rodeo cruelty

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  • 8/19/2019 Rodeo Cruelty

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    safe.org.nzRODEO CRUELTY

     TO BAN RODEO

    IN NEW ZEALAND

    IT’S TIME

    Touted as traditional displaysof skill and bravery in tackling

    untamed wild animals, rodeos

    are inherently cruel and subject

    animals to fear, stress and therisk of injury and death.

    Unlike the contestants, who voluntarily

    risk injury by participating in events,

    the animals have no such choice

    – they are captive performers.

    CRUEL ENTERTAINMENT 

    During events, animals are grabbed,

    chased, wrestled, and roped inaggressive displays.

    They are stressed and frightened,

    unaware that it is just for ‘fun’

    and ‘entertainment’.

    The animals used are not wild and

    are coerced into aggressive behaviour

    by painful or irritating means such as

    electric prods, tail twisting, spurs andflank straps, which are tightly cinched

    around the abdomen.

    Based upon my extensive experience with large animals,I have come to the conclusion that rodeo events areinherently inhumane. It is impossible to create a humane rodeo.

    Peggy Larson former rodeo rider, vet and farmer.

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    Standard events include bareback horse riding, saddle broncriding, bareback bull riding, steer wrestling, team roping,barrel racing and calf roping.

    Calf roping is considered to be one of the cruellest componentsof a rodeo. Terrified calves are chased at high speed, roped aroundthe neck and thrown to the ground; a horrific experience causingstress, fear, pain and sometimes injury.

    The New Zealand Code of Welfare for Rodeos acknowledgesthat ideally “calves should not be used in rodeo events”, but thereis no legal weight behind that recommendation.

    Footage shot across many New Zealand rodeos has shownthat animals are prodded, slapped and harassed prior to enteringthe rodeo ring to encourage them to perform, by increasingtheir anxiety and stress.

    Injuries can result from animals crashing into barricades,being thrown to the ground, and leaping uncontrollably

    as they try to throw a rider.

    THE EVENTS

    PROVOKED & TORMENTED

    RISK OF INJURYAnimals in rodeo can sustain torn ligaments, broken bones,bruising and internal injuries. In the 2014-15 season two bulls

    had to be euthanised due to injuries, and some animals are sentto the slaughterhouse when the rodeo is done with them.

    Rodeo is touted by supporters as ‘a great day out for the wholefamily’. However, the abuse seen at rodeos can desensitise childrento the suffering of animals and teach them that cruelty is acceptable.

    INTERNATIONAL CONDEMNATIONCondemned by vets, welfare experts and animal protectionorganisations worldwide and even some ex-rodeo riders,rodeo is partially banned in Britain, other parts of Europe andareas of the United States and Australia. Other countriesprohibit certain events such as calf roping. In New Zealandrodeo is banned from Auckland Council land.

    What you can doBoycott rodeo and encourage others to do the same

    Take action at safe.org.nz supporting our call for a rodeo ban

    Write to your local newspaper and rodeo sponsors explainingwhy you will not be going to the rodeo

    Donate to support SAFE’s work protecting animals at safe.org.nz   safe.org.nz