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Animals pay with their lives in this cruel and dangerous event.Animals pay a high price at Calgary's annual rodeo exhibition. The Calgary Stampede is a 10-day event that takes place every summer in the Canadian province of Alberta. Many horses have suffered catastrophic injuries—often fatal—in this event. Breakneck Speed = Broken NecksThe deadliest event in the Stampede are the chuck wagon races, in which teams of four horses pull old-fashioned "pioneer" wagons and race around a track at breakneck speed. In 2009, two horses died of heart attacks after chuck wagon races, and a third suffered a broken leg and was euthanized. Other animals pay with their lives as well. A steer was euthanized after sustaining a severe spinal injury after being thrown to the ground in the steer-wrestling event. In 2008, a horse was euthanized after a collision in the chuck wagon races. In 2007, three horses died after two wagons collided. One horse died instantly, and two others suffered devastating injuries and were euthanized. The year before, one horse suffered a heart attack, tripping several other horses when he collapsed. Another horse sustained a broken leg in the turmoil, and both horses were euthanized. Later, a third horse was euthanized after colliding with the wagon of another team on the track. Several of the other horses involved sustained injuries in the collision. More than 18 horses have died in the past five years. In July 2005, at least nine horses died after being spooked and falling 33 feet off a city bridge into a river. Some animals tumbled down a steep embankment, while others jumped or fell over the guardrail. Some horses died on impact, others drowned, and one had to be euthanized later. Ranch hands had been herding approximately 200 horses on a six-day, 125-mile journey from the Stampede ranch near Hanna, Alberta, to the exhibition site near downtown Calgary. Cruelty for a BuckAnimals 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. A casual observer of chuck wagon races can see that horses are foaming at the mouth and that their eyes are rolling back in their heads. In calf-roping, the young animals run in terror after being let out of a chute and often sustain neck and back injuries when the rope yanks them violently to the ground. A flank strap is used in the bucking and bull-riding events, tormenting the horses and bulls and causing them to buck wildly in an effort to rid themselves of the constricting band across their genitals. Such cruelty cannot be justified, especially when the sole purpose of the event is to provide "entertainment." The Humane Society of Canada (HSC) has called for a boycott of the Stampede. "We're looking for a way to end rodeo violence," says Michael O'Sullivan, executive director of the animal welfare group. "The only way to do that is not to buy an admission ticket, not to use your hard-earned money to buy goods and services from ad agencies and corporate sponsors." PETA and the Vancouver Humane Society are calling on Stampede officials to ban the violent calf-roping event, in which 3- to 4-month-old calves are goaded and prodded and often have their tails twisted so that they will burst out of the chute at full speed. The terrified calves are then chased by a mounted rider who must lasso them by the neck or torso, pick them up, slam them to the ground, and then tie three of their legs together, all in the shortest amount of time possible. You Can HelpPlease write a polite letter to these sponsors of the Calgary Stampede and encourage them to disassociate themselves from this deadly event: Michael J. Sabia, President, CEO, & Director Elias S. Arturo, President and Managing Director David Ginley, Director
Stephen G. Snyder, President and CEO
Gary Holden, President and CEO
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People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals 501 Front St., Norfolk, VA 23510; 757-622-PETA | Disclaimer |