Are rodeos inhumane and its fans supporters of animal abuse?
What you are saying is that it all comes down to what you consider to be abuse. If a person believes that all rodeo is abuse, then they also believe that anyone who enjoys a rodeo is an abuse supporter. Some people think that because a bull doesn't like it when a cowboy gets on top of him, and so he tries to buck the cowboy off, that's abuse. I'm not sure that's the case, perhaps it is just annoyance. Ever just walk into a bull's pasture? Is that abuse if he gets annoyed with you and tries to chase you off? What has gone unanswered is whether you believe me to be a supporter of animal abuse because my dog doesn't like his halloween hat. Sure dogs need to be groomed, but of course a dog like an OES wouldn't exist in the wild, so the fact that we breed these lovely creatures to be with us, then put them through the torture of grooming- doesn't that constitute abuse? Further, I wasn't talking about just normal grooming for health's sake- If that were the case the best thing to do for your sheepdog to eliminate health issues and reduce discomfort in grooming to the greatest extent possible would be to shave them. I was talking about the abuse that goes on solely due to dog shows; all of the excess grooming: the primping, and spraying and teasing, the endless hours of training... I don't think that you can call annoyance abuse; if you could Joan is a husband abuse supporter.  |
|
|
| I think a very important distinction is that animals in rodeos die and are injured all the time. I have never heard of a dog that was killed or seriously injured while wearing a halloween hat or being brushed. I think this is important because it points to the level of "agitation"/"annoyance" and purpose for it. I don't know anything about showing a dog, so I won't comment on that.
Also, Steph brought up a really good point in the other thread about only buying meat from a farmers market. I will say that I don't ever think we should kill an animal for meat, but yes there are places wher eyou can get meat from people that dont torture/abuse the animals. If you only buy your meat from there, then I think you are being very responsible. But unfortunately the vast majority of meat comes from factory farms, where abuse is the norm and the majority of people in this country eat meat that comes from these terrible places, and since that is the case I think it is fair to say that these people support animal abuse. |
| Lil Walty,
I couldn't agree more. Unfortunately, factory farms are like puppy mills. As long as there continues to be a market, they will continue to operate and turn a profit. Many unknowingly support abuse by keeping these people in business. I totally respect you for sticking to your beliefs that animals should not be killed for meat. I also wanted to make sure people knew that not all farms are as bad as the many factory farms. I was horrified to learn of the treatment of livestock in factory farms. They are also potentially hazardous to the environment - churning out an excessive amount of animal waste, potentially contaminating ground water, etc. Scary stuff. I didn't know much about rodeo (never been to one and never been interested in them) until recently. It seems like there are rodeo rules (maybe laws too, depending on state) against prodding, electrifying, improperly roping (strangling), jerking etc. to not allow abuse. From video evidence on SHARK though, it seems that many rodeos allow these rules to be broken, and don't penalize contestants for unsafe/abusive acts when their only focus is scoring points. |
| I have a sister who lives in Northern Alberta, and has been dating a rancher for 8 years. (The cattle are free range) I asked her for her opinion on rodeos, and gave her these 2 sides.
Rodeos are cruel and inhumane exploitations of the animals involved or the animals are financial investments that are well taken care of and the examples of cruelty are rare and not allowed. Her comments are below: Quote: The bucking horses and bulls are treated very well and are fed the best of foods and have the best vet care. They are worth a lot of money
and the stock farmers know very well that to have good stock they need proper care. The bulls and horses are only rode for 8 seconds every weekend (and any that are injured are left at home) throughout the summer only and the rest of the time are pastured to roam and eat green grass. Not a bad life! If you watch behind the scenes at a rodeo, you will see that they are just wild animals and when they are penned before their performance, even their owners are fearful of them because they are unpredictable, like any wild animal. I heard a stock farmer once tell me that when his bucking horses are at home in their field, they come to the fence for oats just like pets. I went with a stock farmer to a rodeo once for calf roping and he was very gentle with the calves to make sure not to get them anxious. Maybe in the old days they were cruel, or maybe in poorer countries, but here in our west I would have to say it is a business and there are rules and scientific studies that make it very professional. I guess like anything, there are the good ones and the bad ones. I would hope that the rodeos that are sanctioned by a professional association of sorts would have vets and Humane Soceity representatives in attendance. That being said I'm sure that also leaves open the riff raff that don't follow rules and just do whatever it takes to make the show interesting. It all goes back to research and making sure that you knwo what you are supporting anytime you attend something where animals have been used for entertainment. |
| I agree with Nicoles comments. I hesitated to post on this because I know that rodeos are an issue that inspires much passion.
