Tag: Active campaigns – Animals in entertainment

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Welfare concerns renewed after fall involving horse and rider during bucking event at Cloverdale Rodeo 

Image credit: Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals. Bucking event at Calgary Stampede.

  • A horse and rider are recovering after a saddle bronc bucking incident at the 2026 Cloverdale Rodeo.
  • The incident raises renewed concerns about high-risk and high-stress rodeo events that put both people and animals in danger.
  • Rodeo events like saddle bronc riding rely on animals reacting under pressure, which can cause fear, stress, and risk of injury.
  • The VHS is calling for an end to inhumane rodeo events and to the use of taxpayer dollars to support them.
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Take action: Ask decision-makers to stop using public funds to support rodeo events and to strengthen protections for animals used in entertainment. 

Image credit: Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals

A horse and rider are recovering after a saddle bronc incident at this past weekend’s Cloverdale Rodeo, renewing concerns about high-risk and high-stress rodeo events that put both people and animals in danger. 

According to the Surrey Now-Leader, the incident took place on Saturday night during the 2026 Cloverdale Rodeo. Rider Nick Patterson and the horse Spring Season became tangled during a saddle bronc bucking event and went down together. Patterson was transported by ambulance for further evaluation and later released, while Spring Season is reportedly recovering. 

The reported recovery of both Spring Season and Patterson is welcome news. Still, the incident raises broader safety and animal welfare concerns.

Rodeo poses a risk to both human participants and animals, but unlike humans, the animals did not choose to be there. 

Rodeo events like saddle bronc riding rely on animals reacting under pressure, putting both human participants and animals at risk of stress and injury.  

For example, in saddle bronc riding and other bucking events, animals are confined in chutes and released into an arena for an event built around provoking or maintaining a bucking response. Equipment and practices such as flank straps and spurring add pressure to the animal’s experience.  

bull riding at a rodeo

Image: bull riding/bucking event at Chilliwack rodeo

Animal welfare is about more than whether an animal survives or avoids visible injury.

It includes their physical health, emotional state, ability to express natural behaviours, freedom from fear, pain, and distress, and ability to have some control over what happens to them. 

Incidents like this also point to the need for stronger public policy, including ending public funding for rodeo events and strengthening regulations to better protect animals. 

That is why the VHS continues to call for an end to rodeo events that cause animal suffering, stress, injury, and death.  

Communities can come together, celebrate tradition, and enjoy local events without putting animals through fear and stress for public entertainment. 

Take action now for animal welfare
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TAKE ACTION: Support the B.C. government decision to end horse racing funding & call for a safe retirement plan for horses

  • In response to the provincial government announcing the end of government funding for horse racing, Hastings Racecourse has announced they will stop horse racing effective immediately.  
  • While there is industry pushback to the B.C. government’s announcement to end funding for horse racing, the decision did not happen in isolation.
  • This change follows decades of decline in revenue and public support and heavy reliance on public funding. 
  • Hastings Racecourse was the last active race track in B.C., meaning there is no more horse racing in the province.
  • Hastings has seen multiple fatalities in recent seasons, including three known horse deaths in 2025, four in 2024, and eight in 2023. Each loss is a reminder of the inherent risks horses face in the racing industry. 
Follow up with decision-makers

While incredibly grateful for this decision, the VHS recognizes the uncertainty it may create for workers and animals within the industry. The VHS urges the provincial government and industry stakeholders to ensure a just and compassionate transition plan, including: 

  • Support for workers in the horse racing industry faced with this transition; 
  • Safe, secure retirement and rehoming plans for horses. 

Join the VHS in extending our sincere gratitude to Minister Nina Krieger for her leadership in making this decision and encourage meaningful support for workers and animals transitioning away from horse racing. Use the VHS’s quick action tool below to send a letter to the Minister and your Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA). 

The VHS recently spoke with CBC on this news. Click here to watch the interview!

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New ‘Fear Factor’ show filmed in B.C. prompts cruelty complaints: Learn more & take action 

Update

Season one of Fear Factor: House of Fear has ended, and a new special is set to air in May. Please scroll down for current actions and stay tuned for additional news. See the Current Campaigns page for more ways you can help animals.

