Campaigning against old traditions

Each year we attend the Peropalo annual carnival where a poor and helpless donkey is dragged through the streets.

The carnival of Peropalo takes place in Villanueva de la Vera every Shrove Tuesday. In this festival a poor and helpless donkey is taken through the streets of the village to be ridden by the drunkest rider and to be subjected to degrading and cruel treatment for more than an hour.

The parliament of Junta de Extremadura passed a law (Ley 5/2002) for the Protection of Animals in the region of Extremadura which forbids the utilisation of animals in festivals and public shows when the animal receives cruel mistreatment.

However, every year the Junta de Extremadura approves the celebration of this unkind festival, forgetting what the law says.
El Refugio del Burrito and The Donkey Sanctuary (based in the UK) have witnessed this festival since 1986. We thought that the passing of that law meant the end of the torture the donkey receives, but reality has proved that nothing has changed.

Petition

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/peropalo/

Text of the petition (in English)

Dear Mr. President,

The "Peropalo" celebrations take place every year in Villanueva de la Vera. “Peropalo” is a Carnival related celebration that has been declared as a Celebration of Regional Touristic Interest which has important cultural and anthropological value.

This celebration is held over several days and there are different rituals taking place.
On Carnival Tuesday, however, a donkey is used in one of these rituals, known as the "Corrida de Elecciones". The use of the donkey includes cruelty and ill treatment, causing the donkey to suffer and making it the object of unnatural treatment.

Law 5/2002 of the Extremaduran Community’s Animal Protection Act clearly forbids this kind of practice.

In view of the imminent Carnival Celebrations in Villanueva de la Vera, including the "Corrida de Elecciones" we want to make you aware of these facts so you can, in your position as President of the Junta de Extremadura, take the pertinent measures to prevent the use of a donkey in this celebration, as it is a clear breach of Extremadura Animal Protection Law 5/2002. In this way we will ensure compliance with the FIRST FINAL DISPOSITION in the afore mentioned Law.

Regards,