Gabriella Scaperrotta, of the LIVDA and Michele Cavagnis of the LAV of Mestre are the voluntaries for which we have organized the trip to Villanueva, to testify the presence of the animalists and to avoid that the donkey will have the terrible end as years before; here is a summary of their relation of the edition 2001 of the " fiesta ":

The party has already begun the morning of the 26^th t; part of the population of Villanueva made to walk El Pero Palo for the straight streets of the country to come in the plaza. They have tied the puppet to the pole and then... all to drink! Still Monday we have known Giacinto, the " moderator " for the animalists, that has accompanied us along the little streets of the country, in what would have been the course that the donkey would have completed one day later.

We had not been able to calculate the length of the course, but it is inferior to one kilometre. The streets are narrow, typical medieval lanes with coarse pebbles and drainage of the water in the middle (there was a rivulet that the pavement made clammy and slippery) .We fixed that Tuesday we would have been come to see the donkey before and after the " party "; Gabriella would have been helped to stay near the donkey during the procession, while Michael has been advised to keep the distance.

On Tuesday we have reached the plaza of Villanueva at 8.30 o'clock, with wide advance. So we have had the opportunity to get to know some inhabitants that Gabriella has insulted with vulgar expressions; it was obvious, that they had been already drunk. We preferred to go away for not to exasperate the situation, waiting for Giacinto, and to be able to see the donkey. It was a nice exemplary , around three years old (from what I have understood). Also the owner has assured that he would have watched over it. The time of the departure came and we have gone out with the donkey directed towards the plaza; the drunk crowd has not delayed to arrive, frightening and immediately attacking the donkey.

Men, women, boys, elderly they were mostly in state of drunkenness. The wine and the liqueurs in water bottles of skin passed from hand to hand and so it has been for the whole course. We are surprised to see also some children between the crowd that laid a trap for the donkey . One guy of the village, that seemed drunk as well, with the face covered by tights, has been dashed in rump to the donkey and the blows are initiated, the kicks, the fists. Giacinto and some other person have had a lot of work so that the situation didn't degenerate immediately.

Two hunters with suits of epoch shot with the salutes-shotguns; it was almost impossible to get some photos, it had been practically prohibited, under the shouting "no photo to the donkey." We have remained in about one meter of distance from the donkey, that still disappeared often from our sight, covered by numerous guys that kept on throwing hits on hits to the animal. With this beautiful treatment, the donkey often fell down.

We told this to Giacinto; according to him, when the donkey was fallen down it was "save." In effects, once fallen to earth at the donkey was often allowed to rest; people sat down or were knelt and, with raised arms , sang; but as to make it walking it was picked and taken even for the ears, under the noise howls, fists and kicks. It is clear that Giacinto and other two or three people had to intervene repeatedly so that the most excited didn't exceed.

The time seemed to not to end, we had done just 100 meters and yet it seemed to last an eternity. The rider was not even able to keep himself on the feet, so t he was launched on the rump of the donkey (this is not an euphemism) and every time he fell. Those few times that we could see the donkey, it appeared extremely petrified; of however during the whole journey; there was people that pushed from all the parts, it sang, danced, it jumped and it played some cowbells: the confusion increased and was enormous.

We have finally come at the end of the course. The crowd applauded, drank, it launched of everything on the heads, and at the arrival the donkey was even kissed, but it was so terrorized that it not walk anymore, even far away from the crowd. Returned in his stall, it is visited at first by the locals and then by the veterinarian of the English animalists that has confirmed, that there were no serious damages; also our profane eyes have not noticed cuts or wounds. This also thanks to the continuous intervention of Giacinto, who knew well that our presence served to assure that the donkey was not too abused. In fact, every time the donkey was overwhelmed by the brutality of its fellow citizens, Giacinto looked at us us and tried to moderate their behaviour. There has been also a quarrel with a „punch up” for the removal of a person that had beaten the head of the donkey.

In short, in comparison to how much happened in the past, the situation is improved: years of control (and of punches taken) is bringing fruits. Some people of the country (3-4 men more 2-3 girls) know to be observed and they keep attention, trying to stop the excesses.

Unfortunately we are not at the end of this ugly tradition, because it is evident that the improvement is not due to the awakening conscience, that the donkey has the right not to be sacrificed, but to the return of the bad of image, which could cause this demonstration, if the donkey sufferers serious damages.