists loudly condemned the incident and the police launched an investigation. The owner of the donkey told AFP that he didn’t see the harm of offering her up since people “were having fun.” British tabloid “The Sun” says they sent a rescue team to confront the owner who reportedly promised to retire the donkey. Police will decide on Friday whether a criminal animal cruelty case will be opened. Video:
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I wrote to the person at the sun newspaper that actually wrote the story of this poor animal.
I received an email back from her telling me that the sun had despatched a reporter out to russia to buy the donkey, which he had done and that the sun where going to transport it to a sanctuary??????
Now I read that the owner still has her, and why is he not going to be prosecuted. This whole thing is appalling.So the donkey is OK physically, what about metally.
Posted by: jenny | July 23, 2010, 9:26 am 9:26 am
“Clinically healthy” does not mean traumatizing an animal isn’t abusive. I’m sure there are women who after being raped, check out as “clinically healthy”. Intelligence of the animal isn’t a factor. It has nothing to do with be “liberal”. It’s about being humane.
Posted by: Mike | July 23, 2010, 2:33 pm 2:33 pm
What in the world does the animal’s IQ have anything to do with how traumatized it could have been? The fact of the matter is this was abusive to the animal, and a ridiculous stunt.
Posted by: JC | July 23, 2010, 2:52 pm 2:52 pm
The donkey was SCREAMING while being hoisted up. Why did they use a donkey? Why not one of the idiots who were doing the stunt? Were they afraid so they decided to use an animal who they think doesn’t feel fear or emotions?
The owner should have the animal taken away and never allowed to own an animal again.
Also throw them up there and let them fall to the sharks. They do not need to be taking up air on this planet with their backwards mentality. I thought they had more brains than they did 50 years ago.
Posted by: Christine | July 23, 2010, 3:33 pm 3:33 pm
The poor animal was probably frightened to the point of a heart attack.
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | July 23, 2010, 3:50 pm 3:50 pm
Those guys were idiots and deserve to be dragged behind a car on a gravel road.
Posted by: David | July 23, 2010, 4:09 pm 4:09 pm
The whole thing was sickening, and very inhumane to the animal. The donkey’s IQ may be low, but it still feels fear. It was just cruel and stupid. I’m not sure I believe the donkey is fine….did anyone verify it was the same donkey? Since charges couldn’t be brought against the owner without verifying the animal was hurt, I wouldn’t be surprised if he got rid of the donkey, and turned up with a different one!The Russian press doesn’t have the freedom we have here, so we will never know.I’m sure Russia just wants an end to the worldwide uproar over the whole thing.
Posted by: Debra | July 23, 2010, 4:16 pm 4:16 pm
The donkey has been receiving long distance healing energy from someone in Canada they reported. She claims the emotional healing is 50% done, and she is going to continue sending this energy. She actually came out and had this little interview for the world to know, but what she does not realize is that there are so many more Healers out there also sending the same healing energy to this female donkey, without telling anyone, good for all! That is why the animal checked out fine a week later, for the veterinary, I am sure, because when they pulled her out of the water, she “was half dead”. Go Reiki!
Then there is a place in the Shetland islands that has offered a permanent home for the animal, but if there are no charges, then there is not much anyone can do, or is there . . . .
Posted by: Linda | July 24, 2010, 1:15 pm 1:15 pm
poor poor animal. Quite sickening how many people find this incident funny. (read the youtube comments). Of course no one hears the poor beast screaming in fear. People in this part of the world care little for other people, or for an animal for that matter, which to them has no right to protection. The donkey is so small, it’s just heartbreaking to think that even hearing the animal crying for its life, that these idiots didn’t take the thing down immediately. What is wrong with people
Posted by: virg | July 24, 2010, 2:14 pm 2:14 pm
Where is PETA when you need them?
Posted by: Erval Leaks | July 24, 2010, 6:37 pm 6:37 pm
I’m extremely sickened by what they did to this poor donkey. I cant believe that nobody put a stop to it on the beach, I mean how could those people just stand by and watch it happen? They deserve to be locked away for life for what they did and tormented to make them scream and cry.
Posted by: Emma Froch | July 24, 2010, 6:51 pm 6:51 pm
loved the humanity of the writers. I haven’t lost all hope in humanity but I have had to seek professional help because of the injustices of animals because of humans. we are truly a sick, sick society that can enjoy humor at the expense of suffering. God help us.
Posted by: Rebecca Walsh | July 24, 2010, 7:27 pm 7:27 pm
The owner grunted; “I didn’t see any harm, since people were having fun”. It’s a disgrace, in this day and age, how basic-minded and chronically thick people are ever allowed to own, or mis-use living creatures. It also reflects badly on Russia. True justice would be if the owner, and his entrepreneurial pals were to be attacked by a large pack of wild dogs. No-one should intervene, just in case it spoils the dog’s enjoyment!
Posted by: ThunorUK | July 24, 2010, 8:56 pm 8:56 pm
Just another ass on the beach…lol
Posted by: Jacob Walwright | July 24, 2010, 9:03 pm 9:03 pm
These IDIOTS might as well as used a borrowed small child (perhaps yours?)in their stunt. Perhaps that child could try to tell them afterward…if they could what it was like.
