Staff Reporter
MORE than 65,000 people have signed a petition calling for an end to ‘cruel and painful’ pony carousels.
Expat animal lover Michael Owens took his petition, totalling 65,556 signatures, to Mijas Town Hall in an attempt to end the practice in Mijas, La Cala de Mijas, and Las Lagunas.
Pony carousels are banned in the region, but La Cala’s feria allegedly still featured one, with several animals trudging around the same small circle until well into the morning.
When locals voiced concerns, Owens, 76, leapt into action, drawing on his experience taken from a previous campaign against the controversial donkey rides in Mijas.
The campaigner gathered signatures from every corner of the globe, posting the petition on the U.S.-based petition platform Care2.com.
With such a strong backing behind him, Owens took the 2.507 page petition to Mijas mayor – also his close friend – Angel Nozal. It has now been officially submitted to the Oficina de Registro system and is being investigated. In the meantime, local residents are in uproar, including Alora resident Pat Woodley, who told the Olive Press that she was ‘shocked’ when she heard the carousels were still occurring.
“I am in favour of the strongest possible protest against this blatant cruelty,” said animal enthusiast Woodley.
will they still be allowed at malaga fair ??