An award-winning new video by Action for Animals Oakland and Sila Productions is showing the world why rodeos are one of America’s most shameful “traditions.” Featuring expert testimonials and interviews with reformed rodeo participants and attendees, “Bucking Tradition” is a reminder that maintaining customs never justifies sustaining cruelty. To learn why we must stop the abuse of animals for events like rodeos, watch the video below:
A Deadly, Dirty Business
In order to make them “perform” for gawking onlookers, cows are zapped with electric hotshots so that they’ll charge out of the chute, calves’ necks are twisted as they’re violently slammed into the ground, and horses are viciously spurred into bucking.
It’s not uncommon for animals exploited in rodeos to sustain broken backs and necks or have heart attacks or even aneurysms—but injury-reporting requirements for the industry are notoriously lax. PETA’s factsheet details just some of the injuries and deaths that have occurred during rodeos.
Buck the Rodeo
For years, PETA has appealed to corporate sponsors of these dangerous spectacles, such as Coors and Wrangler, urging them to discontinue their support. We have asked the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association to eliminate the worst types of cruelty—like calf roping and flank straps—and asked the governors of Oklahoma and Louisiana to ban rodeos at both states’ prisons. PETA staffers and supporters alike have had letters to the editor and op-eds published in local newspapers ahead of scheduled rodeos and have organized powerful demonstrations. PETA also doesn’t shy away from condemning the cruelty of a similar “sport”—charreadas, which are Mexican rodeos with horrific events including “the step of death” and “the death jump.”
Today, more and more people are realizing that rodeos and other violent spectacles don’t belong in stadiums—they belong in the history books. If you hear that a rodeo will be held near you, use PETA’s tips and literature to organize a protest to inform attendees of the cruelty that they’re supporting and join our Action Team to be informed of any PETA demonstrations in your area.
