Hey you, breeder buckeroos at the Guinea Pig & Rabbit Convention!

[CavySpirit]

Having a grand ole time wrangling rabbits and prodding piggies?

It's that time of year! The ARBA/ACBA National Convention... (American Rabbit Breeder's Association & American Cavy Breeder's Association)
From your promotion:

"Get in the right frame of mind for Scooting Your Boots"

How about this frame of mind?

Buck the Rodeo

Rodeos take normally tame, docile animals and provoke them into behavior that makes them appear to be fierce and aggressive.

Rodeos consider these animals to be cheap, expendable, and replaceable. They are used time and again before their bruised and battered bodies end up at the slaughterhouse.

Bulls and horses are tormented in the chutes prior to release into the ring. They are forced to wear bucking straps, and the rider uses spurs, which dig into the animals' flesh. One rodeo cowboy said of bucking straps and electric prods, "If you can't use those devices, then you have no rodeo." (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Dec. 26, 2000).

Bucking straps are painful. They are cinched tightly around the animals' genitals or abdomen, which makes the horse or steer buck to try and shake off the strap.
Places as diverse as Pittsburgh and the state of Ohio have outlawed the use of the bucking strap on the grounds that it is inhumane. Other states have banned throwing baby calves and goats to the ground and binding their legs.

Steve Gander, organizer of the "World's Toughest Rodeo," admits that bucking horses and bulls are "prodded with an electrical hotshot."

Bucking straps, spurs, electric prods, and severe tail-twisting are all painful ways of forcing animals into aggressive behavior.

Injuries to animals, such as deep internal organ bruising, hemorrhaging, bone fractures, ripped tendons, and torn ligaments and muscles, are all expected and anticipated in this violent tradition.

[FONT=Verdana,Arial]Click here to see the abuse that animals endure in rodeos. [/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana,Arial]Click here to see a young bull stumbling and breaking a leg, horrifying onlookers, at the recent 120th Annual World's Oldest Running Rodeo.[/FONT]

I find it appalling that your national show chose a rodeo as it's primary sponsor. Rodeos are well-known for their animal abuse practices. But, I suppose it fits in with your breeders' mentality of viewing rabbits and guinea pigs as livestock. Products. Disposable. Sellable. Tradeable. Entertainment.

I hope the social gratification you got at the show and all the wonderful ribbons you go home with make you feel really great about yourself.

In the meantime, while you're scootin' your bootie and boots and patting each other on the back on what great and wonderful breeders you all are, I just got a call for a surrender of 19 guinea pigs. I turn down surrender calls every day. That's phone calls. That's not including emails.

More on Rodeos:

SHARK - Animal Cruelty Investigations and Campaigns

Anyone with a heart knows it's wrong to clothesline a baby animal, body slam it to the ground, tie its legs so it can’t move, and drag it by the neck. If this were done to a puppy or kitten, the offender would understandably be charged with a crime, and likely be jailed. In rodeos, however, it's called calf roping, and supporters claim it’s a sport. But the abuse of baby cows is just one of rodeo’s cruelties.

[FONT=Comic Sans MS]You are known and judged by the company you keep.
This is yours.[/FONT]

Not only do animals in rodeos get shocked with thousands of volts, have their tails twisted and raked, have painful buck straps yanked, now rodeo thugs are STABBING the animals with wires! See these criminal acts caught on tape! (6 minutes).

But, I think the association of Rabbit and Guinea Pig shows and breeders with animal abuse and rodeos seems sadly appropriate.

[pamziaw]

Well the lack of respect for animals shows plainly through for breeders and these 'people', it's sad that these 'people' have become so used to violence that they seem to think its acceptable, nay even enjoyable. Its sickening, some argue that we evolved from animals let because we're the dominant species its perfically fine to destroy, hack and burn all the other life on this world.

