This week on New Year’s Day, animal rights activists from the group Direct Animal Action will demonstrate outside the Warkworth Rodeo.
The activists plan to display large photographic images showing animal cruelty documented at the Warkworth rodeo and at other rodeos across New Zealand.
They want the government to implement a nationwide ban on rodeo.
“Investigations carried out by activists all over the country have shown time and again that animal suffering at rodeos is actually the norm. This just isn’t acceptable,” says Direct Animal Action spokesperson Kathleen Lafferty.
“Rodeos are legalised cruelty and animals shouldn’t have to suffer for our entertainment,”
“We want the government to ban rodeo in our country. With even parts of the U.S. now banning rodeo, it’s actually an embarrassment that we’re falling so far behind overseas trends,”
“We’re planning a peaceful demonstration on New Year’s Day and we’re hoping that rodeo-goers won’t get confrontational with us,” says Ms. Lafferty.
Just to clarify, there is only one region in the USA where rodeo is banned, and that is Greenburgh, New York, where rodeo is only banned ‘on any town property’. Other states have banned some practices, such as the use of cattle prods, but to say that ‘some parts of the U.S. [are] now banning rodeo’ is not correct.
I have visited 21 States on various trips to the ‘states and rodeo is as strong (and as enjoyable) as ever. We were lucky enough to be in Jackson, Wyoming for the 4th of July celebrations last year and the celebrations and parades are a sight to behold. Rodeo is the state sport of Wyoming and the regular Saturday night rodeos are clean, professional and great family fun and entertainment.
Why is it that certain members of the community are so reluctant to practice the tolerance that they preach? If you don’t like it, don’t go. To protest and push for an outright ban will do more harm than good for your cause.
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