TELL THE MAYOR OF MIJAS, NOT TO EXPLOIT ANIMALS FOR THE SAKE OF ATTRACTING VISITORS.

The mountain village of Mijas has for many years used donkey taxis to attract visitors. Currently there are in the region of 60 donkeys working in the village. Unfortunately, since the very start, there have been countless complaints regarding the conditions that these animals have to work under, and the cruelty from the owners. Some ten years ago the authorities of Mijas gave in to public pressure, and agreed to allow the Spanish branch of the UK Donkey Sanctuary to draw up a code of practice.

Under this new code the donkeys would receive regular veterinary checks, regulate the hours they can work and no longer would they have to carry overweight people. Adequate housing must be supplied for these animals when they are not working. Because the village lives off the revenue the visitors generate, enforcing the code of practice is not enforced. The village is a very small community. The likelihood that any complaints would be investigated fully are nearly non existent.

Complaints received from visitors over the years, relate to beatings from the owners, carrying excessive weight, and why are these donkeys always tied up to a metal bar, unable to move their head in any direction when not having to carry visitors. The owners claim that as they are non castrated stallions, they would bite each other. Offers of having each animal castrated free have been rejected by the owners.

The attached pictures were taken at 2pm on a bright and sunny day. As can be seen, these donkeys are locked up in dank, dark and dirty conditions. They remain tied up like this until they are required to work. Every night they remain the same, and have to sleep standing up tethered to a bar. Never are these donkeys allowed to run free in a field and lie down in the Spanish sun.

Please sign this petition so that the authorities of Mijas will enforce the current code of practice and stop ignoring all the complaints received.