No protest, but humane society still against Cloverdale Rodeo

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SURREY (NEWS1130) – Some of you might be heading down to the Cloverdale Rodeo to check out the cowboys, cowgirls and traditional events like barrel racing and bronc riding. But one animal rights group is opposed to how the animals at the professional rodeo performances are treated.

Peter Fricker with the Vancouver Humane Society admits the rodeo has come a long way by getting rid of all of the roping events, but he believes more work needs to be done.

“We still have concerns about events like bareback riding and the other bucking events, bull riding, and so on. We do feel that the animals are exposed to stress in order to make them perform,” argues Fricker.

“The animal has a flank strap around its hind quarters and that’s tightened as it comes out of the chute. That’s what makes the animals buck because it irritates the animals and causes the animals a lot of stress. It only stops bucking once the strap is released,” he explains.

“Tormenting animals for the sake of entertainment just isn’t acceptable,” he maintains. “If you were to do that to dogs, you’d probably be charged with animal cruelty. It’s only because it’s livestock that this kind of thing is allowed to take place.”

Despite its opposition to the treatment of the animals, you won’t see any signs or protest banners from the humane society. Ever since the rodeo organizers dropped some of the worst events a few years ago, the group decided to scale back on it’s formal animal rights campaign against the Cloverdale Rodeo.

Fricker notes most of their members’ energy is now focused on getting the Calgary Stampede to make some changes to their rodeo events.

The rodeo performances, including saddle bronc riding and mutton busting, start tomorrow. News1130 has tried to get in touch with the Cloverdale Rodeo but has yet to receive a response.

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