Headlines:Horse Death Sparks Animal Cruelty Charges Call After Rodeo Event in Manitoba
WINNIPEG—The Winnipeg Humane Society and animal law organization Animal Justice are jointly advocating for animal cruelty charges following a distressing incident at the Triple S Fair and Rodeo in Selkirk, Manitoba. On Saturday, July 15, a horse tragically lost its life during a "bronc riding" event, where it was compelled to participate. A circulated video taken by an attendee captures the horse's repeated falls and injuries shortly after it exited the chute. In bronc riding, riders strive to maintain their balance atop a horse as it bucks to dislodge them. This sport's controversial methods employ "bucking straps," spurs, and other devices to induce extreme bucking—a dangerous behavior that is both unnatural and hazardous for the animal.
Kaitlyn Mitchell, a Winnipeg-based lawyer and the Director of Legal Advocacy at Animal Justice, commented, "While this incident is undeniably tragic, its occurrence is regrettably predictable. Bucking competitions impose suffering and peril on horses, subjecting them to the risk of harm and fatality, all in the name of entertainment. Such cruel and outdated practices are in violation of provincial and federal animal welfare laws." Mitchell emphasized that rodeos must not be exempt from the law, demanding accountability for the horse's distressing demise.
Animal Justice and the Winnipeg Humane Society have reported the incident to law enforcement, urging them to initiate an inquiry and enforce Manitoba's Animal Care Act and the Criminal Code. This comes as part of a weekend marked by horse fatalities, as another horse perished during the deadly chuckwagon races at the Calgary Stampede on Friday, July 14.
The cruelty of rodeo events has prompted bans in numerous regions worldwide, including the City of Vancouver, Port Moody, the United Kingdom, and various American states and cities.
Sources
- Animal Justice and Winnipeg Humane Society Call for Cruelty Charges After Horse Killed at Rodeo in Selkirk, Manitoba Animal Justice
Notes
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