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End the cruel rodeo practice of calf-roping!
- Posted to Animals
To: The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA)
Calf roping is a major events at many rodeos nationwide, yet is undoubtedly one of the sport’s cruelest spectacles. This disturbing form of entertainment is intended to mimic the practice ranchers use to rope their baby calves, protecting them from coyotes and other wild predators. However...
…This petition closed on December 1, 2012.
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22,835 people signed the petition
For generations we've thrown on boots, denim, and large-brim hats and flocked into crowded arenas to catch a glimpse of one of the most classic, all-American past-times: the rodeo. One of the featured events at many rodeos is calf-roping – a cruel practice where mounted cowboys race at break-neck speeds to rope baby calves. The animals receive a severe tail twisting before they enter the arena, spurring them to bolt as quickly as possible until, ensnared by a rider's lasso, they are launched several feet into the air. After crashing to the ground the calves often sustain injuries like broken and fractured bones, throat, neck, and spinal cord injuries, paralysis, and even death as unaffected riders rush to bind their legs together.
Watch a video of the brutal event from the 2001 National High School Rodeo Association finals (the footage is disturbing) here.
The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) – the world's largest rodeo association - claims that animal welfare is a major initiative of the association. However, among PRCA's more than 60 rules dealing with the care and treatment of rodeo animals, there is not a single mention of calf roping. However, several legislative bodies – including lawmakers in Rhode Island and Baltimore County, Maryland – have taken the reins on this important animal rights issue and banned calf roping in all rodeos within their jurisdictions.
Some rodeo aficionados balk that the removal of a traditional part of the uniquely American sport would detract from rodeo crowd attendance. However, animal welfare organizations counter that the second largest rodeo in Canada, the Cloverdale Rodeo, banned calf-roping in 2007 and is still drawing large crowds and performing successfully. Cloverdale serves as further validation that eliminating inhumane events at rodeos will not alter the overall entertainment level of the sport or detract spectators.
The PRCA can officially amend their rules to ban calf roping in all the rodeos it supports nationwide. Levying severe fines and pulling sponsorship from offenders would go a long way to protect baby calves from harm. We go to rodeos to have an enjoyable time – let's just ensure it's not at the expense of the animals that participate.
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Update #1
Posted on Jul 26, 2012Thanks to the overwhelming number of you who've spoken out against this barbaric practice; we've almost reached our goal of 20,000 signatures! With the support of animal activists like you, we will be able to make a strong case to the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) to ban calf-roping in all of the rodeos that it sponsors nationwide.
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We still have 36 days left to get the additional signatures we need – for the sake of all the innocent baby calves roped into this cruel sport, in...
Recent Signatures
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22,835Dana Clay Little Elm, TX5 mos ago
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Discuss the petition
Let me add a comment to the rodeo PETITION. 1st of all the picture is of team roping not calf roping n 2nd it's not being cruel the PRCA has special protective gear that go on the cattle to prevent injury. The cattle r well taking care of. So people who are signing this n don't understand wat is goin on need to get both sides of the story before signing, and the ones that do need to find somthing to keep themselves busy abviously u have too much time on your hand n need to mind your own...
…Let me add a comment to the rodeo PETITION. 1st of all the picture is of team roping not calf roping n 2nd it's not being cruel the PRCA has special protective gear that go on the cattle to prevent injury. The cattle r well taking care of. So people who are signing this n don't understand wat is goin on need to get both sides of the story before signing, and the ones that do need to find somthing to keep themselves busy abviously u have too much time on your hand n need to mind your own business. I'm a roper n we take care of your horses n cattle. So please think and get info before u make a decision cause its peolpe who jump to conclusive that make this world a mess. Remember the Bible says to hold your tongue and think before u speak. May God bless us all.