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  • A recently released Fear Factor: House of Fear episode was filmed in Metro Vancouver and involved local animal handlers.
  • The episode has raised serious animal welfare concerns and prompted the VHS to file cruelty complaints.
  • In future episodes yet to air, further incidents of stressful and inhumane treatment of animals are depicted. 
  • The first episode involved putting contestants in enclosed containers and dropping rats, pigeons, geckos, and snakes onto them from above. 
  • The chaotic conditions presented a clear risk of significant stress, suffering, and injury for the animals. 
  • Other episodes show further concerning treatment of animals, including a contestant in a closed container with snakes and a dead rat in the contestant’s mouth.
  • The Vancouver Humane Society (VHS) has filed a cruelty complaint with the BC SPCA, and has written to various decision-makers, including the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council (CBSC); the show’s production company, Endemol Shine North America; and the show’s Canadian broadcaster, CTV.
  • The VHS is calling on CTV to stop airing Fear Factor: House of Fear. 

TAKE ACTION: Join the VHS in filing complaints the show’s production company, Endemol Shine North America, and urge the show’s Canadian broadcaster, CTV, to stop airing Fear Factor: House of Fear.  

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Submit complaints

  1. Tell CTV: animal cruelty isn’t entertainment and urge them, as the show’s Canadian broadcaster, to stop airing Fear Factor: House of Fear. 
  2. Submit a complaint to the production company, Endemol Shine North America.
  3. Please see the update below regarding episode complaints submitted to the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council (CBSC).
    • Update from CBSC website: “The CBSC has received a large number of complaints concerning an episode of Fear Factor on CTV. To ensure that all complaints are dealt with efficiently and in a timely manner, the CBSC limits the number of complaints it will accept in respect of the same broadcast. The CBSC process does not vary based on the number of complaints made. The same consideration is given to one single valid complaint as to multiple complaints on the same matter. The CBSC is now dealing with the episode on CTV under its normal process. As a result, no further complaints will be accepted by the CBSC on this issue.”

Depicting animals as props in entertainment sends the wrong message about animal welfare. 

Putting animals in stressful, high-risk situations is cruel and normalizes using animals for human entertainment at the expense of their welfare.

Credit: ‘Fear Factor: House of Fear.’

The practices shown contradict humane handling.

Animals are dropped into containers and onto frightened contestants and other animals, escalating panic and risk of injury. This does not model calm, careful, welfare-first handling, and it undermines the animals’ complex care needs. It’s especially troubling that local handlers would participate in, or endorse, this treatment. 

Credit: ‘Fear Factor: House of Fear.’

The principles of One Health, One Welfare recognizes that human, environmental, and animal health and well-being are interconnected. 

Fear Factor: House of Fear fails to uphold standards for: 

Welfare: Animals and contestants are placed in highly stressful conditions without knowing what will happen next.  One contestant is filmed repeatedly saying they want to leave the enclosure and is ignored, while animals cannot consent to their involvement in filming. 

Health & safety: Both humans and animals are visibly distressed. Stressed animals are more likely to bite and scratch and to shed contagious viruses and pathogens that can pose a health risk to people. Concerningly, the contestant in the container with rats is filmed stating that the the rats were urinating and defecating in the enclosure, highlighting this risk. When people are in distress and afraid, they may throw or harm animals in attempts to get away from them. 

Credit: ‘Fear Factor: House of Fear.’ Photo by Serguei Bachlakov VIA RealityBlurred.com
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Time for change: tell Calgary’s new Mayor and Council to end rodeo and chuckwagon races at the Calgary Stampede

  • Nearly every year, animals continue to be injured or killed in dangerous rodeo and chuckwagon events at the Calgary Stampede.
  • At least 110 animals have died at the Calgary Stampede since 1986, an astonishing average of one death every 3.5 days of competition.
  • The Vancouver Humane Society is urging Calgary’s newly elected Mayor and Council to remove the chuckwagon races and rodeo events from the annual Stampede program.

TAKE ACTION:

Step 1: Tell Calgary’s NEW Mayor and Council to remove these inhumane and deadly animal events from the Stampede program. 

Step 2: Take the #SayNoToRodeo pledge to reflect your opposition to the use of animals in rodeo events.

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Email Calgary’s Mayor and Council 

#SayNoToRodeo at the Calgary Stampede

Check out RodeoTruth.com for more information about the rodeo and chuckwagon races at the Calgary Stampede. This public awareness project is a collaboration between the Vancouver Humane Society and concerned Calgarians.  

To keep spreading the word about why the Calgary Stampede should buck inhumane animal events, follow RodeoTruth on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok and share the posts.

