Letter
Published: Sunday, May 21, 2006

Cloverdale Rodeo's celebration of its 60th anniversary is nothing to brag about.

For 60 years we've been tormenting animals for the purpose of entertainment. For 60 years we've been priding ourselves on our cruelty.

The rodeo takes normally tame and docile animals and provokes them into behaviour that makes them appear aggressive and fierce in a horrific show of man trying to assert dominance over nature.

Bucking and flank straps, electric prods and physical abuse, tail twisting and ear biting are used to terrorize animals into the horrific performance.

Injuries to animals, such as bone fractures, ripped tendons, deep internal organ bruising, hemorrhaging and torn ligaments and muscles, are all expected and anticipated in this cruel and violent tradition.

We can't continue these vicious rodeo practices just because they're tradition.

Traditionally black people were used as slaves. Traditionally women weren't allowed to vote.

Those traditions have ended because they were unjust. It's time Cloverdale's shameful tradition ended too.

Ashley Fruno, Surrey
© The Vancouver Province 2006

Rodeo saves livestock

Letter
Published: Sunday, May 21, 2006

The Canadian Professional Rodeo Association has a moral and legal responsibility to care for our livestock humanely.

Our livestock contractors have saved literally hundreds of animals from an early death by using horses, bulls and steers destined for slaughterhouses, giving them a good and useful life as rodeo animals.

Feeder horses and bulls exit via the slaughterhouses at a very early age. The average rodeo horse will live to 20 years, bulls upwards of 10 years.

The CPRA, of which the Cloverdale Rodeo is a member, has a lengthy, strongly-enforced code of practice for the care and handling of rodeo livestock. We inflict heavy fines on those who may deliberately abuse rodeo livestock.

We believe in open dialogue.

The issue of how animals are raised for food, fibre, entertainment and companionship is a sensitive one and many people are increasingly inquisitive about farm animals and their welfare.

We'd be happy to send out information on our policies, rules, and regulations to anyone who wishes to make up their own mind regarding this issue.

Ralph Murray, Canadian

Professional Rodeo Association
© The Vancouver Province 2006