The Los Angeles City Council recently voted to ban “tools of torture” in the rodeo industry, according to KNX 1070 Newsradio, taking the first step towards preventing the suffering of countless animals.
The Los Angeles City Council decided unanimously to ban tools including electric prods, flank straps and sharpened spurs. California-based Last Chance for Animals, Heather Wilson, Patty Shenker and Amanda Lundberg spearheaded the campaign, and SHowing Animals Respect and Kindness (SHARK) supplied videos from decades of rodeo documentation proving abuse, injury, and even death to rodeo victims.
Councilman Bob Blumenfield introduced the motion, which is modeled after Pittsburgh’s 1992 ordinance prohibiting similar tools.
Electric prods, which shock animals with 5,000 to 6,000 volts of electricity, are restricted in various locations throughout North America. In 2018, the Michigan State University College of Law found that cities in Texas, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and California have prohibited the prod’s use.
Tied around the soft underbelly, flank straps generate discomfort. A master’s thesis pointed out the flank rope’s purpose is to “produce an annoyance to the bull.” Bucking and kicking, the bull attempts to shake off the device. The state of Ohio has banned the use of unpadded flank straps.
Rodeos continue to negatively impact cows and horses. Researchers discovered calves being chased in rodeo events expressed agitation and anxiety, along with fear and confusion.
Last Chance for Animals is calling on Los Angeles to end the cruel form of entertainment once and for all, circulating a petition with over 22,000 signatures.
What’s New…
THANK YOU for improvement, BUT we MUST BAN all Rodeos ALTOGETHER with or without tools — we MUST STOP the abuse and cruelty to Animals PERMANENTLY — BAN RODEOS — FOREVER.
I so hate rodeo – it is animal abuse from start to finish.
BAN rodeo. Plus, ALSO BAN the horrors of the Tennessee Walker abject cruelty – padding, searing legs, stacks – the unspeakable horrors thrust on sentient animals. Stop the inhumane rot. How can America turn a blind eye to the continual total cruelty in this treatment to animals. BAN with immediacy.
Good!!! These poor animals have suffered enough!!!
About time. This pleasure should never have been allowed ever.
No more! Where is your kindness. Did this animal hurt you? (of course not). Think about the animals & their hell from humans for no reason. Get another interest which would help animals not cause pain.
Bravo L A..
Rodeos are no longer family entertainer. Too much abuse torture and killing. See Sharks video on you tube. The zapping to get horse or bull out of chute. The yanking as hard as possible on the flank strap. Hello folks… The animals lungs are back there. Try tying your belt as tight and tighter as possible and see how you like it. The animals fall and break a leg. Saw two horses.. One front leg broken and one back leg broken. One horse winched into a trailer as it couldn’t get up. And this is supposed to be family entertainment. BS. The spurs…. . Even dulled… Do tissue and muscle damage. The vets have to be paid a high paid to go along with this garbage. Thank you to all who have started the no more abuse at the rodeo project. A long haul but a much needed one.
Hooray for LA!!!!!
About time. Let’s hope the rest of the World follows immediately.
THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!
Time that at least one place in the USofA did something right, good and decent for animals. Rodeo’s are cruel, inhumane and barbaric. They are not any form of sport or entertainment AND they should be banned everywhere forever.
Please ban RODEOs Completely!! They are barbaric forms of “entertainment” at the abuse, neglect and mistreatment of animals!
Rodeos involve sadistic torture. Thank you, Los Angeles.
How about banning this so-called sport for good
Every country in the world has its own form of animal cruelty they have to deal with but California is and have always act upon it with their numerous bans. I’ll never understand why people enjoy watching animals being tortured while their pain and fear are so obvious. And then, they applauded the torturer for his fabulous form. The so called cowboys must be so disappointed that the animal won’t suffer as much meaning it won’t be as good of show for the imbecilic, uneducated audience.
Somehow it is macho to abuse animals, beat them up and show your “superiority.” That used to be allow with wives, too!
Well done Los Angeles.