Rodeo Cruelty
Back in April there was a big push to ban animal circuses in Clatsop County. The topic was brought before the Board of Commissioners, but I don’t recall the outcome and perhaps one of the readers can remind us how it went.
I can see the reasons and emotions behind this petition; however I am puzzled that this petition didn’t include Rodeos. Every year for the last few years the Rodeo comes to the Fair Grounds and if you’ve ever been to one you will note that this is an event of animal cruelty of a high order. Being a horse owner I could never imaging kicking my horse in the neck with spurs. This is a big part of Bronc Riding. I’ve seen calf roping events where the calfs left the arena staggering and barely able to negotiate walking from being roped by the neck and being brought to an abrupt halt, thrown on the ground and further restrained.
During Rodeo season these animals are trucked thousands of miles in the back of large stock trailers and rarely get to spend time in open pastures.
Rodeo proponents will claim it is a western tradition and a ritual of those that love the Western Lifestyle, but slavery was once a tradition in this country as well. Cowboys don’t rope calfs several times a week. They may do it a couple times for inoculations or branding. Horses are no longer broke with the old bucking bronc tradition. Horses are now tamed with psychology and use of horses’ natural reaction to situations; making the right decisions easy and the wrong decisions difficult.
There is absolutely no reason to girth a bull’s stomach with a rope to ride a bull other than bragging rites of the rider who can stay on for eight seconds.
If we want to be on the forefront of banning animal cruelty in Clatsop County we can’t stop with the circus. We need to ban the rodeo as well.
posted by The Guy Who Writes This at 4:00 AM
8 Comments:
Oh come now! Next you'll be wanting to ban kitten juggling and alligator wrestling! And what about American Idol? Talk about cruelty to dumb animals....
I remember going to the rodeo with my Grandmother when I was a kid... back when the fairgrounds were by the hospital. I was horrified, and couldn't stop crying. Never went again.
Move.
I worked briefly for a large animal vet and we once were the official veterinary staff for a 3 day rodeo. We did treat several cutting horses and one dog, but were never called for any of the cattle or bucking horses. If they were "damaged" they went into the back where a truck from the rendering plant picked them up. I was told later they were killed with a sledge hammer.
Less than a week after the rodeo the vet was kicked in the head by his own horse and ended up a veg.
columbiacritter
Darev, one thing at a time.
Anon, I'm surprised more people don't have that reaction. I guess they lack empathy for their animals.
g, oh, that's the Brownsmead solution to everything.
Critter,they have no intention of ever training the animals. They use them up and throw them out.
It's my solution to protesters.
I heeded my own advice lol!
there was a bullfighter in spain who was gored through the throat the other day. the photos captured were unbelievable, but it serves the matador right, as far as i'm concerned.
g, hence your exile in Brownsmead.
Dalia, Live by the sword, die by the horn...
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