The federal Animal Welfare Act exempts rodeos from the protections it provides to other animals. The horses, bulls, steer, and calves suffer broken ribs, backs, and legs, torn tails, punctured lungs, internal organ damage, ripped tendons, torn ligaments, snapped necks, and agonizing deaths all for humans to have a source of “entertainment”. These are sentient beings that are being unnecessarily tortured and ultimately killed. Humans are using these innocent animals in a brutal and agonizing manner.  

Cruel tools like the “hotshot” are used to make the animals perform. This is an electric prod that scares an animal into displaying abnormally dramatic reactions through intense pain. Other tools include metal spurs and “bucking straps” that burn the animal’s abdomen and groin area and cause him to “buck” and can lead to back and leg injuries.

These animals are often transported over long distances in hot and overcrowded trucks and trailers. The official rules of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association permits them to be confined during transport for as long as 24 hours without being fed or given water. 

I urge you to sign this petition. We need to end the unnecessary torture of innocent animals. There is no purpose to these violent acts. Other states have already taken the step to ban rodeos. Texas can be a revolutionary force in ending animal cruelty nationwide.