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Animal Defenders of Westchester |
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Home Page We advocate on all animal protection and exploitation issues, including experimentation, factory farming, rodeos, breeders and traveling animal acts. Animal Defenders of Westchester |
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PETA and Rodeos This pro-rodeo article appeared in the Black Hills Pioneer; below it is
my published response: Maxed Out: PETA out of touch with reality By: Max Wetz, Black Hills Pioneer January 31, 2003 The People for the Equal Treatment of Animals (OK so they say they're
advocates for "Ethical" treatment, but I think this title fits them better)
sent a letter to Gov. Mike Rounds Thursday asking that he veto legislation
naming rodeo as the official state sport. The group of animal rights activists say that rodeo is an abusive and
inhumane event. "Rodeo events are, no matter the gloss put on them,
gratuitously violent acts against defenseless animals," the letter reads.
I'm fairly certain by this statement that the writer of the letter,
senior campaign coordinator for PETA Kristie Phelps, has never been strapped
to the back of a 2,000 pound bull with an attitude, but I would hardly call
it defenseless. "Animals suffer broken bones, necks and backs in rodeo events, as well as
experiencing extensive physical trauma and psychological terror," the letter
reads. "Those who (my emphasis not their's) survive an event with minor
injuries - bruises and the inevitable trauma of being chased, roped and
yanked to the ground by their necks - are rewarded by being forced to
participate in the same event just days later." PETA has been pretty loose with their accusations of physical abuse to
rodeo animals and cite very rare occasions of injury to animals as
justification for the allegations. The fact of the matter is that the people
are injured a whole lot more than the animals are at rodeos. Most rodeo participants have a great deal of respect for the animals they
work with and it is an insult to those people to say that they recklessly
endanger the lives of animals. But what struck me the most about the letter was the language used
throughout referring to the animals in the terms most often reserved for
humans ("who" and "he" in specific). I think this is very telling of what
their ultimate goal is - to elevate animals to the same regard as human
beings. By referring to a bull as him, it gives the animal an air of
humanity and how could we allow such abuse among our fellow humans? There is animal abuse in this world and no creature of God deserves to be
tortured. But this organization is not targeting the right people. Rodeo is
not inhumane; the animals are not in pain during the events, save for the
occasional freak accident. If PETA wants to be useful and constructive, it
needs to get off the backs of cowboys and start getting involved with those
people who allow rampant overbreeding of dogs and cats and those who starve
and beat their pets. �The Black Hills Pioneer, Newspapers, South Dakota, SD 2004 Kiley Blackman Feb, 01 2003 Max Wetz acknowledges some injuries to animals, though supposedly more to
people, during rodeos; this can very simple be rectified by CANCELLING
RODEOS. They are not a necessary part of life, they are an antiquated
throwback to the days of child labor and legal slavery. Those issues ended as people became more aware and decent; rodeo only
continues because the animals essentially have no voice. But you're fooling yourself by saying rodeo people respect the animals,
Mr. Wetz. Bulls and horses "buck" due to a strap cinched painfully near
their genitals. In the chute they are hit with an electric prod as well. And
chasing a terrified sheep, yanking her (yes, HER, we are all animals, Mr.
Wetz) off her feet, slamming her to the ground and tying her legs together
is showing respect??!! You use that word to rationalize the big money purses
rodeo brings. It's not "respect" - it's cruelty and it must end. Fair Use Notice: This document may contain copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owners. We believe that this not-for-profit, educational use on the Web constitutes a fair use of the copyrighted material (as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law). If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond fair use, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. |
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