Rodeos

[suzilovespiggie]

I hate rodeos. Being in Southern AZ, it is a big thing here. Our local yearly rodeo is next month. I go buy a practice arena on my way to work. I just can't stand them chasing the young calves around. I am a member of the local PETA to stop this but so far it still goes on. I am blowing off steam here, as it just makes me sick. I just want to cry (and I have for those babies.)

[TheQueen]

I too dislike rodeos. Living in upstate New York, we don't have a lot of them, but there are a few around. I've only been to one, when I was around eight years old. They had calf roping, bull riding, bronco riding, and they even let children ride sheep, using the same methods they did for the bulls so that the sheep would jump around. It's so horrible, not to mention dangerous for the children, who were as young as four I believe, and dangerous for the animals, obviously. Poor animals are probably scared out of their wits.

Kind of expanding on this, but I also can't stand bull riding. Poor things are just trying to get the rope that's cutting of the circulation to their "man parts" off! How would the "cowboys" that ride them feel if we tied rope around their testicles? Just fabulous, I bet.

Although I'm not old enough to be a member of PETA, I always send donations and do whatever I can to help their cause. Recently they sent me a survey to fill out (which I did) and they sent me free address labels with PETA logos and stickers on them. I hope you have some luck in your area, and everywhere else, for that matter.

[CavySpirit]

There is one coming up here, too. What really irks me are the big name country singers who are performing. I think we really need to go after them, too. It pisses me off, because I might want to go listen or dance to some of that, but no bloody way, of course.

[suzilovespiggie]

I never go. If it works out with my work schedule. I help PETA picket and do whatever it takes to protest for the animals. Same for when the circus comes to town. Both just make me sick.
If there is a way to tell the singers I will help.

[Fay]

Luckily there are no rodeos in the Netherlands as far as I know. We do have the circus which is horrible as well for the animals. You sometimes see them on TV and I do enjoy watching all the tricks the humans make but when the animals come I just find it really sad.

[fashion victim]

I'm not sure if there's rodeos here. I've never seen or heard of one of those events here. Nevertheless I hate them with all my soul. I just can NOT stand anything in which animals are hurt/exploited.

However, in here cock fights are sort of part of the culture. Also there's a hippodrome in which horse races are held all the time, if not every single day, illegal trade of exotic animals, illegal dog fights, etc. I've heard of people having Betta tournaments in which they have like a killing frenzy and bet on which one will last until the end.

[fourbwabbys]

We talked about rodeos in atatomy. They actually put rubber bands around their testis to make them go crazy out of their mind. It's horrible.

[ellenvega]

If there is a way to tell the singers I will help.

You don't buy their albums.

[CavySpirit]

I don't think so. In this case, there has to be more direct activism. Letters to them or their fan clubs or posted on fan club sites, etc. Letters/calls to their promoters. Postings about it elsewhere to raise awareness. etc.

[ellenvega]

Well yes of course. But if you don't agree with an artist's stance and what they're supporting, then you shouldn't contribute to them in any way.

[fashion victim]

I suppose you could send them messages or leave them comments on their Myspace, friendster, etc if they have any profiles so that the people who visit the pages can be aware. I have some local celebrities on Myspace and they answer themselves when you leave them messages in their inbox or public comments, so maybe these country singers do so, too.

[suzilovespiggie]

Being again in Southern Az, there is cock fighting and dog fighting. We have alot of pitbulls in our area. We also have a fabulous Humane Society, a branch of PETA, a various organizations that do fight for the welfare of the animals. They do a great job, but it never stops. That is another reason this website is so important and each of us must keep fighting for the sake of GP's and animals everywhere.

[janetangel]

Suzi, I so agree with you about our town and the circus' and rodeos. Our town is not as bad as it use to be, but it still has a lot of room for improvement. When my dad was growing up the rodeo was the thing to do and he was one of the roping champions. He no longer promotes the rodeo scene, but it was a big deal 50 yrs ago. Tucson was a huge Rodeo and horse town. My horse is a retired roping horse although we did not own him during that time. It still bothers me that my horse was branded when he was little. He is over 20s old now. I think we have a long way to go before this town gets dog and cock fighting and roping under control, but I also think even in the last 20 yrs we have come a long way. The problem with the cock fighting, it is legal in Mexico and we are very close to the border, so it flows over here even though it is not legal here. I know the pit bull fighting still goes on, but I also think our Animal Care Ctr and Humane Society are doing a great job continually working on it. I see a lot more pit bulls for pets than I do for fighting than I use in the last 20 yrs.