A demonstration by animal rights activists greeted ticket holders as the second annual Valley West Stampede rodeo got underway in 91原创 on Saturday, Sept. 2.
A group of eight peaceful protesters stood at the sidelines of the parking lot near the entrance to rodeo grounds, holding signs that read 鈥淎nimals are not for entertainment. Change my mind鈥� and 鈥渙nly bullies ride bulls.鈥�
They also held placards that read 鈥淒on鈥檛 lie to your children. This place hurts animals,鈥� 鈥淎nimal abuse is not a sport,鈥� and 鈥淓xploiting animals for entertainment is wrong.鈥�
Speaking for demonstrators, organizer Paul Fader said they were affiliated with the BC SPCA and the Vancouver Humane Society, both of which have objected to rodeos.
鈥淲e鈥檙e here to express our opposition to the use of animals in entertainment. We don鈥檛 think there is a morally sound argument to justify putting animals through the kind of fear, distress, and risk of injury that they have to go through for these events,鈥� he said.
Fader referred to a by the humane society, which polled British Columbians on support for rodeos, and found the majority (37 per cent) of those polled were 鈥渟trongly opposed.鈥�
鈥淭he Ministry of Tourism in B.C. is also funding these events, so we have the majority of British Columbians who don鈥檛 want this to happen and yet, they don鈥檛 even get to participate in this decision about where their tax dollars are going to something that really only a minority of people are okay with,鈥� Fader explained.
He said they hope to have the 91原创 rodeo replaced with something similar to the Cloverdale Country Fair.
鈥淲e just want to create open conversation about this issue and challenge some of people鈥檚 beliefs and values鈥� we鈥檙e just here to get people thinking and start the conversation,鈥� Fader said.
Sheila Hicks, president of the Valley West Stampede, disagreed with the demonstrators, saying the animals are well cared for.
鈥淓veryone is entitled to have an opinion,鈥� she said.
Hicks encouraged people with questions to attend the rodeo to see for themselves how the animals are treated.
鈥淭hey are high performance athletes, they are bred for this 鈥� their success is our success. We want everyone happy and healthy, that鈥檚 why we have a vet on site鈥� all weekend, and we always go the extra mile as a community in order to make sure that everyone, including the animals, are top priority,鈥� she explained.
鈥淚f anybody has any questions, we are happy to educate,鈥� Hicks added.
The three-day rodeo show could accommodate up to 12,000 people at the 91原创 Riders Society, which nearly sold out with more than 11,000 tickets bought, Hicks said.
The Labour Day weekend rodeo was held in partnership with the riders society, which has been staging amateur rodeo events, like the Little Britches Rodeos for kids, for more than 50 years.
Sanctioned by the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association, Valley West Stampede drew riders from Canada, the U.S., Mexico, and Australia.
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