Member-only story
I Left My Heart with a Mexican Donkey — Mascot or Prisoner?
Our encounter in Puerto Vallarta made me question the use of animals for profit
Where do we draw the line when it comes to using animals for profit and entertainment?
It’s a question I found myself grappling with after an eye-opening encounter on the streets of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
On a trip there earlier this year, my parents and I were dining outside a taqueria in the Romantic Zone. Crispy tacos glistened from our plates, topped with fresh cilantro.
The neighborhood buzzed with Pride Week energy. Rainbow flags fluttered in the breeze, palm trees swayed, and the air pulsed with music and chatter.
Break-dancers had even taken to the cobblestone streets, spinning and flipping with incredible precision. I braced myself for one to fall, but they stuck the landing each time.
Amid all this, we heard a donkey bray in the distance. Our first reaction was laughter — thinking it was a machine recording, perhaps from a nearby business or restaurant.
Donkeys have always had a special place in our hearts. They’d been childhood companions to my dad, who grew up in Cyprus and spent summers picking grapes with these gentle creatures at his side.
