For the third year in a row, Melissa de Meulles and a group of Greater Victorians concerned about animal cruelty will be at the gates of the Luxton Pro Rodeo and Fair wrangling support to end events like calf-roping and steer-wrestling.
“We don’t expect to change the minds of hardcore rodeo people, but we want everyone going to the events to know what they are supporting,” said de Meulles, a Colwood property manager and co-ordinator of Victorians Against Rodeo Events.
“It’s a fact animals get hurt in rodeos and they die. For what, human entertainment?” said de Meulles, who expects to be joined by 30 demonstrators with placards and pamphlets.
She said support for the cause is growing, boosted by a campaign to boycott the Luxton Pro Rodeo and its sponsoring businesses. Pamela Anderson gave the cause a shout-out on Twitter, the Vancouver Humane Society paid for full-page newspaper ads and at least 10 businesses pulled support for the event.
“Most of the people I’ve heard from against the rodeo are from outside of Langford,” said Mayor Stew Young, noting his community seems to be split 50/50 on the issue. Young said that while he personally doesn’t support events like calf-roping, he does respect the 39-year history the rodeo has in the area and that it is a business.
According to a 2013 poll by Insights West, 63 per cent of Vancouver Island respondents said they were opposed to using animals in rodeos.
The Luxton Pro Rodeo is hosted by the Metchosin Farmers Institute and run by volunteers. To maintain its status on the professional rodeo circuit, it must include all events so competitors can move up in a point system. It follows the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association’s guidelines for animal welfare, which includes animal health inspections and having a veterinarian on hand.
“We take every precaution possible. Deaths are very rare and the injury rates are less than one per cent,” said Keenan Vine, the association’s director of rodeo administration. He said eliminating roping events is unlikely and opposition is not the norm in other parts of the circuit.
Yet, Vancouver has a bylaw that prohibits rodeo events such as roping, steer-wrestling and the use of electric prods and other devices. And after a controversial steer death in 2007, the Cloverdale rodeo dropped four roping events and lost its sanctioned status. The fair received $345,000 in federal funding in 2009 and now draws rodeo talent through cash prizes and about 80,000 annual visitors to its fair — including 20,000 to the rodeo.
Young said this likely won’t happen in Langford, despite the BCSPCA urging the city to phase out rodeo events that are harmful to animals.
“I’m not going to abuse my powers by making bylaws and charging taxpayers. This is an issue that is out of my expertise,” said Young. “Obviously, I think these events have probably had their day and I will be supportive of any government agency that rules on that.”
He noted it’s up to the BCSPCA to determine acts of animal cruelty and take the appropriate legal action.
The problem is that under the B.C. Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act all “reasonable and generally accepted practices” are exempt from prosecution.
“This means, for instance, if an animal is caused pain during a rodeo event, the person causing that pain is not liable if they were operating in accordance with what the rodeo industry would consider is accepted practice,” said BCSPCA spokesman Geoff Urton. While the organization is working with animal industries to improve practices with regard to rodeo, “the real opportunity is for citizens to vote with their feet and not attend.”
The Luxton Pro Rodeo and Fair takes place Saturday, Sunday and Victoria Day Monday at the Luxton Fairgrounds in Langford. Organizers did not reply to requests for comment.
