CALGARY – It was win-win arrangement – on Wednesday the Cochrane animal shelter got its out-of-control weed problem eaten away, and a group of Bragg Creek donkeys enjoyed a four-hour lunch buffet.
“I am sure they will be back for seconds another day,” said Nicky Blackshaw, volunteer and events awareness co-ordinator for the Cochrane and Area Humane Society.
Blackshaw said society staff were scratching their heads about how to get rid of the tall weeds “rampant” around the shelter this summer without resorting to pesticides. They were concerned about using chemicals that could be lapped up by shelter dogs.
“We need to take the dogs out for walks and we didn’t want to have to worry about the poison,” Blackshaw said.
They found a four-legged solution in donkeys owned by a society volunteer. Five animals were trotted out Tuesday for a midday meal.
“We wanted to go this route just because all know pesticides aren’t good for the environment,” Blackshaw added.
The city of Prince George, B.C. has used goats for clearing weeds such as dandelions, thistles and horsetails from public lands, as have some American cities. But Blackshaw said the use of donkeys was an original idea from shelter volunteers.
Even after hours of weedkilling work by the donkeys on Tuesday, there is still much more to eat.
“It’s all weeds they can safely ingest,” Blackshaw said.
The donkey lunch came on the same day that the government of Alberta sent out reminders for its ban on weed-and-feed lawn products, which takes effect Jan. 1, 2010. When fertilizer-herbicide combination products are applied to an entire lawn surface, it often results in the over-application of the chemicals and run-off to nearby water bodies.
Environmentalists and provincial opposition party members have criticized the government for not yet setting specific penalties for violations of the ban.
KCRYDERMAN@THEHERALD.CANWEST.COM
Comments
Want to discuss? Please read our Commenting Policy first.