Image credit: Jo-Anne McArthur, We Animals

What happened at the 2025 Calgary Stampede?

  • A horse named Rider suffered a fracture to his left-front cannon bone during a chuckwagon race and was euthanized.    
  • Video clips show the risk of injury to animals, such as a steer who was flipped over and whose neck was repeatedly twisted. Last year, a steer used in steer wrestling was euthanized due to a serious neck injury. 
  • Footage also shows people at risk of injury, including children. 
  • Animals are hit and roughly handled. In one clip, a handler uses a rope to agitate a bull’s neck while another person behind the scenes calls the bull obscene names. 
  • Animals show signs of fear and stress, including widened eyes, tense open mouths, excessive salivation, thrashing in chutes, panicked behaviours, and resisting handlers. 

Content warning: The following footage shows a fatal incident and animals showing signs of stress and fear.   

Animals pay the price for “entertainment” at the 2025 Calgary Stampede

No Description

Stress, suffering & risk of injury or death in rodeo events

  • Calf roping: Calves are chased, roped by the neck, abruptly stopped, and thrown to the ground, which can cause neck injuries, bruising, and stress. 
  • Steer wrestling: Steers have their necks twisted and are slammed to the ground, risking serious injury. 
  • Bucking events: Bulls and horses are fitted with flank straps and spurred to provoke bucking, a reaction caused by discomfort and fear. 
  • Chuckwagon races: High-speed collisions and crashes often result in catastrophic injuries and death. 
  • In 2025, a horse was euthanized after a serious leg injury in the chuckwagon races. 
  • In 2024, four animals died: three horses during chuckwagon races and one steer whose neck was broken in a steer wrestling event. 

Despite efforts to improve safety, animal fatalities continue almost every year, demonstrating that these events are inherently dangerous. 

Tools & practices that cause distress

  • Flank straps and spurs are used to provoke animals into fleeing and bucking. 
  • Animals often show visible signs of fear and stress: wide eyes, drooling, open mouths, vocalizations, and defecation. 
  • Rodeo footage often shows rough handling — hitting, kicking, tail twisting, and ear pulling. 

The Vancouver Humane Society is urging the newly elected City of Calgary Mayor and Council to remove rodeo and chuckwagon events from the Calgary Stampede program by collaborating with Stampede organizers or implementing bylaws to prohibit harmful events. Cities like Vancouver, Port Moody, and the District of North Vancouver have already banned rodeos. 

Public opposition to rodeo is growing 

  • A 2022 Research Co. poll found removing rodeo and chuckwagon events would have little to no effect on Stampede attendance. 
  • 61% of Canadians and 49% of Albertans opposed the use of animals in rodeo (2022). 
  • By 2023, opposition grew to 67% of Canadians and 53% of Albertans. 
  • 2024 polls showed majorities of Calgarians oppose calf roping, steer wrestling, bronc riding, and chuckwagon racing. 
  • 67% of Calgarians now oppose government funding for rodeos. (2024)

The Future of the Stampede 

The Calgary Stampede has evolved over the decades to incorporate other attractions, including a large art festival; Indigenous performers and artists at the Elbow River Camp; the Midway rides and games; and live music featuring today’s top bands and local musicians. 

  • It’s time to embrace a cruelty-free future that brings people together without animal suffering. 
  • Removing these harmful events would align the Stampede with modern values of compassion and respect for animals. 

Together, We Can Make a Difference

📢 Call on Calgary’s NEW Mayor and City Council to end rodeo and chuckwagon events at the Stampede! 

Together, we can ensure the Calgary Stampede continues as an exciting celebration, without cruelty. 

TAKE ACTION

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Tell Vancouver City Council: keep horse-drawn carriages off busy city streets

  • Vancouver bylaws allow horse-drawn carriages to operate on busy city streets, putting horses and the public at risk of serious injury.  
  • The VHS has raised concern about horse-drawn carriages operating at events in busy, high-traffic commercial districts of Vancouver, such as Kerrisdale and Commercial Drive.  
  • These urban environments are dangerous and can be stressful for horses due to traffic, noise, pollution, and unpredictable surroundings.  
  • Cities like Montreal, Chicago, and Salt Lake City have already banned or restricted horse-drawn carriages for similar reasons.

SIGN THE PETITION: Urge Vancouver City Council to protect horses and the public from these risks by prohibiting horse-drawn carriages from busy city streets.

