Friday, May 12 edition of the Coquitlam Now newspaper

Watching a rodeo 'not my idea of a good time'
Columnist takes on bull riders and calf ropers of the Cloverdale Rodeo

Yeehaw, it's time to beat up some animals! In just over a week,
thousands of people will be herded like cattle through the gates of the Cloverdale Rodeo to watch so-called men beat, bloody and break some farm animals. Even though the rodeo is heavily promoted and advertised, my family
won't be there. Watching animals being abused and tormented isn't my idea of a good time.

Amid the drunken buffoonery and dusty air, there will be bowlegged
cowboys swaggering around and bragging that it takes strength and ability to
mount a frenzied bull. Maybe I have different standards or just prefer not to be in such intimate contact with an animal, but who in their right mind considers the
ability to bounce up and down on the back of an animal to be an enviable skill?
What's even more disturbing is that bull riders often claim they ride bulls
because they love animals.It's one thing to show your dog affection by gently patting him on the head,but hooting and hollering while riding him around the living room crossesthe line of human decency.

It's bad enough that adult animals are groped and abused at the rodeo,
but it's even more sinister that the young ones get beaten as well.
Like any infant, a calf would much rather be nuzzled up safely next to
his mother, but cowboys put him in a tiny pen and poke, prod and kick him
until he runs across the arena in fear for his life. His little heart pounds in terror as he runs to what he desperately hopes will be safety, but within seconds a lasso constricts around his neck, his tongue flies out of his mouth and he gasps for air as the rope begins to squeeze. He is then grabbed and hoisted into the air, only to be thrown to the ground with a rib-cracking thump.
Mr. Marlborough with the sparkly belt buckle then ties his little legs and
like a schoolyard bully who has just bloodied the nose of a timid child, he
raises his arms in the air as though his act of cruelty is worthy of applause and admiration. I don't get it. When did beating a baby animal become a sign of
manliness?

You'd think one man beating on a calf would be bad enough, but there is
also the team roping event. It's just as pathetic and inhumane as the singles event, but the cowboys get to pair up with their good buddy and do everything short of tear the little calf in half. How is that family entertainment?

The idea of beating up gentle calves doesn't appeal to everyone so
rodeo organizers thought it would be a good idea to bring in sheep. Nice,
soft gentle sheep.For a small fee you can plop your child down on the back of a fluffy sheep and take pictures as the scared little creature tries her best to buck, or even walk with the weight of a child on her sore and tired back.
There's a picture for the family album. Junior, who we hope will grow
up to be a respected and contributing member of society, is being taught that
it is acceptable to exploit anything or anyone who is weaker than him.
Hopefully that little gem of a life lesson doesn't take root and grow in his impressionable mind.

Rodeos have a long and violent tradition, but it is time for their cruelty to
be lost in the dark pages of history. I'm not against family entertainment, but I really don't agree with abusing animals and claiming it's just good family fun.
I don't care if cowboys ride bareback, brokeback or side saddle; just
leave the animals out of it.

Mike Rogozinski lives in Port Coquitlam and always tells it like it is.
Comments? E-mail him at mike.rogozinski@hotmail.com.