By: Eric Mills, coordinator, ACTION FOR ANIMALS, Oakland

Be aware that nearly every animal welfare organization on Planet Earth condemns rodeo due to its inherent cruelty. Plus the fact that it’s mostly bogus hype, a macho exercise in DOMINATION. Real working cowboys/girls never routinely rode bulls, or rode bareback, or wrestled steers, or practiced calf roping (terrified BABIES!) as a timed event….Rodeo is not a true “sport”–that term denotes willing, equally-matched participants. Rodeo does not qualify.

As a gay man, I find it sad that gay people–of all people–would take part in this abuse. Have we learned so little from our own long history of abuse? Many gay rodeo participants don’t even know how to ride a horse! Hence the nonsensical “wild cow drag,” “sheep/goat dressing,” et al. There are some 2,000 rodeos held annually in the U.S. (plus many hundred charreadas), the majority of which don’t even require on-site veterinarians. The PRCA has had an on-site vet requirement only since 1996, after FIVE animals were killed at the 1995 California Rodeo/Salinas. It all needs to end.

The United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales) outlawed all of rodeo back in 1934, soon followed by the Netherlands. Can the U.S. be far behind? Legislation is in order. In the interim, BOYCOTT ALL RODEOS, THEIR ADVERTISERS AND CORPORATE SPONSORS. Follow the money.

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Eric Mills, coordinator
ACTION FOR ANIMALS
Oakland

P.S. – See prize-winning rodeo documentary, “BUCKING TRADITION” – http://www.buckingtradition.com