Rodeo History

Rodeos have been around since the 1500’s. They began as small competitions cow hands held during their roundups. Small groups of cow camps and ranches would hold local contest to show off their skills at roping and horse handling. Rodeo is the only “sport” that grew out of an occupation and a way of life. Modern rodeos, however, have taken on a life of their own. Farming and ranch life has changed considerably since the 1500’s and today’s rodeos are purely an entertainment circuit. Horses and Bulls are bred to buck and a professional cowboy contestant competes for money and fame. A successful year for a professional cowboy can earn him upwards of $200,000.

Today’s largest organization of cowboys is the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA). The PRCA has over 11,000 members in the U.S and Canada. There are many other rodeo organizations but the PRCA rules and regulations are pretty much standard. Through a partnership with the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association (CPRA) they allow Canadian competitors to qualify for championship events in the United States.


The Events

There are two categories of events at rodeos, and within these two categories are seven standard events. These events are sanctioned by the PRCA.

1. The Roughstock events:

These are bareback, saddle bronc and bull riding. Each is a judged event and each requires the riders to stay on a bucking horse or bull for eight seconds. In these events the rider and the animal are both being judged. It is definitely in the best interest of the cowboy to ride a horse or a bull that bucks as wildly as possible, by increasing the difficulty of the ride he increases his overall points and a chance at a good sized paycheck.

Flank straps are used to “encourage” the animals to buck. These straps are cinched around the flanks of the animal. These animals are “bred” to buck but most rodeos will also use the flank strap as well. All flank straps have a quick release that a cowboy can pull to release the strap. Flank straps used on broncs are lined with sheepskin.

The main issue with roughstock events is the need to madden or rile up these animals. The Cowboys will say that these animals have been specially picked because they are more inclined to buck and that this is just their natural temperament. The truth is that sometimes these animals get added encouragement from their rodeo handlers. There are many people crowded around the chutes. The cowboy himself usually has a helper or two, but there is also the Stock Contractor and/or the Chute boss. The stock contractor is the provider of all roughstock at the rodeo. He and his personnel know exactly what to do if an animal is too docile. Although not all stock contractors will resort to abuse, there have been documented cases of abuse that occurs right in the chute. Before an animal is about to perform, he or she could be subjected to tail-twisting, tail pulling, punching and even shocking. With all of the people and activity surrounding the chute it is easy to hide a hand held Hot-Shot and quickly deliver a jolt of 5000 volts to the face, neck, and body of an animal, and no one would notice it being slipped back into a pocket.

All stock contractors will say that their animals are quite used to the crowd, noise and travel that they endure when competing in rodeos. They will say that they do everything they can to minimize the stress when leading them through chutes or loading and unloading for transport. Yet when cowboys talk of the rodeo circuit they speak of the hardship, the constant travel, the injuries and length of time spent away from home.

2. Timed events:

Calf-roping, steer wrestling, team roping, and ladies barrel racing. These are races for the best time.

The calf-roping event is now called tie-down roping. A three to four month old calf runs terrified across the arena, only to get chased by a cowboy on horseback, clostheslined, wrestled and tied up. In the rules the calf is supposed to be standing when the roper reaches it, but since they are generally flung in the air sometimes they don’t end up on their feet. The cowboy then has to pick up the calf high enough so that a judge can see daylight between its hooves and the ground. This is called "daylighting". This is why you will usually see a cowboy hoist a calf up and slam him back down on the ground. Three of the legs must be tied to keep him from standing and running away. This event is just plain cruel for obvious reasons.

Steer busting is the same thing as calf-roping but using a steer is used instead. Even though a steer has horns and weighs around 500 – 600 pounds, he is still easily tossed around in the arena by the Cowboy on horseback. Keep in mind these animals are running at top speed and then cruelly roped and jerked off their feet in one quick and violent strike.

Steer wrestling involves a hazer (to help force the steer to run a straight line down the arena) and a steer wrestler, also known as the bulldogger. Together they chase a steer and the bulldogger will jump off his horse and wrestle the steer to the ground. The steer has to be in a "Dog-Fall" position.

Team roping involves two riders (The Header and The Heeler) on horseback chasing a steer. The aim of the header is to lasso the head of the animal, and the heeler to lasso the rear feet. In this event the steer actually gets to wear horn wraps to protect his horns.

A History of Protest

Voice for Animals Humane Society is committed to bringing the cruel Canadian Finals Rodeo (CFR) to an end. In November of each year, V4A stands as a reminder to those participating in the rodeo that the event is cruel and absolutely unnecessary in every way. Currently, our campaign consists of protest and public education. We invite to stand with us all those who believe that the CFR must fade away into history.

For more information on the rodeo, please visit the group Show Animals Respect and Kindness (SHARK).

Background:

The Valley Zoo has two elephants, an Asian elephant, Lucy and an African elephant, Samantha. Their elephant house has concrete floors; their outdoor enclosure, with a sand substrate, measures approximately one-quarter acre only.

In the wild, elephants live in family groups or herds of 6 to 20 females. They are usually led by the oldest or most experienced female in the herd, the matriarch. The other members consist of the matriarch’s family members, her offspring, and sometimes her sisters and their offspring. Asian and African elephants would never live together in the wild.

