SPEARED 500 TIMES FOR FUN AT FIESTA Oct 3 2004

Join our fight to outlaw Spanish sadists

By Britt Collins

A SPEARED bull calf is chained up and carted off on a lorry, its corpse a twisted mess after being stabbed with 500 lances.

Minutes earlier the majestic beast - out of its mind on drugs - had been
cornered and castrated by bloodthirsty horsemen before being brutally
speared to death.

Its testicles were mounted on a spear and paraded around by cheering crowds.

The shocking images were captured by animal rights protesters in
Tordesillas, Spain. They watched in horror as 40,000 people hunted the bull through streets and across fields in a centuries-old ritual known as the Fiesta Toro de la Vega (Festival of the Bulls).

We are now urging readers to help end the suffering which has appalled even the Spanish. Tony Moore, of Fight Against Animal Cruelty in Europe, said: "These spectacles are incredibly sadistic and unbearable to watch.

"You could feel the animal's fear as you heard his agonising screams."

The five-month-old bull named Rodanero was chased to sandy ground where it struggled to run. Once pinned down it faced an agonising death.

Tony, who was threatened for filming the slaughter, added: "The bull is castrated and his tail wrenched off.

"Then there is a competition to deal the killing thrust. The beast is struck from all angles with lances often going in one side and coming out the other.

"Once the bull is dead, its testicles are mounted on the winner's spear. The winner also gets the head and a medal."

Thousands of bulls die in the fiestas which take place across Spain. They were banned by General Franco in the 1930s but revived after his death.

Spain has no animal-protection laws and the regions are left to decide how to deal with the cruelties.

Speaking after last month's fiesta in Tordesillas, TV director Aniano Gago said: "We are a people of barbarians. Wherever we go, we don't leave any animal alive. We should be ashamed."

We demand action

To the Spanish Ambassador:

Please end the barbaric Fiesta Toro de la Vega in Tordesillas where bulls are killed in a brutal and agonising way.

As a civilised member of the European Union, it is YOUR responsibility to show kindness and mercy to all animals. Please end this sick and bloody ritual before one more bull dies.
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The contact details for the Spanish Embassy embespr@btclick.com

- e mails can be sent, but a name must be given so that the embassy can formally reply ! - if the ambassador thinks worthy.

Alternatively, the phone number is 0207 235 5555, but I have found that it is only a recorded message, selecting option 5 gives details for the press office, which can be contacted on 0207 235 7537. They do not relayy want too much involvement - so maybe they should be called !

Embassy of Spain in Canada embespca@mail.mae.es

Toronto Consulate General cgspain.toronto@mail.mae.es

Montreal Consulate General conspmontreal@mail.mae.es