Some also say how can we by adopting make a difference, how can vegitariens make a difference? My answer is that if all the vegitaries in the world ate meat then the meat industry would be a whole lot richer but because they choose not to, they are not and if we bought piggies then the pet store industry would be a whole lot richer BUT THEY ARE NOT! This is what we are about! Putting an end to this by our actions not by our words. When you see something like this happening to poor animals and people question if what we are doing is making a change then a line from Lord of the rings comes to mind. Lets remember it because we can make a difference and we are making a difference.

'People like that had plenty of chances of turning back but they didn't because they're holding onto something... that theres some good left in the world and its worth fighting for.'

:: slightly but never mind.

[CavySpirit]

Not off topic. It's all related.

[jackrussellgirl]

I just want to point out that I am in no way condoning(sp?) the practices at rodeos but I would like to comment on the way they are handled. Things like cattle prods and the roping of young calves is still concidered a humane way of handling cattle. In school veterinarians still learn how to use these methods. I am a Vet tech student and these are the methods we learn about is school. On the note of cattle prongs, they are humane when used PROPERLY. Most of what the video shows is not the proper way to use a cattle prod. Because of the cows thick skin they don't feel more than a zap, a lot like an electric shock when you get out of the car. I would like to say though that they should only be used on the thickest skin of the cow (ie hind quarters) not the neck, belly, and certinly not the face. They should also not be used to torment the cows, like what the video shows. They should only be used to move them through a chute.

As for roping claves, it is one of the only ways to safely capture a young calf. It should not be done for entertainment pourposes, only for veterinary treatment or "branding" (which I am totally against!). When I use the word "safely" I am not only talking about the safety of the animal but also of the handler. No one would want to work with calves if there was a risk of being severly injured (which there is). Even some of the "restraint techniques" (thats what we call them at school) used on dogs and cats would catch a lot of heat on this an many other sites but it is the only way to effectively and safely restrain the animal.

I would just like to say again that I do not condone(sp?) rodeos or the exploytation (sp?) of any animal for entertainment.
(Sorry my spelling sucks!)

[CavySpirit]

Originally Posted by jackrussellgirl

As for roping claves, it is one of the only ways to safely capture a young calf.

I got a chuckle out of that one. I grew up on farm with cows and calves. Never had to rope one. Even when they escaped through the fence and went galavanting off across the country on a nature hike.

So-called humane animal husbandry techniques and rodeo entertainment practices are clearly two different things.

I hope the show was good for the associations. Because this information is going to live on in testiment to their alliances.

[Res Judicata]

Is what is considered "humane" always truly humane? The things we subject animals to and say they're safe for the animals sometimes makes me shudder. Look at what we do to pets and other non-food animals, and we as a society tend to have more of a heart for them than cattle, hogs, etc. Are the following truly humane? Choke collars, those big old collars I see that have points in them to prevent dogs from pulling, any kind of collar or other device that gives an electric shock, riding crops, gag bits, declawing, scruffing animals from cats to rabbits? Haven't we moved beyond such things?

[littlebear]

The word "humane' is such a propaganda technique used by breeders, and so on. Its basicly a bunch of bull crock, do you believe everything you see on TV commercials the same applies to the word "humane". The definition of humane in the dictionary is, "characterized by tenderness, compassion, and sympathy for people and animals, esp. for the suffering or distressed: humane treatment of horses.". Do you consider shocking and kicking animals to provoke them for some guy to jump on them for 5 seconds compassion? So please don't say something is humane unless it truly is.

And its just sickening to see these so called "men" torcher these animals for 5 seconds of joy and look at that animal,
http://www.sharkonline.org/UP0000000141.png
Its cant defend itself, and yet they countinue to do it. He/she looks like he is going to die of fright!

[jackrussellgirl]

Originally Posted by Res Judicata

Choke collars, those big old collars I see that have points in them to prevent dogs from pulling, any kind of collar or other device that gives an electric shock, riding crops, gag bits, declawing, scruffing animals from cats to rabbits?