Lucy's Story

Born in Sri Lanka around 1975, Lucy was "found as an orphan". According to the Asian elephant studbook, Lucy, aka Skanik, was at the Colombo zoo until she was transferred to the Valley Zoo in 1976. Then she was shuffled back and forth from Edmonton to Calgary until 1988.

Lucy has arthritis and chronic foot infections, both caused by lack of exercise, the cold winters, and the hard substrate of her living quarters. Arthritis and foot infections lead to the premature deaths of captive elephants. Elephants in the wild are not subject to either of these afflictions.

Samantha's Story

On June 11, 2007, Samantha was moved to the North Carolina Zoo on a breeding loan. Plans are for her to stay there for at least 5 years. While we would have preferred to see Samantha go to the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee, the North Caroline Zoo is a big improvement over the Edmonton Valley Zoo. Although her new enclosure is seven acres, this is a far cry from the 2,700 acres of forest, grassland, lakes and streams at the Elephant Sanctuary. Samantha will have four female companions as well as two males at the North Carolina Zoo.

Our Approach:

V4A has mounted a campaign to have Lucy and Samantha retired to The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee. We are currently raising public awareness about the plight of these elephants and building support for their eventual move.

We have opened a dialogs with Valley Zoo management, who are reluctant to see these zoo icons leave. V4A is preparing a presentation to the Community Services Committee of City Council.

Read the Zoocheck report by Winnie Kiiru.

Voice your support:

We encourage everyone who is concerned about the welfare of Lucy and Samantha to voice their support for their retirement to the mayor, city council, and the Valley Zoo Development Society.

Mail a letter wherever possible but a fax or email will work in a pinch.

• Contact the Mayor & City Councillors
• Contact the Zoo Society
• Write to the media

Contact the Mayor & City Council - Please take this opportunity to send separate letters or faxes of support to the Edmonton Mayor and City Council members.

Mayor Stephen Mandel
2nd Floor, City Hall 1 Sir Winston Churchill Square
Edmonton, AB T5J 2R7
Phone: (780) 496-8100 Fax: (780) 496-8292
E-mail: Online comment form

Office of the Councillors
2nd Floor, City Hall
1 Sir Winston Churchill Square
Edmonton, AB T5J 2R7
Phone: (780) 496- 8110 Fax: (780) 496-8113
E-mail: City Councillors (Entire Group)

Contact the Valley Zoo Development Society - Write, email, or call the Valley Zoo Development Society to ask for Lucy and Samantha's release to The Elephant Sanctuary

Valley Zoo Development Society
Norman Grimes, President
Box 2359
Edmonton, AB T5J 2R7
Phone: 780 496-6924 Fax: 780 944-7529
E-mail: vzds@telusplanet.net

Write to the media
And don't forget to voice your support in print.

Edmonton Journal - Letters to the Editor
P.O. Box 2421
Edmonton, AB T5J 2S6
Fax: 780-498-5677
E-mail: letters@thejournal.canwest.com
Online: www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/letters.html

Edmonton Sun - Letters to the Editor
250-4990 92 Avenue NW
Edmonton, AB
T6B 2V4
Fax: 780-468-0139
E-mail: mailbag@edmsun.com

Calgary Herald - Letters to the Editor
PO Box 2400, Stn. M
Calgary, AB T2P 0W8
Fax: 403-235-7379
E-mail: letters@theherald.canwest.com
Online: www.canada.com/calgaryherald/letters.html

Calgary Sun - Letters to the Editor
2615 12 Street NE
Calgary, AB T2E 7W9
Fax: 403-250-4180
E-mail: callet@calgarysun.com

Want to write a letter? Here is an example.

The Valley Zoo - Overview:

The Valley Zoo is in disrepair because City Hall has not been able to raise enough money to bring the zoo up to acceptable standards. How then will the City finance the expansion from 300 animals to 400 animals, as is the goal of The Valley Zoo?

This proposed expansion plan focuses on acquiring exotic animals. As Scott McKeen of the Edmonton Journal writes, "The plan is more grandiose makeover than modernization. More and more, exotic animal displays are being judged as dubious, in ethical, educational, and conservation terms."

Voice for Animals takes the position that The Valley Zoo should find sanctuaries for all of the exotic animals they now have, and end the practice of keeping exotic animals in the future.

The Alternative for The Valley Zoo:

The Valley Zoo could become a rehabilitation centre for injured and orphaned wildlife, and a sanctuary for those animals unfit to be rehabilitated.

The Valley Zoo could also display domesticated animals such as chickens, cows, pigs, sheep, and rabbits. Being in contact with domesticated animals is more educational than viewing exotic animals in unnatural conditions. As well, interacting with animals would teach children compassion and respect for animals.

Providing a natural habitat for exotic animals is both very expensive and, in most cases, impossible. A domestic animal farm is feasible, humane, and much less expensive.

