"Stop broadcasting the Calgary Stampede" - Humane Society of Canada

107 posts / 0 new

Thu, 2009-07-02 23:53

Unionist

I have oftened wondered why the participants don't lasso and hogtie each other, and leave the innocent livestock alone:

[url=http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/story/2009/07/02/humane-society-end-sta... Society demands end to Stampede broadcasts[/color][/url]

Quote:

The Humane Society of Canada is asking Canada's broadcasting regulator to phase out the airing of Calgary Stampede events.

The animal-welfare group believes rodeo events during the 10 days of Stampede violate the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) code by glamourizing cruelty to animals during programming.

"Based on our experience on inspecting rodeos, they bear absolutely no relationship to modern-day, accepted, livestock handling practices," said Michael O'Sullivan, president of the Humane Society of Canada, on Thursday. "It's simply violence against animals for the sake of entertainment."

The complaint comes as the CBC plans a record 140 hours of coverage on CBC-TV, CBCSports.ca and its digital channel, bold, this year.

Sat, 2009-07-04 01:33

Vansterdam Kid

I'd be fine with someone making sure that the conditions the animals live in, the ways their fed, etc are improved. Hell, and I don't know if they even do this there, since I've never been to the Calgary Stampede, but if there were any sort of bullfighting activities like they do in Spain, Mexico etc, have that shit be banned. But you do realize that riding bronco's and bulls are more likely to cause injury to the rider than the animal, don't you? I guess there are events like roping calfs and lambs, and I suppose that could go. But I can't get all worked up about that seeing as I'm not even a vegetarian, although I don't eat Veal, and far more animals die because we think they taste good than the 40 that have died at Rodeo's since 1986.

Sat, 2009-07-04 09:07

Unionist

I think, even for non-vegetarians, we can make a distinction between killing animals for food vs. torturing and killing them for entertainment.

Sat, 2009-07-04 09:19

Boom Boom

I hate the damned thing, and consider it a national embarrassment.

Sat, 2009-07-04 13:42

remind

Okay, let's get rid of all equestrian venues and events, and horse races too, no more coverage of them either on TV. No more dog shows either, I mean we can't tell if those dogs want to be treated that way, or not so we have to assume they do not.

Let's pretend also that calves and cows are not roped in reality, to have their horns or nuts cut off, or to get shots, tagged and/or branded.

The humane society would do better to ensure that slaughter houses are humane, than to target a venue that happens once a year for 2 weeks, for glamourizing cruelty to animals. Our food shows glamourize animal cruelty more than the Stampede does, IMV.

Sat, 2009-07-04 14:22

Unionist

If equestrian events or dog shows cause unnecessary pain and death to animals, then they should be banned. I don't believe they do, however, but I'm not sure about equestrian events.

Remind, what did you think about my distinction between entertainment and food? Legitimate distinction, or irrelevant? What do you think of trophy hunting vs. hunting for food?

I don't want to go too far afield, but I'm interested to know.

Sat, 2009-07-04 20:03

Unionist

I see your point.

Sat, 2009-07-04 20:09

RosaL

Unionist wrote:
I see your point.

I see some of remind's points. Perhaps the Humane society wants to find an opening in popular consciousness and then go from there. It's defensible as a strategy.

I don't agree with (and am weary of) the old argument that it's somehow wrong to try to do anything about cruelty to non-human animals as long as there's cruelty to humans. I don't see why we can't oppose both and I have no problem with people focusing their efforts. It gets things done.

Sat, 2009-07-04 20:11

remind

Unionist, I think food has become entertainment, to the point of fetish almost. As such, how said food is obtained inhumanely is over-looked, or kept out of site, in the thrill seeking glamour of today's constant food entertainment bombardment. And billions more birds and animals die inhumanely in food production industry, than do at the Calgary Stampede, in one year.

Personally, I do not believe dogs want to endure, all the torturous primping and preening, by way of shampooing and blow drying, teasing and combing, in order to entertain. But it is the elite's choice of entertainment, so it is overlooked. Just as is horse racing, and other equestrian events are. And they too are being used to gain trophies and high breeding fees, by their owners.

I have no use for trophy hunters, and no real use for the Stampede either, but I will not compare them to the factory farms and slaughter houses and their inhumane practises, and find them worse. Sheer numbers are the deciding factor of what really needs to be actioned, and drawn attention to, as far as I am concerned.

This is just about as silly as the EU's ban on seal products, when they have much worse going on in their own backyard.

