TORONTO – The recent deaths of three horses at the Calgary Stampede are shining a negative spotlight on the rodeo and sporting events that use animals in them.
In fact, animal welfare organizations have complained that the rodeo is simply cruelty masquerading as entertainment.
The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) told Global News in an email that incidents such as the one at the Stampede are a “terrible but common side effect of using animals for sport and entertainment.”
The Vancouver Humane Society, which has noted more than 50 chuckwagon horses have died since 1986, has frequently called for the suspension of the Stampede chuckwagon races. And this year, prominent animal rights activist and TV game show legend Bob Barker suggested the Stampede celebrate its centenary by shutting down.
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According to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), the largest animal rights organization in the world, rodeos are a source of entertainment that are cruel to animals.
WSPA also draws attention to human-animal interactions that encourage hand-feeding or petting dangerous activities that may harm an animal.
WSPA says the thrill and “educational” value for humans does not justify the costs to animal welfare. With that in mind, here are some other sports that PETA lists as falling under that category:
1. Running of the bulls – Pamplona, Spain is descended upon by tourists and locals to attend this historic event. The bulls are said to be kept in dark conditions before the race begins, and after the race many are seen being beaten and taunted by the crowds. According to PETA, all the bulls are killed in a bullring after the run.
2. Dog-sled racing – Some of the toughest winter conditions are the backdrop for these races. As an example, the Yukon Quest takes dogs through 1,600 kilometres of cold Alaskan terrain.
3. Greyhound racing – During these races, the dogs chase a lure of some sort, like an artificial rabbit. While in many countries the event is purely for entertainment, other countries use it a gambling platform.
4. Donkey basketball – According to PETA, this outdated game still exists in some U.S. states. Usually held for school fundraisers the donkeys act like horses, with participants mounting the animals, sometimes kicking them while the players are trying to score in the basket.
5. Cockfighting – Illegal in the United States and Canada, this ancient blood-sport pegs roosters against each other in a small pit until one kills the other. In many countries around the world, cockfighting is legal and used for entertainment and gambling purposes.
with files from the Canadian Press
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