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Liberation BC at the Cloverdale Rodeo:

Liberation BC press release:

Group of Activists Disrupt Parade and Rodeo Show in Protest of Animal Cruelty

Cloverdale B.C., May 20, 2007- Yesterday morning the Cloverdale crowds, usually buzzing with parade excitement, were interrupted by a dozen activists dressed as clowns determined to make people aware of the plight of rodeo animals. The group of activists entered the parade and marched along with it, smiling and waving. They carried banners reading 'stop the cruelty', 'the rodeo is cruel' and 'rodeo cruelty is no joke' and handed out lollipops to children.

Today, the same activists made an appearance inside the arena. The announcer had just declared the next event as calf roping, spectators eagerly watched as cowboys began to prepare for the event. But just as the event was about to start, a red bandana was thrown into the air and a group of a dozen animal rights activists charged into the ring. The activists unfurled banners reading "Cruelty isn't fun," and "Stop the violence." For a brief period, silence fell across the already depleted audience as the announcer and cowboys were haunted by activists screaming," Stop the cruelty, stop the rodeo!" The activists were dragged and carried out of the arena by security guards and RCMP. A video of this can be viewed here.

"The animals in the rodeo are terrorized into action when men shove electric prods into them, twist their necks, yank them by their tails or legs, slam them to the ground, or otherwise batter them. Injuries to animals, such as deep internal organ bruising, hemorrhaging, bone fractures, ripped tendons, and torn ligaments and muscles, are all expected and anticipated in this violent tradition," says Ashley Fruno, campaign organizer for Liberation B.C.

Fruno continues, "We charged the arena to bring awareness to the plight of the animals used in rodeos. In calfroping, baby animals are terrorized into action and often sustain severe neck and spinal injuries during the event. Our goal in the attempt was to protect those animals and prevent the rodeo cruelty from continuing."

"The rodeo comes at a great cost to the animals. We did what we did today to act as a voice for the defenseless animals who man continues to abuse, the animals in the rodeo. We think we were effective in our approach," Fruno adds.

Ashley Fruno
Campaign Organizer
Liberation BC

Cloverdale Rodeo Drops 4 of its Cruelest Events

Calf death prompts B.C. rodeo to cancel events
May. 22 2007, CTV.ca News Staff
(source)

One of the largest professional rodeos in Canada cancelled several controversial events such as steer wrestling and calf roping in a groundbreaking decision.

Organizers of the Coverdale rodeo near Vancouver made the decision after the death of an animal and protests over the long weekend by animal rights activists.

A calf had to be euthanized on Saturday after it was injured when it was wrestled to the ground in a tie-down roping competition, prompting angry protests that continued throughout the long weekend.

The rodeo has now decided to ban four popular events, including tie-down roping, team roping, cowboy cow milking and steer wrestling.

Organizers nearly dropped the events a few years ago when a steer was killed. Their decision means the Coverdale rodeo has broken ranks with the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association (CPRA).

"We made the decision not based on any other rodeo in this country or what anybody else is doing in the U.S.," said Cloverdale Rodeo spokesperson Laura Ballance.

The CPRA insists it cares about animals. The cowboy involved in the calf injury was disqualified and faces a fine. The association says it's reviewing Cloverdale's status.

But the decision likely means Cloverdale will lose its sanctioning under the CPRA and participants will no longer be able to gain points toward earning a Canadian title.

"We do not know if we will lose our sanctioning or not," said Ballance. "I think it's fair to say that we are moving forward whether or not we do lose it or not. This is our decision, we're willing to take a step out on our own."

Animal rights groups, meanwhile, are claiming victory, with renewed energy to go after other rodeos in the West.

"We're ecstatic, to tell you the truth, and on behalf of the Humane Society I'd like to commend everybody involved for making this decision," said Debra Probert of the Vancouver Humane Society.

"We're progressing in a time where cruelty is not necessary, not that it ever was, but for entertainment it's certainly not necessary," added animal rights activist [Joanne Chang].

The Cloverdale Rodeo was even targeted by Canadian actress Pamela Anderson, who urged corporate sponsors to pull out in a letter.

"The calf-roping event is particularly cruel. A baby animal, frightened and agitated, is confined in a small chute.. too often his head is slammed into the metal bars.. sometimes he's kicked," wrote Anderson.

The rodeo was lobbying for two rule changes, both of them related to roping. The first involved the introduction of breakaway ropes, which would release the animal when too much tension was applied. The second involves "the jerk down" -- a move that involves the rider pulling on the calf with such force that it rears up on its hind legs. Currently, the move is punishable by a fine, but the rodeo wanted the rider disqualified for using the technique.