Fw: goat tying

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Please send a letter if you can...

Thank you

Jill

 

Rodeo Alert - Letters, e-Mails, Calls Needed

 

The Hayward Junior Rodeo takes place at the Rowell Ranch in Hayward, California on Saturday and Sunday, August 1 & 2, beginning each day at 9:00 a.m.

This rodeo is for children ages 6 through 18, and will feature 19 different events. Of particular concern are the calf roping, bull riding, and goat tying events.

Goat tying is especially traumatic for the animals. A young goat is tethered at one end of the arena. A child on horseback gallops to the goat, dismounts, then throws and ties the hapless and terrified animal. Sometimes the horse runs right over the goat. (Click here to see video on YouTube.)

Goat tying has absolutely nothing to do with life on a working ranch. It's basic rodeo training prior to graduation to calf roping. The Rowell Ranch rodeo policy allows each goat to be thrown and tied a totalof five times per day. And how long before a child gets a hoof in the eye? At the very least, it's bad parenting to allow a child to take part in such a potentially lethal event. Some would call it child endangerment. We call it cruelty to animals - and child endangerment.

 

 

 

Please write/email the Hayward Area Recreation & Park District and ask them to discontinue this cruel event, for the sake of the animals as well as the children. This mistreatment of animals sends the wrongmessage to the children involved - it desensitizes them to animal cruelty and suffering.

CONTACT:

Rita Shue, General Manager & Members of the BoardHayward Area Recreation & Park District1099 E StreetHayward, CA 94541 email - shur tel. - 510-881-6710 fax - 510-888-5758

Here are two experts' statements to help you prepare your comments:

1) Peggy W. Larson, DVM: "As a former large animal veterinarian, a pathologist, meat inspector and former bareback bronc rider, I don't have to imagine the trauma these young, small goats sustain in this ridiculous, cruel event. The injuries and the pain are real. There must be some collective mental vacuum in the rodeo crowd that would find this event fun. Substitute a 40 pound dog in this event and the roper would wind up in court for animal cruelty, probably felony animal cruelty in most states. These events are inhumane and cruel and must end."

2) Capt. Cindy Machado, Chief Humane Officer, Marin Humane Society: "The video accurately depicts what happens, but doesn't show the extent of injuries that these goats and sometimes horses can suffer. Lots of tangling issues, rope burns, dislocated legs, sometimes broken necks/legs... I would argue that it could be considered cruelty under Penal Code 597(b)..."