The Rodeo is NOT a sport.  The rodeo is NOT fun for the animals that are terrorized, injured, and killed.  The rodeo has victims, NOT willing participants.  A sport involves the consent of individuals which usually comprise a team of players.  Animals cannot give their consent.  All we have to do is look at the fear on their faces as they are chased down, roped, and brought crashing to the ground in a violent fury, followed by being ruthlessly tied up. The animals are defenseless, scared, and at the mercy of those that have no compassion or mercy, only greed, ego, and depravity.

The Rodeo is comprised of bullies and cowards who for their amusement, trophies, or money, injure defenseless animals.  A multitude of injuries, catastrophic and sometimes fatal, include: broken ribs, punctured lungs, hematoma, saddle blisters, spur and flank strap wounds, broken legs, ripped tendons, torn ligaments and muscles, deep internal organ bruising, severed tracheas, broken necks, broken backs, heart attacks (from fear), and aneurysms.

The EVENTS: Bull riding (contestant rides on a bucking bull's back trying to stay on for 8 seconds -achieved by tightly fastened straps around the animals' body); Steer Wrestling or Bulldogging (horse mounted rider chases and wrestles steer to the ground by grabbing its horns and pulling it off-balance causing the steer to fall to the ground); Bronc Riding (bareback or saddle- contestant rides a bucking horse- the horse bucks because of extremely tight flank straps around its body); Calf Roping (atop a horse, contestant chases down a baby calf, ropes the calf by the neck and forces the calf to the ground); Team Roping (3 riders attack an animal all at once- one ropes calf by the neck, one ropes hind legs, and the third rider jumps off a horse and ties the calfs legs together while the animal is defenseless, terrified and in pain). Sport? Entertainment? Just good old fashioned cruelty and abuse.

*It should be duly noted the rodeo changed the name of the event, "Calf Roping" to "Tie-Down Roping" in an effort to sanitize the event and erase the use of baby calves in peoples' minds.  The truth is, rodeo contestants perform what is known as a "Jerk Down."  Lassoing a calf, usually 2-3 months old, by the neck while the calf is running at a top speed of 30 MPH (running because of the pain they endure by being electrically shocked and having their tails twisted) and jerking the rope to catapult the calf and bring the animal crashing to the ground.  If that isn't enough trauma for the animal, the contestant then picks up the animal and slams the animal to the ground knocking the wind out of them to then be able to tie up their legs with little to no resistance. Calves eyes bulge, they gasp for air, and they cry like babies - the babies that they are. Babies that were ripped away from their mothers.

When an animal dies at the hands of rodeo people, it is not considered murder. Why not? Animals are chased down, thrown around, kicked, punched, roped by the neck... resulting in fatal injuries. That is assault, That is Battery, That is murder.  If they used dogs there would be outrage. Why not for these other animals? All animals feel the same pain and they feel the same pain as people.  

Let's imagine this being done to a person.  People on horses chasing down a person, throwing a rope around their neck, forcing the person to the ground and tying the person up. The person writhes in pain and cries out for help.  Would this be considered a sport? NO? Then why is it a sport when animals are used?  It is not. And it needs to be outlawed in every state in the U.S. immediately.  It is time to end this barbarism that has been going on far too long with far too many victims.  Victims forgotten and thrown away like garage.  The animals are expendable and the ones that die are sold to the meat industry.  Sentient, breathing, fully aware victims who deserve the right to live their lives free from harm.

The TORTURE DEVICES:  "Hot Shots" or 5,000 volt electric prods; Steel boots and spurs - horses/cows/bulls are impaled with spurs to force them out of the gate against their will. Bucking Straps or Flank Straps - fastened behind the horses' abdomen to 'encourage' the horse to kick out straighter and higher when bucking. The straps cause the horse pain hence the bucking, to try and get rid of the strap. The extreme bucking that is forced upon them causes chronic back problems.  All of these events and actions are against the will of the animals. The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Rules allow for the shocking of horses that refuse to come out of the gate. RUFUSE - they don't want to participate in this one-sided non sport. Notice how all the implements used are used to FORCE their unwilling and terrified "opponents;" Drugs - bulls are given steroids to make them aggressive and stronger. They are also injected AGAINST THEIR WILL with anti-inflammatories. The Rules state that the animals cannot have residue in their systems because the champion steers will be killed for food. Competition designated as "terminal." How many sporting event are purposely killing their participants? Zero.