Elephants at The Valley Zoo:

Lucy and Samantha, are Asian and African elephants, respectively. The Elephants are of particular concern to Voice for Animals. Both elephants have already started exhibiting stereotypic behaviour (performing a movement repetitively) - a sign of stress. Also, Lucy, at the young age of 30, already has arthritis which she must be treated regularly for.

In the wild, elephants roam as much as 48 kilometres a day, snacking on lush foliage, bathing in water holes, and interacting socially with other elephants in large groups. Lucy and Samantha, like all elephants in city zoos, lacks the type of space and mental stimulation that elephants in the wild have. Movement and mental stimulation aids in blood circulation which in turn prevents infections and arthritis.

Edmonton's cold climate is another issue. Elephants are temperate climate animals, and therefore prefer a climate which remains warm year around. Because Edmonton gets so cold in the fall and winter, and even into the spring, Lucy and Samantha must spend a great deal of time indoors (up to nine months).

Finally, Lucy and Samantha are different species of elephants. The two are quite different temperamentally and do not make good companions for one another.

Since the year 2000, 47 elephants have died prematurely in American zoos. This figure does not include the deaths of elephants under the age of 2.

As of 2006, The Tennessee Sanctuary, an elephant sanctuary in US, has expressed a great deal of interest in taking on both Samantha and Lucy, where they will be able to exhibit natural elephant behaviour, and to also be with members of their own particular species.

Voice for Animals is seeking to put pressure on the municipal government to seek to change the focus of the Valley Zoo.

History of Action with The Valley Zoo:

In 1997, V4A submitted a report to the City of Edmonton called A New Direction for the Valley Zoo”. The City’s new management plan called for severe funding cuts to the Valley Zoo and we felt it was time for a radical shift in the nature of the zoo. The Zoo had been under funded for years and needed tens of millions of dollars to bring it up to modern standards. We, therefore, felt that the zoo should divest itself of the exotic animals and instead focus on native wildlife. The Calgary Zoo, a modern and well funded zoo, could be Alberta’s exotic animal zoo.

To view images comparing the Valley Zoo to the Calgary Zoo click the links below:

• Seals
• Primates
• Parrots
• Displays
  

In 2006, Voice for Animals has been dealing with The Tennessee Sanctuary to try and get Lucy and Samantha out of their dire situation. With the development of Lucy's arthritis, and now with Samantha's injury, and rumours that The Valley Zoo may be planning to breed Samantha, we are desperate to get these beautiful wild-caught elephants to a home where they can exhibit natural elephant behaviour.

Voice for Animals continually monitors The Valley Zoo, and remains in contact with staff in order to put pressure on them to change the overall focus of the zoo. There have been several table events, protests, and recently Voice for Animals was co-host with Zoocheck for a visit from Winnie Kiiru, a Kenyian conservationalist, who spoke to the plight of elephants in captivity. Unfortunatly, even though the Edmonton Councillors' and Mayor's offices were contacted, they declined to come and hear Winnie speak.

Visit the Gallery for recent pictures taken at The Valley Zoo.

Guzoo:

Guzoo has been described as "the worst roadside zoo in Canada" by Zoocheck.

These pictures illustrate some of the unbelievable conditions found at this zoo. The government of Alberta refuses to take action against the squalid and unacceptable conditions found here.

Marilyn Cole, a respected zoo professional, inspecting this zoo for a Zoocheck report in 2000 stated:

"By all rights this zoo should be closed. In addition to the numerous animal welfare concerns, there are many public health and safety concerns as well."

Some of the severe problems that warrant shutting this zoo down are:

Animal welfare concerns.

• Filthy cages, animals often encrusted in feces
• Inadequate or no shelters
• Sick animals
• Dirty and often no water
• All animals appear to be in poor condition

Public encouraged to feed animal.

• The zoo has donated white bread, which is often mouldy, for this purpose
• Possibility of disease transmission between species
• Complete neglect of animal’s psychological needs
  Safety concerns

No supervision of the facility.

• Easy access to dangerous animals
• Children are encouraged to handle young animals such as tigers and lions with no staff supervision
• Cages not securely locked

Public health concerns.

• Filthy water and feces spilling onto visitor pathways
• Children are encouraged to enter filthy cages to pet animals

Education.

• No signs with information about the animals and their natural habitat.
• Signs identifying animals often wrong.

For more information on the Guzoo roadside zoo, visit the Guzoo Animal Farm activist site.

Read a recent account by a visitor to Guzoo.

Our Beliefs with Regards to Zoos:

V4A is fundamentally opposed to zoos. Without a doubt, all zoos exist as entertainment for the public. True, there is a tremendous variation in the quality of zoos. They range from appalling private roadside menageries to state of the art publicly funded zoos with research facilities and serious attempts to educate the public. Some zoos take part in the "Species Survival Plan", a breeding program for endangered species. Although this is commendable, only an extremely small number of zoos have the financial resources to take part.

We have to ask if the tremendous amount of suffering caused by the captivity of an estimated 5 million individual animals can be justified by zoos’ claims to entertain, educate and conserve.

Visit the Petitions page for more information on what you can do to help with regards to both The Valley Zoo and Guzoo.

Want to write a letter? Here is an example.