Vancouver Humane Society
The Vancouver Humane Society (VHS) is raising concerns around an incident that occurred at a rodeo held in Princeton over the weekend. A video released by the VHS shows a horse jumping over the arena barrier and landing dangerously on their head. The incident took place during a bucking event.
An ‘ag-gag’ bill that targets animal advocates and whistleblowers will soon go to a vote. Tell your Member of Parliament to say NO to Bill C-275.
The Government of British Columbia recently announced new funding for fairs, festivals, and events; but the inclusion of inhumane rodeo events is cause for concern.
Tell B.C.’s Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport that the use of taxpayer dollars to support inhumane and outdated rodeo events, which the majority of British Columbians oppose, is a step in the wrong direction.
Video footage from recent local rodeos reveals recurring welfare issues, including animals being roughly handled and deliberately agitated into fleeing and bucking.
It’s been one year since the Prime Minister issued a mandate for the federal Minister of Agriculture to ban the live export of horses for slaughter. Since then, approximately 2,000 horses have been shipped on lengthy and stressful transport journeys abroad, destined for slaughter.
Most Canadians would be surprised to learn that Canada is one of the top exporters of live horses for slaughter. Every year, approximately 3,000-5,000 live draft horses are loaded onto planes, packed tightly with 3-4 horses per crate, and flown abroad where they will be slaughtered for meat.
Polling shows that a majority of Canadians are opposed to the practice of exporting live horses for slaughter.
The VHS supports organizations including the Canadian Horse Defence Coalition and advocates, like singer-songwriter Jann Arden, who have long been calling for an end to live horse export for slaughter. In Spring 2021, the VHS signed a group letter calling on the federal government to end the practice.
A federal parliamentary e-petition garnered more than 77,000 public signatures in support of a ban, making it one of the most popular animal-related federal petitions on record.
In December 2021, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau directed the Minister of Agriculture, Marie-Claude Bibeau, to ban the live export of horses for slaughter. One year later, horses continue to be shipped to their death as a result of government inaction.
Can you help protect horses from suffering through long journeys to slaughter?
Cover photo: Canadian Horse Defence Coalition
Are you a teacher? Learn more about making plant-based eating part of your classroom routine!
Read more about student-led efforts to make plant-based foods more available in their school cafeteria.
The public questionnaire is now closed as of December 16th, 2022. To provide additional input on other elements of a national school food policy, please use the quick email tool above.
The return of the Chilliwack rodeo this year, along with a controversial new rodeo held in Langley Township, has raised concerns about the well-being of animals made to perform in rodeo events. Video footage taken at both rodeos this summer shows stressed and frightened animals being roughly handled and deliberately agitated into fleeing and bucking.
The return of the Chilliwack rodeo this year, along with a controversial new rodeo held in Langley Township, has raised concerns about the well-being and welfare of animals made to perform in rodeo events. Video footage taken at both rodeos this summer shows stressed and frightened animals being roughly handled and deliberately agitated into fleeing and bucking.
Municipal elections are taking place in British Columbia on October 15th. The lead up to these elections is a crucial opportunity to raise your concerns with candidates running for Mayor and Council in your community about the inhumane treatment of animals in rodeo events and note it as an election issue for you.
Specifically, you may wish to ask candidates the following question:
If elected, will you support a municipal bylaw that follows the lead of other municipalities, like the City of Vancouver and District of North Vancouver, in prohibiting inhumane rodeo events and practices, such as roping, bucking, wrestling, mutton busting, and the use of flank straps and spurs? Tip: To find your local candidates, visit your municipality’s website or search for “[Your municipality’s name] local election 2022”. You can find the list of candidates in Chilliwack and Langley Township below.
| Candidate name | Email (if available) |
|---|---|
| Mayoral candidates | |
| Ian Carmichael | carmichael.for.mayor@gmail.com |
| Ken Popove (incumbent) | reelectpopoveformayor@gmail.com |
| Councillor candidates | |
| Amber Price | info@amberprice.ca |
| Brent Bowker | Brent@VoteBowker.ca |
| Bud Mercer (incumbent) | budmercer2022@gmail.com |
| Chris Kloot (incumbent) | klootchris@gmail.com |
| Craig Hill | *no public email found |
| Debora Soutar | soutar.debora49@gmail.com |
| Harv Westeringh (incumbent) | info@vote4harv.ca |
| Jared Mumford | vote@jaredmumford.com |
| Jason Lum (incumbent) | Contact form |
| Jeff Shields (incumbent) | info@jeffshields.ca |
| Mike McLatchy | Contact form |
| Nicole Huitema Read | nicolehuitemaread@gmail.com |
The provincial government has acknowledged that two key animal welfare issues are on their ‘to-do list’: regulations related to wild and exotic animals in captivity and dogs suffering in the commercial sled dog industry.
The VHS has shared recommendations for updating the regulations, but government action continues to be delayed and animals suffer in the meantime.
Members of B.C.’s Legislative Assembly (MLAs) are in their home constituencies for the summer, engaging with residents to find out what matters to them before returning to the B.C. Legislature at the start of October. Will you send an email to your MLA calling on them to raise these two issues – and the VHS’s recommendations – with the relevant B.C. Ministers?
The government has so far been inactive on the VHS’s recommendations to improve laws for sled dogs and wild animals in captivity. Will you ask your MLA to speak up to change the laws? Take action now!
Many wild and exotic animals are legally kept in captivity throughout B.C., including:
The VHS has been documenting the conditions of animals at the Greater Vancouver Zoo and Vancouver Aquarium for years.
Undercover investigations and whistleblowers have shared evidence of:
In fact, B.C.’s current Sled Dog Standards of Care allow for sled dogs to be tethered or caged for prolonged periods of time, as they are only required to be released once a day and there are no requirements for how long. Sled dog tour companies are permitted to shoot surplus sled dogs, so long as the operator has made reasonable efforts to try to rehome the sled dog.
Get in touch with VHS at info@vancouverhumanesociety.bc.ca for a quick way to call on your MLA to take action on these issues.
Photo: Jo-Anne McArthur/We Animals Media
According to a release by the Stampede, a horse sustained an injury during the fourth heat of the chuckwagon races on Thursday, July 14th, and was euthanized.
A witness to the incident said that the injured horse fell and was subsequently trampled by the wagon. They described it as pure chaos, with Stampede staff surrounding the injured horse with tarps, to prevent the public from seeing what was taking place.
More than 70 horses have been killed in the chuckwagon races since the VHS started tracking fatalities in 1986. In the last two decades, there have only been 3 years in which the races did not result in horse fatalities: 2003, 2004, and 2016. The last year the chuckwagon races were held in 2019, six horses were killed.
The VHS also filed cruelty reports to the Calgary Humane Society regarding two other incidents that occurred at the Stampede this year.
The first incident happened during a bucking event, in which a horse was repeatedly struck in the face when the animal was reluctant to leave the chute.
Footage: Recording of Sportsnet coverage
In another incident during a steer wrestling event, a steer’s neck was twisted by the competitor until the animal fell to the ground, landing awkwardly on his hind leg. Moments later the steer was seen limping.
Footage: Recording of Sportsnet coverage
Check out RodeoTruth.com, a collaboration between the Vancouver Humane Society and concerned Calgarians, for more information about the realities of rodeo.
You can also follow Rodeo Truth on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok for more content you can share to raise awareness of – and opposition to – cruel rodeo events.