Town refuses to pay for donkey work
December 15, 2004
Rome - An Italian town is setting donkeys to work mowing the grass on the side of its highways in an effort to save money and reduce pollution.
Fed up with paying about 100 000 euros (about R800 000) a year to have the grass cut on its out-of-town roads with tractor-mowers, the local government of Treviso, near Venice, said yesterday it had bought six donkeys to do the work instead.
"This purchase will allow us to save cash as well as launch an experimental ecological project," said local government chief Luca Zaia, who paid just over 2 000 euros (R15 200) for the six animals.
Motorists need not fear running down the donkeys - they will only be allowed to munch the grass in roadside areas that are fenced off from traffic.
