Weight limit eases the load on beach donkeys

LONDON (Reuters) - Relief is in sight for Britain's hard-working beach donkeys -- from now on they won't have to carry anyone weighing over eight stone.
Nor will they have to work more than six days a week or have to show off their foals to tourists, under a new national code of practice unveiled on Friday.
Blackpool, which with 200 animals has the largest number of working donkeys, has become the first resort to adopt the new rules.
The charter from the Donkey Sanctuary charity says anyone over the eight-stone (51 kg) limit will not be able to ride the 850 resort animals -- and that includes overweight children.
The charter, backed by the British Equine Vets' Association, stipulates the animals should always have one full day of rest per week.
They should also get an hour's lunch break if working for long periods.
The rules ban heavily pregnant mares from working and from having to show off their young foals to tourists.
Donkey rides are one of the oldest and most popular attractions on many of the country's beaches and the image of portly riders weighing down the long-suffering beasts have long featured on "Wish You Were Here" cartoon postcards.
The new rules come as the problem of obesity is growing.
A recent government study predicted that half the population could be obese within 25 years while experts believe one million children will be overweight in a decade.
The Sanctuary's head of welfare, Martin Taggart, said the rules were designed to remind people about the laws against animal cruelty.
"There are some people that love to subject the donkey to some ridicule," he told Reuters. "We are trying to protect the donkey from that."
Henry Mitchell, Blackpool council's licensing head, said in a statement he was delighted with the new code of practice.
"We've had a Donkey Charter in place since 1942, which covers the same recommendations and we are delighted to be the first to adopt the code," he said.

(Editing by Stephen Addison)

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