ROYAL NEW ZEALAND SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS
For release: 19 November 2008
SPCA: “Rodeos Are Inherently Cruel To Animals”
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The Royal New Zealand SPCA has re-iterated its fundamental opposition to rodeos, describing them as potentially cruel to
animals and as often sending the wrong message, particularly to children, as to how animals should be treated.
Last weekend, the promoter of Christchurch’s ‘International Rodeo’ cited an SPCA inspection as suggesting the Society
approved of the event, an interpretation subsequently endorsed by the city’s mayor, Bob Parker.
However, the SPCA points out, the inspection was merely aimed at monitoring compliance with the 1999 Animal Welfare Act
and did not imply approval either of this particular event or of rodeos in general.
Whilst in communication with rodeo organisations and endeavouring to ameliorate some immediate concerns regarding the
welfare of the animals involved, the SPCA remains opposed to many core features of rodeos.
“Our stance on this issue remains clear and unaltered. We believe that some of the events that characteristically occur
in rodeos are inherently cruel and that they subject many of the animals used to totally unnecessary pain, fear and
distress,“says the SPCA’s National Chief Executive, Robyn Kippenberger.
“Calf-roping, in particular, subjects the animals used to considerable stress and the likelihood of pain and injury. We
object to this, just as we object to the stress and pain imposed on horses in flat and cross-country racing.
“It is also our view that rodeos promote and instil values that run directly counter to the Animal Welfare Act and
encourage the use of animals for entertainment.
“Key features of a rodeo, such as calf-roping and steer-wrestling, centre intrinsically around displays of humans
dominating animals. It is bad enough that adults should be encouraged to enjoy such scenes but totally wrong to expose
children to them,” she says.
Ms Kippenberger adds that there is an overwhelming body of evidence pointing to the connection between cruel and callous
behaviour towards animals and violence towards our fellow humans.
“If we truly want a kinder, less violent and more responsible society, then a good place to start is by teaching our
children to respect both humans and animals. Rodeos are, by their very nature, contrary to this learning.
“The SPCA regards the existing legislation on this matter as wholly inadequate. We have always recommended that rodeos,
in their present form, should be banned at the earliest possible opportunity.
“However, as long these events remain legal, our inspectors will continue to monitor them and seek to minimise the
suffering of the animals involved. In no way, should this be taken as an endorsement of rodeos,” she says.
ends