Investigator Rules High-Diving Mules Not Animal Cruelty
There has been a heated controversy over a Texas rodeo act called The All-American High Diving Aqua Mules. These high-diving miniature mules, Dipsy Doodle, Smokey and Ingrid, step off a 24-foot-high platform into a six-foot-deep pool at Lightning Ranch in South Texas.
Animal activists call this animal cruelty because the mules are old, ranging from 16 to 22-years-old. They want the act to be shut down. Activists said that it isn’t natural for mules to jump off a platform into water, and they are worried about their safety.
After looking at evidence of the diving mules, an investigator for the Bandera County Sheriff’s Office found that the mules used in these high-diving acts were not treated cruelly.
Deputy Shane Merritt said there was no animal cruelty because the mules are not prodded to walk off of the platform into the pool. He also added that these mules have been doing this for years as part of a traveling road show.
Bill Rivers, the owner of the All American High-Diving Mules said the mules are willing to do it and like diving. He added: “If they didn’t … People need to stop and think. We need to give the animals a little bit of credit for being intelligent.”
Rivers’s father started the act in the 1950s when he saw horses diving off of Atlantic City’s Steel Pier. The mules used to perform in county fairs, but due to the controversy, now they only perform at the ranch.
Rivers said that none of the mules have ever been hurt during the act. He said people should see the act before judging it.
August 20th, 2007 at 11:56 am
I don’t care what anyone says, that is abusive to the animals.
August 20th, 2007 at 2:37 pm
No abuse? I bet those mules didn’t just jump off that platform of their own free will the first few times.
August 20th, 2007 at 3:10 pm
Exactly, Cathy. It’s what people don’t see, like the electric prods and hooks used on elephants to get them to “entertain” us.
August 20th, 2007 at 5:50 pm
I agree with all of you. I am sure they were pushed for a while or had electric prods used on them and then they just started jumping because of past abuse. You know it has to smart on their tummies! Very sad that they have to live such a life all the time.
August 20th, 2007 at 6:15 pm
The only way to stop these “animal acts “, is for people to refuse to pay to see them. It’s paying someone your money to abuse animals.
August 20th, 2007 at 7:46 pm
Dumb sheriff……..this is absolutely animal abuse. He probably thinks Vick was not abusive……dumb jerk !!!
August 20th, 2007 at 7:51 pm
And how would the sheriff know anyway? Is He trained to know the difference? I have seen some where the electric prod is hidden and when they step on a certain place they have to jump.
We don’t even go to the circus anymore.
August 20th, 2007 at 8:06 pm
Oh, no, they enjoy risking their lives to entertain a bunch of yahoos. What do they keep in the water cooler at that sheriff’s office??
October 13th, 2007 at 11:40 pm
The mules can grow opposable thumbs and put a stop to it themselves if they don’t like it. Maybe we can get you wimps to jump into a shallow pool for our amusement instead? Shut your cake hole and go back to ignoring your children as you “save the world from itself”.