Animal welfare groups are calling for an outright ban on rodeos, saying they are cruel and abusive.

The rodeo season begins on Saturday, with 41 events scheduled between now and March, and the SPCA, Safe and Farmwatch have all called for the events to be outlawed.

"If someone abused their pets in the ways animals are abused in rodeos, chances are we would look at prosecuting them," SPCA chief executive Ric Odom said. "The animals have no choice in this."



Some readers may find this video disturbing.

The groups recently launched a petition, which has gathered more than 30,000 signatures.

"We believe if most New Zealanders saw the abuse that routinely happens at rodeos, they would support our call for a ban," Odom said.

New Zealand Rodeo Cowboys Association president Marty Deans rejected the groups' claims, and said the issue was one of perception.

"They [animals] are not in pain and, if they are in real pain, they are let go."

Odom said the Animal Welfare Act required animals not be subject to unreasonable or unnecessary pain or distress, "yet this is precisely what happens at rodeos".

"Rodeos should not be considered a fun family day out because they are a horrific and terrifying experience for the animals involved. We are totally opposed to rodeos because they are inhumane."

The groups claim animals are routinely kicked, slapped, grabbed, chased, given electric shocks, wrestled, and roped. They have released an emotive video showing what they call "violent abuse" during last summer's rodeo season.

They say animals can suffer painful injuries, including broken bones, spinal injuries and bruising, as well as being traumatised through severe stress and fear. Horses and bulls are forced to buck, and young calves are roped and thrown to the ground.

Last season two bulls died at rodeos and the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee issued a statement on its continued reservations about the events.

New standards were also introduced by the committee to bolster animal welfare rules at rodeos, including banning the use of sheep, and outlawing fireworks and other pyrotechnics.

Deans said rodeos were adhering to the animal welfare codes that governed the sport.

"Unless you're breaking the law of the land, you can do what you want, can't you?

"We've got nothing to hide."

A Ministry for Primary Industries spokesman said all rodeos had to comply with the rodeo code of welfare, which included having a vet in attendance.

"Where there are complaints that this code of welfare has been breached, they will be investigated by MPI."

Last rodeo season, some "minor incidents" were investigated, he said. None required prosecution action.

"Some rodeos will be fully monitored by animal welfare inspectors this season."

THE MAIN EVENTS

Calf roping: Opponents say three-month-old calves are kept in chutes, given electric shocks, their tails are twisted, and they are often kicked and slapped before being chased into an arena, where they are roped around the neck, and thrown to the ground by a cowboy who ties their legs together. They say this can cause spinal damage, broken bones, and internal bleeding, which in some cases can be fatal.

Bucking events: Rodeo animals buck because they wear a tightly tied flank strap. Critics say being forced to buck is stressful and terrifying.

Steer wrestling: A steer is chased in an arena, grabbed by the horns and twisted to the ground by a cowboy. Critics say the animals can suffer injuries including broken necks, horns and spinal injuries.

SOURCE: SPCA/Safe/Farmwatch

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