Calgary Stampede Draws Criticism
Jul 11, 2010
6 Comments
There have been lots of folks talking about the ad by the Vancouver Humane Society that was run in the Calgary Herald last week. What do you think about it?
http://www.marketingmag.ca/english/news/media/article.jsp?content=20100705_150945_984
http://www.leaderpost.com/sports/Calgary+Stampede+draws+criticism/3255038/story.html
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Clearly, these are people who are running ads without getting the complete picture and all the facts.
I am an animal lover myself, but I also love the Stampede, which has been around for almost 100 years. The Stampede’s objective is to show people how things were done in the old west, and how some things are still done on ranches today (i.e. calf roping). The calves are roped for several reasons: to be branded, vaccinated, etc. They are then released, and they run off and are no worse for wear.
Do these people honestly think that if the Stampede was doing what it is accused of doing, that it would have been around this long? They have made great strides in animal safety, and the Calgary Humane Society is there every day.
Everytime the Stampede comes up, we hear from these people (no other time). Perhaps they should head on down to the Stampede and get a look in the barns, and actually see how the animals are treated and cared for. These animals are treated the same way as the owners’ own children, for pete’s sake.
So, before anyone gets on the bandwagon condemning the Stampede, take a look at England – their guards are wearing hats made from bear hide!!! If that isn’t hypocritical, I don’t know what is. Vancouver Humane should be focussing on those facts, rather than the half-truths they are spreading. They should be sued for defamation!
Hi, as an ex-Britian now living in Canada I am outraged at this article for several reasons.
Firstly that the Brtitish MPs are once again sticking their nose into the business of other countries where it does not belong, who do they think they are?
As a person who grew up and worked in the farming community in the UK all my life until moving to Canada with my husband, I have an immense distain and disgust for the League Against Cruelty – I am very against cruelty and suffering to animals but lets not kid ourselves – this league banned fox hunted for example which was conducted by the hunt on horses with hounds mostly. The hunt reduced the number of foxes bothering farmers and their stock. Since the ban, you ask any farmer on the quiet in the Uk and you will get the same answer, they now have turned to snaring, trapping, poisoning, shooting and wounding without killing etc to control numbers – all of which are much crueller and longer lasting than the hunt.
Next, the government crows about animal welfare and stop the rodeos in another country but they wont get off their two faced backsides when it comes to the beef being shipped into and sold in the UK. They are running UK farmers into the ground and buying cheaper beef from countries like Argentina and Brazil – both rife with BSE and extremely cruel farming practices. They are quite happy to ignore this situation as it is saving them money!
Lets then go on to look at the eartagging practises of hours old lambs and calves, the number of calves we had to retag on the farm I worked on due to them being ripped out was ridiculas, my boss decided he wouldnt tag until they were older regardless of the repercussions. Oh and then theres the tail banding of lambs, a tight rubber band left on to cut the circualtion until their tail falls off – put a band on your finger and see how much this hurts!
MY POINT OF ALL THE ABOVE IS THAT THEY ARE ALL COMMON PRACTICE, DECADES OLD AND ACCEPTED, THE MPS DONT EVEN THINK TWICE, ESCPECIALLY AS THEY ARE IN THEIR COUNTRY, BUT LETS HAVE AGO AT SOMEONE ELSE – CANADA WILL DO! THOSE WHO LIVE IN GLASS HOUSES SHOULD NOT THROW STONES!
My second outrage is that the people of Canada – lay or governement are even listening to these interferring people. Stand up for your traditions and way of life.
My husband and I detested what the UK has become and that is why we chose Canada, a place of laid back acceprtance that lets people live life as they wish. I most certainly do not advocate animal cruelty but you have to accept things as they are – normal!
Thank you Annie
Shame on the Herald for accepting that ad! They make a ton of money because of the Stampede and yet they feel the need to ” double dip” and play both sides of the fence! Make up your mind editors! SHAME SHAME SHAME! As for the tree huggers out on the coast – mind your own business!
I say “Kudos” to the Vancouver humane society for voicing their opinion on what is most definately a valid animal welfare concern. Rodeo may be fun for us humans but when one actually steps back and seperates one’s emotional feelings from such tradition one should be able to see that many of these events are not far removed from the barbarism of the Roman times when crowds would gather to watch humans and animals combat each other (most often to death).
And it is not only the calf roping that deserves to looked at more critically. I tuned into the Calgary stamped on tv a few years ago and unfortunately caught the “wild pony race” that features young children chasing, clambering on, and terrorizing wild ponies. Quite honestly I was extremely angry and discusted that such an event could be considered entertainment! Not only are a bunch of wild ponies being handled inhumanely but CHILDREN are not only allowed but encouraged to handle horses in such an unsafe and inhumane manner. Such a way of handling horses is not only incorrect and unsafe but it is also degrading to the nature of that animal. What a wonderful example to set for the future of our species.
I realize that alot of these events are related to tradition, however, if the calf were a dog half of the world would be up in arms. Our modern North American society is extremely hypocritical in it’s views regarding the humane treatment of animals…some we love to welcome into our homes, feed from our hands and dote on. Others we like to terrorize and eat. But the thing is, suffering is felt by an animal regardless of our view or value of it. The calf feels the same terror at being roped and flipped over backwards as our beloved fido would. So why is one entertaining and one not? Why is one considered humane and one not? And why should a humane society not call us on it!?
Sorry, but you cannot call yourself an “animal lover” and condone inhumane treatment of animals at the same time. Calf roping is just a small part of the whole picture but at the end of the day animals are being subjected to inhumane practices for the sole sake of money making and entertainment. If that is ok by you then that is fine, but how dare you call yourself a lover of animals. What a joke!
The article regarding Calgary Stampede is typical of those written by ignorant individuals that print what they think people will read. Organizations that take “free rides” on publicity created by large events to try to incite the public are just spouting rhetoric. Their time, money, commitment and dedication to the welfare of animals would be better spent by these people and organizations by putting pressure on the Fed and Prov Governments to change laws regarding penalties for animal cruelty. That’s only the first step…..our “leaders” (or so they call themselves) must then provide officers to enforce these laws and put the judicial system to the test regarding fair/meaningful penalties.
Did anyone else watch a recent documentary on “Global” regarding cruelty to animals (primarily focused on incidents/people in eastern Canada) and the road blocks put up by politicians? Canada’s reputation regarding animal rights/welfare should be at the highest level. Some countries, like the Netherlands, are astonished that we accept/condone the cruel actions happening here by ignoring or not enforcing change. Check out the documentary when you get a chance……..see what is accepted/lawful practice for raising pigs, as an example of how far behind this country is. I think it was Switzerland…maybe, Sweden….that has it written in their Constitution that animals HAVE FEELINGS (in different words, of course) and are afforded the same consideration/care as people…….
Sorry for the long note…….actually I edited it…Ha