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Horses are sensitive, social animals, not suited for navigating the increasingly busy, noisy, and unpredictable streets of a modern city. Yet, Vancouver bylaws still allow horse-drawn carriages to operate on busy roads in high-traffic commercial areas throughout the city.

These urban environments are filled with loud noises, fast-moving traffic, hard pavement, vehicle exhaust, and crowds that can easily startle horses, no matter how experienced or well-trained they are. The physical and mental toll on horses, especially from noise sensitivity, air pollution, and walking on hard concrete for hours, cannot be overlooked.

Growing public concern

Despite growing concerns, existing bylaws do not address the safety and welfare issues that carriage horses face in busy city environments.

In 2020, nearly 7,000 people signed a petition urging the Vancouver Park Board to remove horse-drawn carriages from Stanley Park, showing that public concern around this outdated practice is strong and growing.

In recent years, incidents in Vancouver, Victoria, and Montreal have underscored the risks associated with horse-drawn carriages in busy urban environments. Horses have bolted after being spooked, fallen on slippery streets, and collided with traffic. Cities across North America, including Montreal, have since chosen to ban or restrict horse-drawn carriages to prevent further harm.

Previous Incidences

Vancouver – Stanley Park

2016: A team of horses pulling a carriage was startled by a car horn and bolted along the Stanley Park seawall with passengers on board. The horses crossed a bike path, smashed a bench, and ran for approximately 100 metres. Multiple people were injured, including the driver who fell from the carriage.

Source: YouTube – CTV News footage of the incident.

Victoria – Downtown

2018: A horse-drawn carriage rolled back into a BC Transit bus that was following too closely. The impact caused both horses to fall and block traffic. They remained on the ground for over five minutes, and bystanders attempted to help, putting themselves at risk. Just months later, another carriage horse team was spooked and crashed into a parked car. Witnesses reported smashed windows and that the horses climbed onto the vehicle’s roof with their front hooves.

Source: YouTube video of the incident.

2023: A carriage horse tripped over a bike lane curb and fell after being spooked when its bridle caught on a railing following a tour. The driver was thrown from the carriage, which became stuck halfway in the bike lane, and sustained a minor cut to the head. 

Source: Times Columnist

2024: A carriage horse is spooked after an equipment malfunction, resulting in the driver losing control of the horse, who proceeds to run and buck through an intersection. Passengers jumped out of the carriage before the horse collapsed on the concrete.

Source: Saanich News article

Holiday Event Observations in Vancouver

In recent years, the Vancouver Humane Society (VHS) has monitored and documented several holiday events in Vancouver where horse-drawn carriages were used in busy commercial areas like Kerrisdale and Commercial Drive.

These events revealed patterns of concern, including:

  • Carriages turning across oncoming traffic at intersections
  • Loud and unpredictable noises (car alarms, ambulance sirens, music, dogs, bikes)
  • Members of the public approaching horses without supervision
  • Horses operating dangerously close to moving traffic
  • Horses showing potential signs of stress or agitation (e.g. head shaking, bit chewing, pawing)

Source: VHS Youtube Compilation

Together, We Can Make a Difference

SIGN THE PETITION: Urge Vancouver City Council to protect the well-being and safety of horses and the public by prohibiting horse-drawn carriages from busy city streets.

TAKE ACTION

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Coombs rodeo event results in cruelty complaint for second year in a row 

  • The VHS has once again filed a cruelty complaint with the BC SPCA after new footage from the 2025 Bulls, Broncs & Barrels rodeo event in Coombs revealed troubling treatment of animals for the second year in a row. 
  • This year’s footage captures potentially illegal use of electric prods on bulls; stressed and agitated animals being harshly handled; and an injury to a horse who rears up in the bucking chute and lands on the structure, resulting in a bloody wound. 

TAKE ACTION: Join the VHS in calling for an end to inhumane rodeo events and to stop B.C. government funding that supports them.

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Call on the B.C. government to prohibit inhumane rodeo events and to stop using taxpayer dollars to support them.

Disturbing footage shows improper electric prod use, rough handling at Coombs rodeo

Animal welfare concerns at Coombs rodeo event, 2025

The Vancouver Humane Society (VHS) has filed a cruelty complaint with the BC SPCA after new footage from last weekend’s Bulls, Broncs & Barrels rodeo event in Coombs revealed potentially illegal use of electric prods and other animal welfare concerns.

