Letter to the editor: No cruelty at donkey basketball game

By: David Cable | Chief, McDowell County Rescue Squad
Published: November 12, 2008

In response to the donkey basketball game sponsored by the McDowell County Rescue Squad, I feel like I need to clear up a few things.
First and foremost, the McDowell County Rescue Squad would never sponsor or be affiliated with any event that would have any form of cruelty to animals, and I'm positive that the members of the Fraternal Order of Police feel the same.
For the people who actually came out and saw the game, they saw a good event that was nothing close to what was described in Mrs. O'Conners letter. I saw the animals being fed and watered prior to and during the game. After each eight-minute quarter, there was approximately a 10-minute break for the animals to be taken outside for food and water. Halftime lasted approximately 15 to 20 minutes. By my calculation, the animals rested longer than they actually participated.
Again, for the ones who were there, no animals were "drug around" or mistreated in any way. The owner of the animals made the rules of no rough treatment of the animals very clear prior to the game and was there throughout to ensure the rules were followed.
If anyone has any doubt or questions concerning this game, I will be happy to address any questions that you may have. To Mrs. O'Conner, McDowell County Rescue is a strong supporter of animal rights and has been involved in many animal rescues in our county.
Maybe in other events like this, the things you described do happen, but not the one we participated in. Please, in the future, have all the facts together before submitting a letter because for the people who were not there,or even in the state, this type of negativity could be damaging to the agencies who participated.

Letter to the editor: No cruelty at donkey basketball game

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