And perhaps the Humane Society should branch out and start indicating how inhumanely humans are being treated in Canada.

Sat, 2009-07-04 20:25

#10

remind

Rosa, I never said we couldn't oppose both, I said they should "branch out".

And I have a problem when people focus their effots on animals to the detriment of humans, like the EU has done. And I have an issue with the "humane" society focusing on the Calgary Stampede when millions in Canada are homeless, and many more are getting sick and dying from completely preventable unsanitary conditions, and unsafe practises because they are poor and marginalized.

Say nothing of their inactivity in respect to big money and their inhumane practises in factory farms and slaughter houses. They have got nothing done there in all the decades I have been watching.

Sat, 2009-07-04 20:48

#11

Stargazer

I have no idea what kind of activism the Humane Society does or doesn't do but I do not think animal and human concern is mutually exclusive. The Humane Society is there for animals, not humans. There is no reason that I, or anyone else, cannot see the cruelty inherent in the Calgary Stampede and speak about it and also be equally as disgusted in the way human beings are treated. I also have zero issues with the EU banning seal products. I think the seal hunt is inhumane and cruel beyond belief. If everyone had to first "clean up their own backyards" we'd all be in a hell of a mess. No one is clean anywhere at all times. That's just life.

And yes, I am a vegetarian.

Sat, 2009-07-04 22:51

#12

Unionist

RosaL wrote:

I don't agree with (and am weary of) the old argument that it's somehow wrong to try to do anything about cruelty to non-human animals as long as there's cruelty to humans. I don't see why we can't oppose both and I have no problem with people focusing their efforts. It gets things done.

I should have been more explicit. I didn't agree at all with remind's point about cruelty to human beings, and I do agree with you, RosaL. Her point which I saw was about cruelty to animals in the food industry. I know very little about that, except that PETA takes it on with a vengeance. If the Humane Society is selective, then that could be a problem. I guess my feelings are coloured by the fact that I consider the Calgary Stampede to be asinine, disgusting, and lowering the level of human civilization generally. I don't care if they hurt human beings in the process, but I certainly do care about the animals.

Sat, 2009-07-04 23:13

#13

remind

Oh...and in this instance you do not care about humans, but the animals, and yet you carried on ad naseum about the loss of human life through personal choices of snow mobiling and want laws to protect us from ourselves. And you want to protect 40 animals killed in 25 years, but yet know nothing about the inhumane slater houses, including at least one Kosher one, that kill billions in a year.

The cognative dissonance of it all.......

Unless of course your whole meme is to disparage the west?!

Sat, 2009-07-04 23:32

#14

Unionist

remind wrote:

Unless of course your whole meme is to disparage the west?!

If you want to know my hidden agenda, I'm working with a coalition lobbying to move the Stampede to Trois-Pistoles. We're promising to use simulated animals. It will be a French-only event.

Mon, 2009-07-06 01:19

#15

HeywoodFloyd

remind wrote:

Unless of course your whole meme is to disparage the west?!

Remind, that is so unfair. We all know that Unionist has been instrumental in the fight against the Ontario Rodeo Circuit, protesting this weekend at the Warkville Rodeo and heading out to Orangeville at the beginning of August for their rodeo. http://www.ontariorodeo.com/Schedule.html

And I really respect the way he is leading the charge of the boycott of Dodge products over their sponsorship of the Ontario Rodeo circuit, as well as his work on the boycott of GM products over their sponsorship of the Calgary Stampede.

Mon, 2009-07-06 02:31

#16

Big Daddy

Unionist wrote:

I have oftened wondered why the participants don't lasso and hogtie each other, and leave the innocent livestock alone:

[url=http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/story/2009/07/02/humane-society-end-sta... Society demands end to Stampede broadcasts[/color][/url]

Because guys are already doing it on pay per view.

Still and all, I agree -- only a bunch of assholes think it's fun to hog tie baby animals. Look, I'm a hunter, I'm not some sort of vegan, but I think that the Stampede is disgusting.

Tue, 2009-07-07 19:43

#17

NorthReport

My issue is with the Calgary Human Society who are doing nothing that I am aware of, to protect those animals from abuse at the Stampede, so shame on them.

They can be reached at 403-205-4455.

Their website is: http://www.calgaryhumane.ca/

I heard one of their spokespersons interviewed last weekend on the CBC and they are living in major denial. Quite sad, but really quite apparent.

Heywood probably volunteers for them.

