Posted on 05/13/2005 12:49:10 PM PDT by dead
LONDON - For more than a century, teams of donkeys have carried tourists down the beach at Blackpool, one of Britain’s top tourist destinations. But only now are they to get a compulsory lunch break.
As part of a wide-ranging "employment rights" charter for donkeys, Blackpool council inspectors are to carry out spot-checks on the beach to ensure the animals get a statutory hour off to munch their hay.
The 200 animals working at the coastal resort in northwest England ferry tourists along the beach throughout the summer.
Under the new rules, donkeys must only work from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm and get Fridays off, as well as the lunch break.
They will also get an annual donkey health check-up, in which officials and veterinarians checks each animal's hooves, ears, teeth and coats are in good condition.
A spokeswoman said the council would carry out inspections to ensure the animals, whose distant ancestors were brought to the region to work down mines, were being well treated.
"Some people might think it is quite a hard day on the beach with no break on a busy day," she said.
"It is an important part of our tourism business. We want the donkeys to be happy and healthy."
Some of the rules had already existed, and the council was largely codifying the regulations to make sure they were well known, the spokeswoman added.
"The donkey's Friday off is a by-law that has been in place for, well, donkey's years," she said.
AFP
Inspector Barney Frank reporting for duty, sir!
Is this another story about the homosexual agenda?
ROTFLMAOPMP at that headline!
Under the new rules, donkeys must only work from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm and get Fridays off...
The donkeys are Muslims?
LOL!!!
The council was mule headed about changing them.
You posted that just fir the headline.............hehhehhehheh.......
I work in state governement and I can tell you there are already a lot of dumb ass laws. We really need a few more smart ass laws.
[after drinking a beauty potion]
Donkey: I don't *feel* any different. Do I look any different?
Puss-in-Boots: You still look like an ass to me!
Funny, for all the times I ever said "just checking on your ass," all I ever got was slapped!
Do the asses have a union? Maybe next they will strike for more hay, vacation time, and health benefits.
Badabing!
Gotta rest your ass?
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