IMAGINE
Feeling perfectly safe one minute. Then, that child, crying uncontrollably, unable to breathe, trying to talk, shaking scared out of their wits. Trying to tell you how helpless and petrified they felt and how horrifying it was to have your breath instantly taken away,
IMAGINE
while being SLUNG like a sling shot…way out into space (like a downhill, off the tracks roller coaster going over the edge) and dangling way…high up in the air and for over 30 MINUTES..seeming like forever and a day, feeling like you could be dieing….not knowing if you would possibly live through the ordeal; of being literally scared to death.
IMAGINE
then…Being drug through the water at such a speed, suddenly …with water blinding you, getting water gushed in your eyes, up your nose and throat while being weighted down by force of water and ropes.. can’t see…can’t breathe, drowning, not understanding what you did to deserve this torture… Is that funny?!
IMAGINE some people laughing and watching… while your little friends cried in fear for you, while others were scared they could be next.
Think about the poor defenseless donkey and the children watching..witnessing such torture, you psychotic morons.
I guarantee you neither donkey or child or any “good” parent would have thought this funny.
Horses, mules and donkeys have a very sensitive digestive system. The stress alone with whatever food was last eaten, perhaps lack of water could have caused any livestock animal to “COLIC”. This is where intestines twisting/blocking blood flow, causing tissue to die, causing tremendous abdominal pain.. that is usually results in DEATH.
Not to mention IF the poor animal does indeed survive…the MENTAL TRAUMA it is left with or fear factor to EVER trust people again.
WHY? Why, Would anyone do this to any living creature, a small brother or sister you loved. These guys need SERIOUS mental help.
Posted by: Karen Link | July 25, 2010, 2:40 pm 2:40 pm
Dear Karen,I don’t know which is the funniest____ your posted concern for the Donkey or the Actual Launching of the Donkey itself…
Posted by: Innocent Bystander | July 25, 2010, 6:52 pm 6:52 pm
Goodness me – how horrible. I guess a parasailing donkey is better than a dead one at the Ukraine zoo!
Posted by: acuvue oasys | July 25, 2010, 11:14 pm 11:14 pm
simply sick.
Posted by: james | July 26, 2010, 6:29 am 6:29 am
The only thing that has helped me feel better about this horrible, horrible situation is to see I am not the only person on the planet who thinks this is a discusting act. Unlike the people that could hook this poor animal up as she cried for her life and all the low lifes on the beach who stood there and did nothing! If justice doesn’t come to them in this life I hope they have a “special” surprise waiting for them in Hell!
Posted by: Leslie | July 26, 2010, 3:00 pm 3:00 pm
They will, Leslie, they will, not to worry.
What I would like to know is, how is she doing now, has she gotten better, is she still with the owner, no more news about her, she must be alive, otherwise we would have heard in the sensation-hungry news …
Posted by: Linda | July 29, 2010, 6:48 pm 6:48 pm
Ref. Linda, I’ve a little info. The British newspaper ‘The Sun’, rescued the donkey, called Anapka, from the thick owner, and it’s currently being cared for in the city of Krassnadar, Russia. ‘The Sun’ and our Department of Environment, are trying to get Anapka bach here to the U.K. Harry Redknapp, the coach of the football/soccer club I support, Tottenham Hotspur F.C., was so angry with the animal abuse, he wants to bring Anapka to southern England, and plans to place it in his animal farm sanctuary. Good old ‘arry’! Here’s hoping it’s soon. ThunorUK.
Posted by: ThunorUK | July 29, 2010, 11:22 pm 11:22 pm
OK folks, it is August 1st….Where is the donkey? Who has to poor thing? What is happening in the police investigation and the IDIOTS that did this? anybody know…
Posted by: Karen Link | August 1, 2010, 2:05 pm 2:05 pm
parasailing donkey! John Kerry should sue!
Posted by: yusa1929 | August 4, 2010, 12:27 pm 12:27 pm
Death would be a justice to those idiots! Someone should try and do something about this! That poor donkey has feelings too! And I wonder how many of the people who were just standing there watching and not doing something, were standing there laughing and enjoying it?!
Posted by: Amanda | August 23, 2010, 4:21 pm 4:21 pm
I wonder how they would feel if they were put up there???!!! Revenge time anyone? >:->
Posted by: Amanda | August 23, 2010, 4:23 pm 4:23 pm
God help you “innocent bystander”!
Posted by: Amanda | August 23, 2010, 4:25 pm 4:25 pm
You too,Jacob Walwright! >:-<
Posted by: Amanda | August 23, 2010, 4:26 pm 4:26 pm
Men like this who enjoy causing harm to other living creatures have been born without the sensitivity gene – they are genetically retarded with tiny dicks. They have to feel like men somehow so they force and tramatize a female donkey to fly high in the air (against their nature, of course) brawing with fear. Why didn’t they do the parasailing stunt themselves? Because they are COWARDS – this is the only way they can feel like real men is to beat up on something weaker than them. They and the STUPID owner of the donkey should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. My heart hurts so much for the horrible experence that donkey went through. I really hope the donkey DOES get adopted to a animal sanctuary where it can live in peace.
Posted by: vicki g | August 27, 2010, 10:55 am 10:55 am