Tue, 2009-07-07 19:48

#18

RosaL

Unionist wrote:

I should have been more explicit. I didn't agree at all with remind's point about cruelty to human beings, and I do agree with you, RosaL. Her point which I saw was about cruelty to animals in the food industry. I know very little about that, except that PETA takes it on with a vengeance. If the Humane Society is selective, then that could be a problem. I guess my feelings are coloured by the fact that I consider the Calgary Stampede to be asinine, disgusting, and lowering the level of human civilization generally. I don't care if they hurt human beings in the process, but I certainly do care about the animals.

Oh, i see now. Yes, I agree about the food industry. I can't even watch the (ubiquitous) ads for the stampede....

Wed, 2009-07-08 00:20

#19

HeywoodFloyd

NorthReport wrote:

My issue is with the Calgary Human Society who are doing nothing that I am aware of, to protect those animals from abuse at the Stampede, so shame on them.

What do you mean by abuse?

Wed, 2009-07-08 07:24

#20

Unionist

HeywoodFloyd wrote:

NorthReport wrote:

My issue is with the Calgary Human Society who are doing nothing that I am aware of, to protect those animals from abuse at the Stampede, so shame on them.

What do you mean by abuse?

This is from the Calgary Humane Society's guide to proper usage:

"Abuse" = inflicting pain on animals and exposing them to danger for no reason.

"Entertainment" = inflicting pain on animals and exposing them to danger for the amusement of a higher species.

Wed, 2009-07-08 08:02

#21

thanks

i haven't read this whole thread, but the last line 'higher species' is, of course, debatable.

Wed, 2009-07-08 13:08

#22

HeywoodFloyd

Unionist wrote:

This is from the Calgary Humane Society's guide to proper usage:

"Abuse" = inflicting pain on animals and exposing them to danger for no reason.

"Entertainment" = inflicting pain on animals and exposing them to danger for the amusement of a higher species.

Hey! Great to see you Unionist? How's the protest of the Ontario Rodeo circuit going? Any word back yet from GM or Dodge over their sponsorship of the rodeos. In this market, I bet a boycott of their products would really get them to pay attention.

WRT the Calgary Humane Society, since you saw that part, you undoubledly saw their position on the stampede:

Quote:

The Role of the Calgary Humane Society
at the Calgary Stampede

The Calgary Humane Society's official policy on chuckwagon racing, rodeo and related forms of entertainment states: "the Calgary Humane Society (the Society) opposes the use of animals for any form of entertainment in which they are placed at risk of suffering stress, pain, injury or death. However, the Society recognizes that rodeo, chuckwagon racing and other related forms of entertainment involving the use of animals occur in Western Canada. Therefore, it is in the best interests of the animals involved that the Society work with those who use the animals to ensure the potential suffering is minimized."

As events, rodeo and chuckwagon races are not illegal.

This conflict of opposing the actual event and being the enforcement agency to ensure the animals' needs are being met puts the Calgary Humane Society (CHS) in a difficult position. Particularly in light of the fact that there is no way to absolutely protect the animals in rodeo and chuckwagon events - the risk for accident, injury and death is too great.

The CHS responsibility or obligation at rodeo events is to enforce the Animal Protection Act of Alberta. Therefore, the primary role of the CHS at the Stampede is to ensure animals are being properly treated, ie: food, water, shelter and care. When there is an accident we are there to ensure the animal is treated promptly, efficiently and humanely, and to follow up with unresolved cases.

The Stampede and owners of the animals have the responsibility to manage the risk to the animals in rodeo events. It is their job to implement changes for the safety of animals. Ultimately, the CHS wants no animals to be harmed at the Stampede - that is the goal they expect the Stampede to work towards.

It is up to the public or consumer to determine whether or not they should support rodeo/chuckwagon events. They would do this through informing themselves about rodeo by contacting organizations like the CHS, rodeo organizers, and others who are involved on both sides of the rodeo debate. Ultimately, it's the people who do or do not buy tickets that will affect rodeo in the future - they have the ability to speak the loudest.

Wed, 2009-07-08 15:13

#23

Big Daddy

remind wrote:

Okay, let's get rid of all equestrian venues and events, and horse races too, no more coverage of them either on TV. No more dog shows either, I mean we can't tell if those dogs want to be treated that way, or not so we have to assume they do not.

Let's pretend also that calves and cows are not roped in reality, to have their horns or nuts cut off, or to get shots, tagged and/or branded.

The humane society would do better to ensure that slaughter houses are humane, than to target a venue that happens once a year for 2 weeks, for glamourizing cruelty to animals. Our food shows glamourize animal cruelty more than the Stampede does, IMV.