Exactly my point. Some of the things we do at school and in every vet hospital would catch a lot of heat on these and many other sites. Vets recomend "training collars" (choke collars) and pinch collars (i have and will never recomend one because when used incorectly then can cause a lot of harm) to cliants. We still learn how to use them correctly in school. As for scruffing, it is not inhumane to use this techneque. Obviously the animals can't be picked up using thier scruff, or only if they are being agressive. If you have a cat chances are that every time you take it into the vet it is scruffed. It does not hurt the animal. Riding crops, when used correctly for training, are humane. The crap you see in horse races is not the correct way to use them. They should not be used to hit an animal, only to gently tap a certain point on a horse.
I don't like declawing or shock collars either but in the veterinary field you have to turn a blind eye to some of these things. If I complained about a certian vets office and quit because of it, I would run out of places to work.
I would also like to state again that I am against the use and suffering of animals for entertainment pourposes. Despite what many may think I am an advocite for animal rights but I believe these practices can be helpful when used correctly and in the right situation.

[jackrussellgirl]

Originally Posted by littlebear

Do you consider shocking and kicking animals to provoke them for some guy to jump on them for 5 seconds compassion? So please don't say something is humane unless it truly is.

Don't put words in my mouth. I never said that.

[Susan9608]

I don't like declawing or shock collars either but in the veterinary field you have to turn a blind eye to some of these things.

People used to say the same thing about child labor ... they'd say, "Yeah, I know it isn't right, but if I complain about it or quit my job rather than turning a blind eye, I wouldn't have any place to work."

Good thing the majority of people felt more strongly about it and stuck to their convictions ...

[daftscotslass]

Originally Posted by jackrussellgirl

I don't like declawing or shock collars either but in the veterinary field you have to turn a blind eye to some of these things.

No, you don't.

The example of this that I would like to cite is that of members of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons which all vets here in the UK have to be registered with in order to practice legally. Several members stood up against tail docking, which had been "considered to be humane" for many (even hundreds) of years. It wasn't long before research carried out showed that shock, horror, it wasn't humane after all. The entire RCVS campaigned for it to be made illegal, also recommending its vets do not carry out tail dockings unless medically necessary. Only a few years later, it is now illegal to dock a dog's tail for anything other than medical emergency in Scotland - England and Wales are soon to follow suit.

Not all veterinary professionals choose to turn a blind eye - many would consider it distinctly unprofessional to do so if it goes against the basic rights of welfare of the animal. Shock collars and declawing included.

[fourbwabbys]

Just because you are a veterinarian means you automatically have to agree with every procedure that is done. If you have moral, you stick to them. If someone wants their dogs tail docked and comes to you, explain why you disagree, then tell them you don't offer that service there. You choose what to do, as long as it's not threatening the life of the animal in your care.

[Josephine]

I am a veterinary professional. Nope, I didn't "have" to do everything in class or in real practice. Now, I'm proud to be part of a place that turns people away if they want to vaccinate too soon, euthanize a pet for moving excuses, etc. If the clients don't agree with our standards of care, we aren't the people to service them. Nice. We even have a closed practice right now (no new clients due to the amount of business we do). Yep. Right in the heart of a low-income area. There is always a vet down the road that will do the things you have determined to be not in the best interest of pets.

[this_lil_piggy]

Ditto, Cavy spirit. Ive spent my whole life in the country and on farms. NEVER once did we need to throw a calf to the ground and rope it, for any reason. Through the years of my FIL hobby farming cattle and donkeys, we've had many instances where they would tear down a fence and go on a stroll, or would need to be corralled and given medications. Never did we have to rope them. You can lead a cow, or 10 or 12, a long ways simply with a bucket of feed, and a 4 wheeler to keep them moving (following behind). I guess thats just too easy though.

Ive heard frequently about the choke collars as well. When I got our chocolate lab I wanted to take him through obedience training, but when I called and found out that every single place that offers the training uses choke collars as the main method, I never called any of them back. I found with alot of praise, alot of love, and alot of repetitiveness, I was able to train him myself without ever needing to "cut off his air supply" to do so.

It makes me sick that so many people see animals as disposable. They are like children, defenseless, and we should handle them with the same kind hands. It just makes me sick.

Thanks for opening my eyes to the world of rodeo's. Ive been to a few, many years ago, and never realized what was behind the scenes. How sad