31 October 2014

Rodeo Code of Welfare ‘Sick Joke’

Animal advocacy organisation SAFE says the revised Code of Welfare for Rodeos just released is nothing but a sick joke.

“Rodeo animals are goaded, tormented and forced to endure needless suffering and gross mistreatment, all for the sake of so-called entertainment,” says executive director Hans Kriek. “It really is ridiculous to have a welfare code for an animal abuse practice.”

The code of welfare, released by the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC), makes minor changes to the previous code that include a ban on pyrotechnics, and the use of sheep by children. SAFE says these alterations do little to address the continued animal abuse that routinely takes place in rodeos, such as the brutality of calf roping.

“NAWAC have acknowledged there is wide opposition to rodeo and that many events are considered inhumane but have shied away from doing anything about them,” says Mr Kriek. “NAWAC’s statement said ‘There are a number of new or heightened requirements in the code to better protect animal welfare’. Try telling that to a baby calf that is slammed into the ground at 30km per hour”.

SAFE believes rodeos are in breach of New Zealand's Animal Welfare Act which states that animals should be "physically handled in a manner which minimises the likelihood of unreasonable or unnecessary pain or distress". Rodeo events however are based totally on asserting dominance, coercion, and cruel practices that force animals to 'perform'. SAFE says this is in total contradiction of the requirements of the Animal Welfare Act.

Just this week a former rodeo performer and veterinarian from the US joined SAFE in condemning rodeo. Dr Peggy Larson said, “Based on my extensive training and experience, it is impossible to create a humane rodeo. It is simply animal abuse for entertainment. I urge New Zealand to ban this cruel practice.”

At the same time Huntly Rodeo made the decision to shut down after receiving warnings for cruel treatment of their animals. “The Huntly rodeo organisers admitted that they could not guarantee the safety of the animals at future rodeos,” says Mr Kriek.

“By their very nature rodeos deliberately subject animals to fear, stress and torment. The code of welfare is ineffectual because there is simply no way to make rodeos humane. Rodeos have no place in New Zealand. It's time for them to go the same way as other brutal blood sports like bear baiting and cock fighting. A total ban on this cruel practice is the only solution.”

Until that happens SAFE says it is urging the public to boycott all rodeos.

ENDS

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