Parasailing Donkey Opens Animal Cruelty Investigation: Video

by Amy Judd | July 20, 2010 at 09:55 am

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Police Are Investigating An Incident After a Donkey Was Made to Parasail Over Krasnodar Beach in Southern Russia Last Week

The donkey was attached to a parasail and pulled by a motor boat over the water for half an hour as part of a publicity stunt, but witnesses said they could hear the animal braying in terror before it was lowered down to the water and then dragged across the surface.

The donkey survived, but police are now investigating the donkey's owner and the owner of the parasailing company, a leisure firm in the village of Golubitskaya on the Azov Sea reports the Associated Press, for animal cruelty, which could be punishable by up to two years in prison.

The Moscow Times reports that although many people on the beach were distressed by the sight of the donkey, no one called the police but many took photos and video.

“The donkey was forced to go parasailing to attract attention to this sort of entertainment. The donkey screamed and the children cried, but no one had the brains to call the police,” a police spokesman told RIA-Novosti on Monday.

Animal rights groups have spoken out about the stunt, calling it 'unnecessarily cruel':

"There was clearly no thought for this animal¹s welfare before they strapped it into a parachute, sending it catapulting into the sky," said British-based charity The Brooke, which helps working horses, donkeys and mules.

"This animal would have been extremely distressed, suffering immeasurable fear and pain. This should never have happened," it said in a statement carried by Britain's Press Association.

It is not known where the donkey is located at this time.