VANCOUVER, Juy 8, 2015 – The Vancouver Humane Society (VHS) is repeating its call for the immediate suspension of the Calgary Stampede chuckwagon race, following the death of a second horse in three days at the event.
“People across Canada are outraged and they are sick of hearing about the needless death of horses at the Stampede,” said VHS spokesperson Peter Fricker.
VHS says the Stampede should suspend the race and establish a panel of independent equine experts to determine if anything can be done to make the race safer.
Vancouver Humane Society calls on Stampede to suspend chuckwagon race
VANCOUVER, July 5, 2015 – The Vancouver Humane Society (VHS) is calling for the suspension of the Calgary Stampede chuckwagon races after yet another death of a horse in the event. More than 60 horses have died in the race since 1986.
“Horses keep dying in this event and the Stampede is running out of excuses,” said VHS spokesperson Peter Fricker. “It should be suspended immediately.”
VHS is calling on the Stampede to establish an independent panel of equine experts to determine if anything can be done to make the race safer.
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ACTION ALERT: Please sign our petition calling on the CBC to stop covering rodeo cruelty at the Calgary Stampede.
ACTION ALERT: Please email the Abbotsford Agrifair to ask them to stop rodeo cruelty.
The harassment of a moose has rightly provoked shock and anger but rodeo animals face routine abuse and it’s considered entertainment.
Video of several men tormenting a moose in northern B.C. has gone viral and caused outrage around the world. Conservation officers have launched an investigation and the perpetrators could face heavy fines if caught and charged.
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Meanwhile, rodeos routinely torment animals and hand out prize money to reward the abuse. Just because an animal is “livestock” doesn’t mean it can’t feel the same fear and stress that other animals do. Cruelty is cruelty.
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Please sign our petition asking CBC Sports to stop broadcasting animal cruelty at the Calgary Stampede.
CBC Sports has confirmed to VHS that it will once again broadcast the Calgary Stampede’s rodeo and chuckwagon races in July. Despite severe budget cuts to its sports coverage, the CBC apparently is keeping its rodeo coverage intact.
VHS has explained to CBC Sports executives that rodeo is considered inhumane by virtually all major animal welfare agencies, including the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies and the national SPCAs of the United States, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom (where it has been outlawed since 1934).
We have pointed out the obvious fact that roping animals to a sudden halt or twisting their necks until they are bent to the ground will cause fear, pain and stress. We have asked them how this could possibly be considered entertainment.
We have also noted that the CBC’s television coverage of calf-roping ensures that the camera pans away from the calf as it hits the end of the rope. That way, viewers will never see the calf violently jerked off its feet. If what happens to the calf is not fit for the general public to see, how can the CBC condone the event by covering it?
We sent CBC Sports a link to this video showing a bull being kicked in the head at the Stampede. We had no reply. Meanwhile, animals continue to be tormented for the sake of entertainment at the Stampede, like these ponies. The CBC doesn’t seem to want to face the truth about rodeo.
We’re asking Canadians who care about animals to let CBC Sports know how they feel about the Calgary Stampede broadcasts. Please take a minute to sign our petition calling on Trevor Pilling, Head of Programming at CBC Sports, to stop broadcasting rodeo animal cruelty at the Calgary Stampede.
Vancouver – The Vancouver Humane Society (VHS) and Victoria Citizens Against Rodeo Events (VCARE) are claiming victory after news that the Luxton Rodeo in Langford, near Victoria has been cancelled.
The animal protection groups had campaigned for three years to end cruel rodeo events, receiving considerable local and regional support. A number of the rodeo’s sponsors had dropped out as a result of the campaign.
“It’s a great victory for animal welfare,” said VHS spokesperson Peter Fricker. “It’s a tribute to the progressive and compassionate people of Vancouver Island.”
VCARE Organizer Melissa de Meulles said “No matter what the reason for the cancellation, this is one less rodeo stop for the animals and hopefully the first of many rodeos to close down. Our community can be proud it spoke loudly and stood up for animals.”
The cancellation of the Luxton Rodeo is the second blow to the rodeo industry in recent years. In 2007, after a long campaign by VHS, the Cloverdale Rodeo announced that it would discontinue four key events: calf-roping, steer-wrestling, team-roping and wild cow milking. VHS also convinced the City of Vancouver to ban rodeos in 2006.
Another animal dies to entertain crowds at Calgary Stampede
Vancouver Humane Society calls on Stampede to end steer-wrestling
Vancouver – The Vancouver Humane Society (VHS) is calling for an end to steer-wrestling at the Calgary Stampede after a steer died in the event yesterday. It is the second year in a row that a steer has had to be euthanized after suffering a severe neck injury in the event.
“This is just blatant animal abuse for the sake of entertainment,” said VHS spokesperson Peter Fricker. “Why should an animal have to suffer and die just to amuse a crowd.”
Fricker pointed out that steer-wrestling has no relation to any ranch practice and serves no agricultural purpose.
“This is just a cruel circus event using livestock,” Fricker said. “Compassionate Canadians need to tell the Stampede to stop it.”
Animal advocates in North America and around the world have been thrilled with the decision by a number of music industry artists to cancel concerts at SeaWorld, the controversial marine park in Florida.
The cancellations were sparked by the stunning impact of the film Blackfish, which exposed the suffering of captive Orca whales at marine parks. Online petitions and social media postings targeted the acts who had signed on to play at the park.
One act that announced it would not appear at SeaWorld is the veteran rock band Heart. The decision, which came amidst online pressure from fans, was announced in a tweet stating that: “Heart has chosen to decline their forthcoming performance at SeaWorld on 2/9/14 due to the controversial documentary film ‘Black Fish’.”
However, Heart is currently set to appear at the San Antonio Rodeo, which, like all rodeos, will feature the inhumane treatment of animals for entertainment. Can anyone spot the double standard?
It’s great if people in the entertainment industry are going to start including animal welfare concerns in decisions about where they will and will not perform. But it would be nice if they were consistent.
The Vancouver Humane Society will be carrying its campaign against rodeo cruelty into 2014. If you’re opposed to abusing animals for the sake of entertainment, we hope you’ll support us.
Thank you to everyone who helped with our 2013 campaign.
A majority of British Columbians are opposed to rodeos, according to a poll by research company Insights West.
The poll found that 56% of B.C. residents are opposed to rodeos, with only 38% in favour of them.
The poll also revealed that large majorities of people in B.C. are opposed to trophy hunting and killing animals for fur.
“Across British Columbia, only one-in-ten residents (10%) are in favour of hunting animals for sport, while 88% are opposed to the practice. Killing animals for their fur is endorsed by just 15% of British Columbians, and rejected by 81%,” said Insights West’s press release on the poll results.
Insights West has also published a more detailed report on the poll findings.
VHS is extremely sorry to hear of the death of another horse at the Calgary Stampede chuckwagon races.
It is getting harder for the public to believe that these deaths are just coincidence or bad luck. There is something inherently unsafe about the race.
Nothing the Stampede has done has stopped horses dying.
VHS is reiterating its call for the Stampede to suspend the chuckwagon race and have an independent panel of experts review the event to determine if anything can be done to make it safe.
More than 50 horses have died at the Stampede since 1986.
Meanwhile, rodeos routinely torment animals and hand out prize money to reward the abuse. Just because an animal is “livestock” doesn’t mean it can’t feel the same fear and stress that other animals do. Cruelty is cruelty.