Bullshit. On the face of it, horse jumping and other equestrian events are no crueler for the horse than the rider. As for dog shows, its not on the face of it cruel to parade your dog around for a trophy. I agree with the cattle industry being cruel and animal rights groups ARE going after these practices, not to mention battery hens. I'm not a vegetarian, but I only eat free range chicken products and certified grass-fed beef, though I usually eat wild game that I have hunted (the ultimate organic experience). I guess hunting would be a bit more fair if I gave the elk a gun or took him on mano a mano, but we do the best we can.

The Rodeo is on the face of it cruel. Forget speculating what goes on behind the scenes, what we see is enough. Frankly, these cattle would be envious of the conditions that we keep criminals in. We treat terrorists and murders better than innocent animals for chrissakes. The Rodeo should not be banned, but the animals should be taken out of it. maybe these manly men could ride and brand each other and they could show that on TV (after 10 pm).

Wed, 2009-07-08 23:13

#24

Unionist

[url=http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/story/2009/07/08/stampede-horse-died-ch... the second time in a week, a horse has died at the Calgary Stampede[/color][/url]

Oh, who cares - it's a small price to pay for the cheers the horse gets just before the end.

I'm sure we'll be hearing a detailed report from the Calgary [ahem] "Humane" Society about how the horses committed suicide or something.

Thu, 2009-07-09 09:38

#25

HeywoodFloyd

I think it was hit by a snowmobiler-started avalanche.

Thu, 2009-07-09 10:06

#26

Unionist

Heywood, you have a heart as big as the great indoors.

Thu, 2009-07-09 10:51

#27

HeywoodFloyd

Way to avoid the issue. Not that I'm really surprised.

Thu, 2009-07-09 15:07

#28

Lord Palmerston

It's funny how this is being interpreted as an "attack on the West." [url=http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/story/2009/06/29/rodeo-ad-humane-societ...'t Vancouver part of "the West" too?[/url]

Thu, 2009-07-09 15:07

#29

Lord Palmerston

Double post

Thu, 2009-07-09 15:09

#30

Unionist

HeywoodFloyd wrote:

Way to avoid the issue. Not that I'm really surprised.

What issue are you talking about? If GM or Chrysler or the CAW finance or support activities which are gratuitously cruel to animals, they should be publicly condemned for that - is that what you meant? Likewise, your Ontario Rodeo bloodfest (which I never heard of) should be shut down tomorrow, if not yesterday. Thrilled?

Is your brilliant argument that I can't question the uncivilized nature of the Calgary Stampede unless I dedicate my life to the wiping out of all similar and lesser-known events? Well then, I guess I plead guilty, and I have the utmost respect for your PhD in sophistry and rhetoric.

Meanwhile, you haven't even bothered yourself to tell us what you think about the subject matter of this thread. I guess we're to assume that you're with the "Ride 'em cowboy!" school of "thought", but because you have been known to emit the occasional serious post in the past, I reckon there may still be some hope that we'll see one here.

Thu, 2009-07-09 15:12

#31

RosaL

Lord Palmerston wrote:

It's funny how this is being interpreted as an "attack on the West." [url=http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/story/2009/06/29/rodeo-ad-humane-societ... Isn't Vancouver part of "the West" too?[/url]

Attack on the west? will this kind of thing never end? Can't we just answer what people say without claiming to know their deepest motivations and what lurks in their subconscious? Why not just say "you have an evil spirit" and burn them!

Anyway, responding to the irrational and ridiculous: I live in the rural west. But maybe I have some deep ambivalence about that, eh? some sense of inferiority? some desire to curry favour with Toronto? Perhaps I fear ranchers or secretly wish I had a pick-up truck (well, that's true about the truck, except for the secret part) ....

Thu, 2009-07-09 17:09

#32

HeywoodFloyd

Unionist wrote:
Likewise, your Ontario Rodeo bloodfest (which I never heard of) should be shut down tomorrow, if not yesterday. Thrilled?

...

Meanwhile, you haven't even bothered yourself to tell us what you think about the subject matter of this thread. I guess we're to assume that you're with the "Ride 'em cowboy!" school of "thought", but because you have been known to emit the occasional serious post in the past, I reckon there may still be some hope that we'll see one here.

You really illustrated the depth of your opposition to rodeo with that. You're offended because you saw an article or two about it. If you hadn't seen the articles (or news reports or whatever), you wouldn't have been offended at all. You were blind to the same events in your own backyard. So I can tell that you really give a damn.

