It doesn't take much reading between the lines to feel the intensity of your anger toward people who categorize rodeos as a form of animal cruelty. That intensity intrigues me as much as the content of your message does. Your belief which you state as "A rodeo will not shut down because some "protestors" disagree with it." stands strong and steadfast as does the belief of the people you refer to as those needing another "hobby". Witnessing, speaking out against and working with victims of animal cruelty is as far from being a hobby as any commitment could get. It is in fact a commitment to physically, emotionally and financially demanding work which at times in my experience is too emotionally painful to bear.

As in regard to similar and often related issues such as family violence and abuse of children, action which brings about breaking of the silence is a vital part of developing and contributing to solutions. Rodeos will not shut down if people who see the cruelty do not protest. Those who protest will not stop speaking out because of one or many angry voices reacting with the degree of intensity you express.

FYI: I lived in Cloverdale, within easy hearing distance of the rodeo for six years. I attended the Cloverdale Rodeo once. Animals were suffering. Animals were in a state of extreme fear and distress. I did not see in any instance of enjoyment by the animals or the presence of or participation by the SPCA. What I did see in the years which followed my attendance at the Cloverdale Rodeo was disturbing advertising and focus on rodeo events for youth. The participants and the animals were smaller, however the attitude and spirit of competition without regard for the welfare of the helpless animals were the same. From one generation to the next, participation in this form of animal cruelty has been passed on as a legacy. There remains much work and the need for many more deliberate and informed protesting voices to bring the cruelty of the rodeo out of the darkness and into the light for all to see.I do not envision "All you people that try to protest and shut down rodeos" going away or keeping silent any time soon. I am very aware that many of those people would dearly love and may in fact have some very pleasurable, stress-relieving and interesting hobbies. Witnessing, documenting, rescuing and working with victims of animal cruelty are not among them.