BUT..................... As New York State Jr. Quarter horse Queen WAAAAAAAY back in the 70's I grew up riding barrels and showing professionally in both horse shows and Rodeos. I have a lingering interest to this day in Rodeos and Bull riding. I can tell you that in a REPUTABLE Rodeo the animals are amazingly well cared for. They are the life blood of the Rodeo. Bulls and Bucking horses are trained and rewarded for their behavior and the good ones LOVE what they do. Many Rodeo stock animals would otherwise have ended up in a McDonalds burger, they are papmpered, well fed and almost always retired at an early age NOT to the stock yard but to a comfy pasture to live out their lives in leisure. Calf roping has a pretty strict set of guidelines governing it, although I will admit it is the one aspect of Rodeo where I always root for the animal. There are of course, like anything in life, disreputable people who abuse their animals and do not care for them. The same thing can be said for anything that involves animals whether it is for sport of public viewing (like a zoo). I believe it is an unfair generalization to say that all Rodeos abuse animals. GEEHAW!! |
Tasker's Mom wrote: As New York State Jr. Quarter horse Queen Plain, or with McCheese? |
Ginny, do you have pictures?  |
barney1 wrote: Ginny, do you have pictures?
I have an ENTIRE ALBUM  that will go to the GRAVE with me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
| Um, I think we NEED pictures. Come on, PLEEEEEEEEASE?
Promise we won't laugh... |
| HAHAHAHAHAHA such a SHAME my scanner isn't working!!!!!!!!!!!! |
| Can we have a description of what you wore? |
| Honest to GOD, PURPLE CHAPS and a PURPLE felt CowBoy Hat w/ cream colored Tony Llama boots (brown toes) and a purple checked western shirt. Remember it like it was YESTERDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
| okay, now I NEEEED to see this....
But what's funny, is that is pretty much what I had in mind as to what you would have been wearing! |
| Me too!! I wanna see!!! |
NOT A CHANCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  |
barney1 wrote: Um, I think we NEED pictures. Come on, PLEEEEEEEEASE?
Promise we won't laugh... Speak for yourself!!!!
Ginny, we NEED to see this....honestly, it is a must. You cannot tease us with something like this and not finish the job..... ....pouting here......  |
Not a THING I can do. It was LONG before the age of digital cameras and I don't have a scanner  Believe me, I'd LOVE to oblige you |
| Oh, Ginny honey, just send them to me, and I'll scan them for you, no problem!
I'd be happy to help you out!
|
Tasker's Mom wrote: Honest to GOD, PURPLE CHAPS and a PURPLE felt CowBoy Hat w/ cream colored Tony Llama boots (brown toes) and a purple checked western shirt. Remember it like it was YESTERDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Go on Ginny, we definately need to see that outfit  
We have rodeos in Australia too and all are treated with great care, the horses are wild Brumbys, think you call them Mustangs. They are unbroken horses. They are highly respected and well cared for as is the bulls and calves. Dog shows, well I must be cruel. as mine are primped and groomed for the showring, shame on me for having clean, well cared for sheepies, being fed top quality food, in long coats and in top health |
| Ginny, you can borrow my scanner if you want. I posted pics of me in my crown and big hair, I think you HAVE to post the pics of your cowgirl days!!!!
As for dog shows, my dogs are more well fed, well excercised and better groomed than most of the people I know. They also get the most attention of almost any dog at the show. They like their crates because it gives them a break, a place to nap and a secure feeling. As for the primping and teasing and brushing. Come watch us do it once. They cry when we STOP!! They love the attention. Proper grooming means a light touch and soft hand. If grooming is abuse then I guess I'll never go to a spa again! |
| It is just sooo wonderful to see that I have so many friends here willing and able to help me out!!! I'll have to see what I can come up with. Perhaps, PERHAPS, when you least expect it I'll post a picture. If Marianne can post a picture of herself as a clown.......... |
| Well, then maybe the point is what SEEMS like abuse to outsiders might not actually be abuse when you are more intimately involved or you look a little more closely? |
Ron wrote: Well, then maybe the point is what SEEMS like abuse to outsiders might not actually be abuse when you are more intimately involved or you look a little more closely?
Or that the isolated cases of abuse get all the publicity, thus leading the public and less-informed to believe that all rodeos are inhumane all the time. Does dressing my dog up as Richard Simmons constitute abuse? |
| Yes, but Richard won't complain. |
barney1 wrote: Does dressing my dog up as Richard Simmons constitute abuse? not physical...but definitely psychological |
| There are many many many instances of abuse and death in rodeos, and you can find this information on other websites other than PETA.
I am very happy to hear that there are rodeos in which the animals are treated well, but I still do not see the appeal in tying a rope around a calf, or tying something around a bulls testicle to make it jump around.  |
| The rodeo events stem from real life skills that cowboys needed to take care of their animals. Just like everything else in life, it has become exaggerated to the point of extremes. |
| Many people do not understand the appeal of dog shows (or of Richard Simmons.) |
Didn't find exactly what you're looking for? Search again here:
Custom Search
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|