BC SPCA URGES PUBLIC TO BOYCOTT CLOVERDALE RODEO
May 16, 2006. For Immediate Release. The BC SPCA is strongly urging the public to boycott the Cloverdale Rodeo May 19-22 in light of the potential suffering that rodeo animals may endure in the name of entertainment. The BC SPCA has a long-standing policy condemning rodeo exhibits that inflict mental anxiety and physical torment on participating animals.

"Rodeos, including the Cloverdale event, are promoted as harmless family entertainment, but in reality there is enormous potential for animals to be subjected to fear, stress, injury and even death," says Marcie Moriarty, head of Cruelty Investigations for the BC SPCA. "The risk to animals during the rodeo is substantial, as was seen two years ago when a steer's neck was broken during the steer wrestling competition. While we can't stop the rodeo from taking place this weekend, our animal cruelty department will definitely pursue formal animal cruelty charges in any situation where animals are abused or injured."

The BC SPCA has written to Surrey Council asking the city to consider phasing out the rodeo in favour of an expanded Country Fair with events more appropriate for families. "We believe that many parents would prefer to take their children to a fair that does not include witnessing brutality to animals," says Moriarty. In the short term the SPCA has asked the city to consider modifying the rodeo to eliminate pre-event acts of animal abuse such as head slamming, kicking and tail twisting which are designed to agitate animals before a performance, and to eliminate non-sanctioned events such as wild cow milking. The SPCA has also asked the city to consider less traumatic alternatives to existing events, such as the use of "break-away" ropes for calf roping competition.

"We urge the public to be aware of the inherent risk for animal suffering at the rodeo - and to make a conscious choice to boycott that component of the Cloverdale fair," Moriarty says. "We believe parents would be horrified to take their children to an event where the neck of a dog or a cat was snapped as a result of 'family entertainment' and we hope people will show the same respect and concern for animals used in rodeos."

Further information:
Marcie Moriarty, General Manager, Cruelty Investigations, BC SPCA, 604-834-0081
Lorie Chortyk, General Manager, Community Relations, 604-830-7179.