The Vancouver Humane Society (VHS) called for an immediate halt to the Calgary Stampede chuckwagon races after a fifth horse died at the Stampede, the third in the chuckwagon event.
“This event has become a killing ground for horses,” said VHS spokesperson Peter Fricker, who said more than 50 chuckwagon horses have died at the Stampede since 1986. A spokesperson for the Rodeo claimed in a media interview that the horses died of “natural causes.”
VHS is also asking the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association demand that the Stampede immediately suspend the chuckwagon event. “VHS is opposed to rodeo because most rodeo events involve the use of fear, stress or pain to make animals perform. There is also considerable risk of injury or death for the animals. These risks and the suffering they endure are especially unacceptable, given the unnecessary and frivolous nature of rodeo as entertainment.”
In the past, VHS also raised concerns over the Cloverdale Rodeo in the Metro Vancouver community of Surrey, BC, one of the largest rodeos in Canada. In 2007, following the death of a calf in a calf-roping event, the Cloverdale Rodeo and Exhibition Association announced that it would discontinue four key events: calf-roping, steer-wrestling, team-roping and wild cow milking - events considered by many to be the most offensive in terms of animal welfare.
PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) has also come out strongly against rodeos in a campaign called Buck the Rodeo, labeling the Calgary Stampede “Canada’s Shameful Spectacle.” PETA says: “animals used in the rodeo circuit suffer horribly. The extensive physical trauma and psychological terror experienced by animals used in rodeo and chuck wagon events is obvious.”
PETA has posted an online letter campaign asking supporters to write to sponsors of the Calgary Stampede to encourage them to disassociate themselves from the Calgary Stampede rodeo events.
The Humane Society of Canada has also demanded a boycott of the Stampede. Stampede representatives have posted their approach to animal care online, including claims they follow Alberta's Animal Protection Act. They also say: “competitions reflect the unique heritage and character of southern Alberta.”
Reference: Vancouver Humane Society
Comments
PETA is a horrible organization. anyone who supports them either follows blindly, or is in a position to make money from it. The VHS should look at the thousands slaughtered at the PETA headquarters every year, or the 6 animals on average they put down for no reason EVERY SINGLE DAY!
Killing grounds? Please. . . . groups like the VHS are completely biased and frankly, searching for the publicity they need to continue to garner donations from folks who really don't know what they are contributing to. Did you know, Vancouver Humane Society members, your donation went to a one day $15,000 ad in the Calgary Herald last week, that most everyone has tossed out by now? That's money well spent. . .
Please read about the real nature of rodeo at my blog on www.westernhorsereview.com – look for the Screen Doors & Saddles blog.
I fully support the Humane Society & PETA for standing up for animal welfare. The money spent on any ads is well spent & a drop in the bucket when compared with the cost of human & animal lives, vet & medical bills, etc. when there are injuries or deaths at a rodeo. One cowboy can win $150,000 for "breaking a calf!!!" Is that money well spent Kirsten & Ingrid? NO!!!
The local Calgary Humane Society, which shelters more than 8000 homeless, abandoned and abused animals each year, has actively worked in the community for more than 3 decades to help animals in rodeo and change social attitudes that support rodeo. Their efforts have been instrumental in significant changes to rodeo that have saved scores of animals from injury or even death - like changes to track conditions, penalizing especially risky behaviour and so on. They also have Peace Officers on the grounds every day of the event to monitor conditions and investigate incidents. Their efforts have made a real difference
Hi Danielle: I appreciate the work of the Calgary Humane Society, but they need help from the larger community to change the Calgary rodeo culture, which involves big money, big business and too many fat-cat dinosaur ideas. I understand Calgarians are even afraid to speak up against the rodeo for fear of retribution. Maybe the larger international community needs to speak up, write letters, make phone calls, etc. to help the Humane Sociey. The Stampede administration believes rodeo is part of their HERITAGE. Gee so is hanging & shooting people - does that mean we should bring back the noose & more firing squads? Come now Albertans get enlightened & move into the year 2000!! GET WITH THE PROGRAM!!!
Regardless of Ingrid's and Kirstin's blind support of the Calgary Stampede rodeo, the fact remains that 9 horses died in this exhibition of cruelty to animals. What is so great about roping a little calf and tying it up or running horses to exhaustion in the Chuckwagon race? Two of these horses died of heart attacks. Are the "cowboys" proud of that?
Anne, I have the same thoughts as you in regards to getting the attention and involvement from the larger international community and have started working towards raising the awareness of the people in my home country to hopefully gain their support. Almost all people in my culture have no interest in the rodeos and most people I know have compassion for animals. But they probably don't get involve because of lack of full awareness of how much animals get terrorized in these events. It's always easier to do nothing and say what can one person do? If we w
are to win this fight we need to first defeat apathy and get everyone to take a stance or voice out.
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