How do I feel about the stampede? Those cowboys give far more love, attention, and care to all of their livestock than anyone who just eats beef and feeds their pets ever could consider. So I support it completely. It reminds the rest of the nation that beef comes from something with big brown eyes and long curly eyelashes, that dog food comes in part from horse meat, and that our food chain isn't shrink-wrapped in plastic. Think about that the next time you suck back a burger.

Thu, 2009-07-09 17:19

#33

Boom Boom

I drive a pickup truck, and I oppose the Stampede.

Thu, 2009-07-09 17:20

#34

Boom Boom

I drive a pickup truck, and I oppose the Stampede.

Thu, 2009-07-09 17:21

#35

HeywoodFloyd

I drive a minivan and I support it.

Fri, 2009-07-10 13:03

#36

Big Daddy

I'm surprised that you don't drive a PT cruiser.

I drive a Diesel Ford F350 King Ranch; I hunt, I fish, and I have fought several successful barfights. I think the Calgary Stampede should be banned.

Fri, 2009-07-10 13:31

#37

Stargazer

Big daddy is my new Internet crush.

Fri, 2009-07-10 13:36

#38

HeywoodFloyd

Big Daddy wrote:

I'm surprised that you don't drive a PT cruiser.

I drive a Diesel Ford F350 King Ranch; I hunt, I fish, and I have fought several successful barfights. I think the Calgary Stampede should be banned.

So that makes two eco-unfriendly left wingers who dont like the Stampede.

I'm not really sure what one drives has to do with supporting Rodeo.

ETA, I don't really think that Bb is eco-unfriendly.

Fri, 2009-07-10 14:00

#39

Boom Boom

Actually, my truck is a toy compared to Big Daddy's F350 - mine is a 2004 Mazda B3000 six cylinder.

Fri, 2009-07-10 14:12

#40

Big Daddy

Hey Boom Boom, that's pretty good. Any truck that is a 6 cylinder or higher is all right with me. It's the symbolism of driving a truck, in any case, which is important.

Now, Heywood, about this minivan that you drive. Is it a new one, you know with the television for the back seat passengers, or is it an old one done up with a bubble window and a bumper sticker that says"Don't laugh... your daughter may be in here." Because the latter I could respect...

Fri, 2009-07-10 14:22

#41

Boom Boom

However, I drove a Chev 30 dumptruck with duallies when I was 19 - now 40 years ago.

Fri, 2009-07-10 17:38

#42

Unionist

HeywoodFloyd wrote:

You're offended because you saw an article or two about it.

Not at all - I've always opposed all such events (including horse racing, if you want to open another sarcastic thread on that). What triggered my comments here was the observation that the Vancouver and Canadian Humane Societies had taken a strong activist stand, while the Calgary Humane Society was scared to do so (they must get lots of money from Stampede sponsors - that's my guess - or else they've just misread their constituency as being some sort of rednecks).

Quote:
If you hadn't seen the articles (or news reports or whatever), you wouldn't have been offended at all. You were blind to the same events in your own backyard. So I can tell that you really give a damn.

Well, I can tell that you really don't mean anything you say, whether on babble or in real life - and that you are homely and have a grating voice. But I guess you needed that insulting and baseless lead-in before presenting your first actual opinion on the topic of this thread.

Quote:
How do I feel about the stampede? Those cowboys give far more love, attention, and care to all of their livestock than anyone who just eats beef and feeds their pets ever could consider. So I support it completely.

Ok, that's cool. I would have preferred a more honest statement, but we'll have to make do with what we get I suppose.

Fri, 2009-07-10 18:31

#43

Unionist

It's payback time:

[url=http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2009/07/10/spain-running-bulls-death439.ht... bull run kills 1, injures 9[/color][/url]

Fri, 2009-07-10 19:23

#44

Big Daddy

Boom Boom wrote:

However, I drove a Chev 30 dumptruck with duallies when I was 19 - now 40 years ago.

OK so you have now moved up in my books from "ok guy" to "rock god!" You are the king.

Fri, 2009-07-10 19:25

#45

Big Daddy

Unionist wrote:

It's payback time:

[url=http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2009/07/10/spain-running-bulls-death439.ht... bull run kills 1, injures 9[/color][/url]

Hey Heywood, now there's a sport you should try since you're all cowboy! What I don't understand is that they broadcast the rodeo but they don't broadcast ultimate cagefighting on CBC. At least the participants in this are not animals...