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July 18, 2010

Calgary Stampede Cruelty

Animals suffering and dying in the name of entertainment

Humane Society International/Canada

With six horses dying in the 2010 Calgary Stampede, outraged Canadians are asking if the cost of this annual rodeo is simply too high.

Two of the horses died of apparent heart attacks and three others had to be euthanized after they were seriously injured; the cause of another death is still unknown.

And horses are not the only animals to suffer during the Stampede. In recent years, Humane Society International/Canada has lent its voice in opposition to several events at the Calgary Stampede that inflict cruelty to animals merely for the entertainment of spectators.

Dangerous, painful and frightening

Chuckwagon racing was invented at the Calgary Stampede, and involves several teams of horses pulling wagons in a figure eight course and racing down a track at high speed to the finish line. More than 50 chuckwagon horses—including four this year—have been killed at the Calgary Stampede since 1986, mainly due to crash injuries or cardiac arrest brought on by stress.

In calf roping events, a young calf is forced to enter the arena, often through painful tail-twisting, kicking or even electric prods. The terrified animal then runs from tormentors and is roped around the neck with a lasso, yanked to a sudden halt, and slammed to the ground before having all four legs bound with rope.

In steer wrestling events, a rider jumps from his horse on to the head and neck of a running steer. The so-called wrestler then twists the steer's neck until the animal falls to the ground.

While Calgary Stampede supporters try to project an image of wild, uncontrollable animals who must be tamed by fearless cowboys, the reality is that the animals used in rodeos are ordinary farm animals, coerced into fleeing, bucking or other behaviour through the infliction of pain and stress.

Needless cruelty should end

HSI Canada deplores the very idea of subjecting animals to abuse—including in the perverse name of entertainment. Moreover, numerous studies [PDF] prove beyond doubt the links between cruelty to animals and crimes against humans.

It is encouraging that one of Canada’s largest rodeos—the BC Cloverdale Rodeo—has removed calf roping and steer wrestling from its program. HSI Canada has contacted the Calgary Stampede organizers to request that the Stampede follow suit immediately. These events are not wholesome family fun—they are unacceptable and unnecessary cruelty to defenseless animals for the sake of frivolous amusement.