Humane Society files cruelty report about Clinton rodeo

Cruelty allegations at the 2024 Clinton rodeo
New footage from the 2024 Clinton rodeo in British Columbia captures concerning treatment of animals, including rough handling, risk of injury, and stress and fear responses in animals. Take action to support an end to inhumane rodeo events at: vancouverhumanesociety.bc.ca/rodeos

VANCOUVER, July 8, 2024 – The Vancouver Humane Society (VHS) has submitted an animal cruelty report to the BC SPCA and is calling for government action after footage from a rodeo held in Clinton in May captured inhumane and possibly illegal handling of animals.

In one particularly concerning clip, a stressed bull resists handlers’ attempts to move the animal in the pens next to the arena. The clip goes on to show handlers kicking the bull, twisting his tail and using an electric prod on the animal repeatedly, including prodding the animal on the anus.

The handling seen in this footage appears to violate rules around the use of electric prods, which prohibit the use of a prod on sensitive areas, including the animal’s anus. The rules also prohibit repeated prodding of an animal that isn’t willing or able to respond.

“The treatment of this visibly stressed bull is incredibly disturbing,” said VHS Campaign Director, Emily Pickett. “We see a look of terror in the animal’s eyes, as well as tension in his body and excessive drooling, all of which are indicators of acute stress.”

The VHS has reported the video, along with another clip of an agitated bucking horse being hit repeatedly in the face, to the BC SPCA.

The VHS pointed to public polling conducted in February which found that a strong majority of British Columbians said that they would “probably” or “definitely” not watch calf roping (74%), steer wrestling (70%), bull riding (60%) and bronc riding (60%), all of which were held at the Clinton rodeo.

The poll also found that 66% of British Columbians oppose the government funding of rodeo events, while 12% were undecided. More than 4,000 members of the public called on the Minister of Tourism to end public funding of rodeos after it was announced that hundreds of thousands of dollars were awarded to events that include rodeos in 2023.

Despite public opposition, the B.C. Ministry of Tourism continues to provide taxpayer funding to events that include these rodeo activities. In 2024, more than $680,000 was awarded to events that include rodeos. The Clinton rodeo received $9,300 in 2023 and $6,400 this year.

This is not the first time the VHS has released concerning rodeo footage in B.C. In recent years, videos from other rodeos have highlighted animals being inhumanely handled and deliberately agitated. The VHS also released footage from a rodeo held in Keremeos over the May long weekend, including one video that shows a roped steer being dangerously dragged around the arena behind a fleeing roping horse.

The VHS has launched a public campaign asking that the Province stop funding rodeo events and encouraging decision-makers to do more to address inhumane rodeo events that rely on the use of fear, discomfort and stress to make animals perform. Other jurisdictions are already leading the way, including the City of Vancouver, District of North Vancouver and City of Port Moody, which all have bylaws prohibiting inhumane rodeo events and practices.

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SOURCE Vancouver Humane Society

For more information, contact Emily Pickett: 604-416-2903, emily@vancouverhumanesociety.bc.ca

Cruelty allegations at the 2024 Clinton rodeo

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