Susan I think telling someone to shut the hell up on this subject if extremly uncalled for. I have been exposed to the team roping industry for some time now and to be honest have not seen any mistreatment of these animals. I have worked with many animal rescue organizations and have probably helped more animals find better homes and lifes then you have dreamed of. Now to make my point you are trying to accuse a very large group of people of neglect and abuse when in reality that is not the case. MOST of the calves/steeers used in rodeos and roping events are very well cared for. Your ignorant attitude shows you really dont know much about this sport and how much money and time is invested just in the calves and steers used. It is a huge investment and commitment that anyone I have ever met has taken very seriously. Sure I am sure there are people who do not take care of or mistreat their calves or steers but to try and accuse a huge multi million dollar sport of it is quite frankly ignorant. I think before you go making harsh and rash comments to someone you should do your homework. My husband and I are very involved in this industry as well as the upper level hunter/jumper eventing industry and we are very picky as to how our animals are cared for. Think before you speak because you may be the one sounding ignorant which in this case you do!
Kenny Hughes Out of all the responses I like u the best u actually look further into things. Yes I do know alot bout the things that happen at rodeos. Yes sometimes an animal gets hurt but they r cared for just like wen we get hurt playing sports like football for example we watch it on tv just waiting to c hw hard r team can stump the mess outa the other team, if u ask me that is a lil cruel also hw we just cheer for somone to get pounded on the field. Well to get bck to the rodeo I have a sister that has bn a diabetic since she was 2 n I have bn to many rodeos that sponsor and donate to the Labonor Hospitol that help to cure children and give them the medical attention that they need. I'm just sayin that u can always just pic out wat u think r c is bad. In the Bible it says to always look for the good n a person. I think u must b a great man. thank u for ur response. and God Bless U
Id like to know how many of you eat Meat! To those who do. You have NO RIGHT to say anything about the treament of rodeo calves. That are well cared for and LIVE! And not the horrible life your trying to say.
I agree, we have every right to stand up for the treatment of animals... inclduing if you eat meat. If you eat meat from factories where the animals are abused, you are supporting that treatment of them. And it will never stop until people stop supporting that. We NEED to speak up for these animals.
Jackie Vargus I do not eat meat...I think those who think it's ok for such a horrilbe death to come to animals for the sake of their bellies. Have no right to say anything... the calves do have a good life. Watch when they are released from the roap. they trot back to the gate...They're NOT RUNNING SCARED FOR THEIR LIVES !! they are on the road for a short time,then home on pasture,out again, then back home. They are cared for thru the winter in barns and fed. They go on to be riding, roping and breeding stock. Live a long life. Yes, It's a sport and some do get hurt. NOT VERY OFTEN. NO MORE THAN YOUR CHILDREN IN BASEBALL,FOOTBALL,SKATING,ETC. BUT YOU STILL LET THEM PLAY.IS THAT CRUEL???
just sick
Why is it that some people cannot enjoy animals in a humane way, rather than roping them, kicking them, burning them, shooting them, and then mounting them or stuffing them? Animals can me so loving, and they can actually help you stay healthier! Enjoy the animals, not hurt them.
I feal the same way!
It's bad!
I have been so sick & tired of what people are ddoing to any kind of animals.
Would you do this to your child? It disgusts me to ne end. Humans really suck sometimes. This cruel and completely unnecessary practice needs to end. Now.
Amen. Horrible
We need to stop cruelty in every way.
Unfortunately, calf roping is only one of the terrible cruel practices that are cheered at rodeos. Riding bulls is another horribly mean practice, involving tying the bull's genitals so tightly and therefore causing great pain which is what makes them buck. They are not trying to get the person off so much as trying to escape the pain that they're in. Please boycott rodeos whenever you see them and tell others to do the same. Aren't we better than this?
Lynne, the flank strap does not get "tied around the genitals". The flank strap approximates the feeling of a predator trying to tear them up. It is very uncomfortable. But it does not get tied around their genitals. i've read that some have seen this done, and I don't doubt some sick psychos do it, but not a public rodeo.
Human Monsters! These poor dear hearts are treated in the most horrific way known to mankind. May these humans rot slowly in hell...