The life of a rodeo animal forced into the Rodeo Circuit is a life of pain & suffering. They are thrown into trucks after an event and continuously transported to many other events on the circuit. When they are injured or become too "old" they are sent to the slaughterhouse. Typically, athletes in sports just retire when they are too injured or past their prime. They don't drive themselves to a slaughterhouse.

5,000 Rodeos are held annually in the U.S. One third are sanctioned by PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and IPRA (International Professional Rodeo Association.) Emergency Services are stationed at the rodeos to aid any injured human contestants but Veterinarians are rarely on-site to aid the injured animals despite the fact that some rodeo associations require a VET on site. Why follow rules when they are already given carte blanche to injure and kill animals.

The Rodeo has much to hide and because of animal activists documenting the abuse, cruelty and deaths, they have banned videos and cameras from their events.

Mexican Rodeos or Charreada are even more brutal, the "tradition" dates back to the 17th century in Mexico but the style is practiced in the U.S. The competitors feature Mexican-Americans in 12 states with 200 official teams including 40 all-female riding teams. Some Events: Horse tripping - involves roping and snaring the front legs of a running mare. This has been outlawed in several states it is so brutal. Steer Tailing - The steer's tail is wrapped beneath the person's boot and stirrup which flips the animal to the ground. The flesh on the tail is torn off the bone - this is called Degloving and the pain is excruciating for the animal.

This petition is prompted by a February, 2021 Western Justice petition entitled, "Save Rodeo & Rodeo Activities in the City of Los Angeles, CA. (Their petition was most likely prompted by a 2018 petition by Last Chance for Animals entitled, "Ban Rodeo and Rodeo-type activities in the City of Los Angeles (currently has 22,839 signatures).

Western Justices's petition decries the L.A. City Council's proposed ordinance to ban electric cattle prods, sharpened spurs, wire tie-downs and flank straps. They contend, "These items, if used in rodeo at all, are carefully regulated and monitored by industry professionals." If they are rarely used, then why are they so concerned about banning them? Why? Because their statement is false just as their entire petition is rife with mistruths and the deliberate cover-up of documented facts pertaining to animal injuries and deaths. The truth is, these implements are used all the time in every rodeo, regardless of type of rodeo or location.

Their petition also characterizes at least one of the council members as an 'extremist.' The intent is clear - try and garner enough support through their petition to put pressure on council members with the express purpose of getting the Council to discontinue their impending ordinance. Bully tactics to be sure, but not surprising since they are used to bullying innocent defenseless animals. Their petition says this, "It is truly a shame the City Council votes were cast based on false claims and untruths about the rodeo community and the treatment of their respected and admired animal athletes. "Animal Athletes?" Now they are calling their victims athletes? Do the animals have training facilities where they practice running for their lives and trying to prevent breaking their necks as they throw themselves to the ground? We can see how preposterous this petition statement is.

In their citing of the "60 Rules" by the PRCA they contend that there is always a licensed VET on site: FALSE; They claim only 28 injuries to animals per a study of 148 rodeo performances with 60,244 "animal exposures" - FALSE. The injury rate is claimed to be so low because the Rodeo hides injuries and deaths and most go unreported.

Their petition explains the use of cattle prods like this, "Electric cattle prods were developed by the cattle industry professionals, and are considered to be one of the most humane methods to initiate movement in cattle during handling." Interesting that Western Justice doesn't mention the term "athletes" here. So if their 'animal athletes' were truly willing participants why do they need the electric cattle prods to move them? Shouldn't they just move on their own to enjoy their part in the events? Again, animals have to be forced to participate and forced with electric shocks. Please think about that.

The Rodeo is cruel, injurious, and fatal to animals. There is no justification for it. Animals cannot give their verbal consent nor would they, if they could. In fact, they do show their unwillingness to participate by not wanting to leave the gates. The animals are violently abused to get them out of those gates. That is a fact. Western Justice admits it in their petition by stating why electric cattle prods are used.

We urge the Los Angeles City Council Members to go much further than a ban on implements. Because a ban on these devices will not stop the injuries and deaths of animals. In fact, the Rodeo will most likely come up with different implements to use. L.A. Council Members must institute a total ban on the Rodeo (such as Pasadena, Irvine, and Napa County have done), thereby setting an example for the entire state of CA and the rest of the U.S.

Please sign this petition to raise your voice for these animals who cannot raise theirs and to let the City of Los Angeles know that an implement ban is not enough.

Also, please use this web address to find out who your REPS in your state are to contact them:  MYREPS.DATAMADE.US.

You can also leave a comment for the L.A. City Clerk via their online Public Comment Form.  Enter 20-1575 as the council file #.

Thank you for your help.