Media Releases

Animal Justice’s Statement on Fourth Horse Death at Calgary Stampede

On the last day of the Calgary Stampede rodeo, yet another horse was killed, bringing the death tally for this year alone to four.

The Calgary Stampede says that it is “going to look hard and find out what we can be doing differently to achieve a better result”.

“The Calgary Stampede’s plan to undertake yet another review of its animal welfare policies is a classic case of the fox guarding the hen house,” stated Anna Pippus, director of farmed animal advocacy with Animal Justice. “Industries that gain financially from animal suffering should not be left to self-police. This is a clear conflict of interest.”

“Rodeo is so inherently inhumane that virtually all major animal welfare organizations oppose it. It’s no wonder that many years after the Stampede introduced its own animal safety rules, animal cruelty continues to run rampant. It’s time for law enforcement to crack down on rodeo cruelty.”

Last week, Animal Justice issued a comprehensive letter to the Calgary Humane Society—which enforces Alberta’s animal protection laws—to prosecute inhumane rodeo practices at the Calgary Stampede.

Contact:

Anna Pippus

Director of Farmed Animal Advocacy

APippus [at] AnimalJustice [dot] ca