Tommy Lee Pleads With Greece to Ban Santorini Donkey 'Taxis'

In a letter for the country's Minister for Agricultural Development and Food, the Motley Crue drummer calls a stop to the practice of using animals to ferry tourists up the island's steep hills.

Dec 6, 2019

AceShowbiz - Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee has appealed to Greece's Minister for Agricultural Development and Food to ban mule and donkey "taxis" on the island of Santorini.

The rocker, who was born in Athens, Greece, recently returned to the islands for a vacation and was sickened by the animal abuse he witnessed, and he has now drafted a letter to Makis Voridis on behalf of People For the Ethical Treatment of Animals, urging the lawyer and politician to halt the practice of using animals to ferry tourists up Santorini's steep hills.

"I'm honored to have been born in Athens, and wherever I tour with Motley Crue, I proudly proclaim my Greek heritage," he writes in the letter, obtained by WENN. "But there's an issue souring the reputation of Greece that I hope you'll help resolve: the sickening abuse of broken-down donkeys and mules made to lug tourists up steep hills on Santorini."

"I visited the island this summer on a yacht trip... and I refused to ride a donkey up to the city center. I just saw this story about it on CNN and decided to join my friends at PETA in trying to stop this cruelty."

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The drummer adds he was angry to learn a law passed "a few years ago" to help the donkeys "isn't being enforced", insisting tourists should be encouraged to take Santorini's "cool cable car".

"Instead, they pile on to struggling donkeys, who are forced to carry humans up and down the 500 steps from the port to Fira's old town several times a day," Tommy continues. "Ill-fitting saddles cause inflamed wounds that often go untreated. Animals have no protection from the scorching Greek sun and are only rarely granted short breaks. They're even denied food and water."

"I understand that you have the power to stop this cruelty and make Santorini hospitable to both tourists and animals. Please put an immediate end to the old-school cruelty of 'animal taxis'. I look forward to your response. Thanks for your time and consideration."