Footage: Suzanne Goodwin

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Repeat concerns over electric prod use 

Last year’s Coombs rodeo event drew a cruelty complaint after footage showed potentially illegal electric prod use on bulls and inhumane handling of a fallen horse. Disturbingly, new footage from this year shows similar issues. 

Videos show bulls being shocked with an electric prod in ways that appear to violate Canadian animal handling regulations. These regulations prohibit: 

  • Repeated prodding of the same animal. 
  • Prodding animals who cannot move due to barriers such as overcrowded pens or blocked chutes. 

Footage from the 2025 event appears to show both of these rules being broken. 

The device used—believed to be a Hot-Shot Power-Mite—can deliver shocks of 4,500 volts. 

Stressed animals, injury, and rough handling 

Additional footage from the Coombs rodeo event highlights visibly stressed animals. Clips show animals thrashing in tight chutes, rearing up, and resisting handlers. 

A bull is seen laying on the ground following a bucking event and is then kicked and pulled by the tail and ropes until he rises. 

Two horses rear up out of the bucking chute and crash into metal posts. One of the horses appears to sustain a wound, with bloody abrasions visible on both days of the event.

Show photos of horse injuries
Saturday, August 16 at Coombs rodeo event.
Sunday, August 17 at Coombs rodeo event.

Calls for change at Ministry of Tourism

These recurring concerns underscore the urgent need for change.  

The VHS has written to the B.C. Ministry of Tourism to express concerns about public funding, provided through the B.C. Fairs, Festivals and Events (BCFFE) fund, to events that include rodeos. In 2023 and 2024, $780,000+ and $680,000+ were awarded to events that include rodeo, respectively.    

Another Ministry of Tourism funding program, the Destination Events Program, lists rodeos as an event eligible for funding.  

Provincial government must protect animals used in rodeo

The VHS has also raised concerns with provincial decision-makers about the overall lack of protections for animals used in rodeos, pointing to previous footage of various rodeos across B.C. and to the failure to enforce animal protection laws that prohibit causing distress. 

The VHS is calling for an end to inhumane rodeo events and urging B.C.’s Ministry of Tourism to exclude rodeos from publicly funded grant programs. 

By investing in compassionate and inclusive community events, the province can ensure public funds are directed toward celebrations that bring people together without putting animals at risk of harm. 

Public opposition to rodeo events & funding 

Research Co. polling shows a growing majority of British Columbians are opposed to the use of animals in rodeo events and to taxpayer dollars being used to support rodeo events. 

Take action: Help end cruel rodeo practices in B.C. by contacting the B.C. government today. 

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Advocacy continues after horse death at Calgary Stampede

Photo: Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Media.

This year’s Calgary Stampede once again ended in tragedy with the death of a horse in Friday’s chuckwagon event. The fatal incident brings the total number of animal deaths at the Calgary Stampede to 105, including 75 chuckwagon horses, since the VHS began tracking fatalities in 1986.

In addition to Friday’s devastating incident, the VHS documented rough handling and signs of stress in animals throughout the rodeo events. Watch and share the videos below to help raise awareness of the routine suffering that animals experience during rodeo events. 

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Watch & share the videos:

The above video outlines the many animal welfare concerns that arose at this year’s Calgary Stampede, including the tragic death of a horse used in the chuckwagon races.

Much work is needed to change public sentiment on the suffering of animals in rodeos. When the above video was shared on TikTok, several rodeo supporters commented that they saw “nothing wrong” with the handling of the animals. Hours later, the video was removed from the platform for violating their policy on animal abuse. This inhumane treatment is not simply an unfortunate accident in the rodeo industry—it is considered acceptable and expected as an inherent part of the events.

Please share these videos to help others see how animals suffer in rodeos and support a wider movement away from supporting inhumane animal events.

Take the #SayNoToRodeo pledge

61% of Canadians are opposed to the use of animals in rodeo. Take the #SayNoToRodeo pledge, which will be shared with decision-makers to reflect public opposition to inhumane rodeo events.

Call for a ban on inhumane rodeo events in your community

Some communities, including the City of Vancouver, the District of North Vancouver, and Port Moody, have municipal bylaws in place to prohibit inhumane rodeo events and practices. Call on your city council to follow this lead by implementing a bylaw in your community! 

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4,143 people used this tool to call for municipal bylaws banning inhumane rodeo events. Thank you for taking action.

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