Royals warned about rodeo
Posted Jun 13, 2011 12:25 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A British animal rights group is pleading with the newly-minted royal couple to shun the Stampede rodeo when they’re in Calgary next month.
The group Fight Against Animal Cruelty in Europe (FAACE) cites what it alleges are the ‘callous treatment and extreme cruelty’ toward animals as the reason the royals shouldn’t be seen at the rodeo.
In a letter to Buckingham Palace, FAACE chairman Tony Moore pleads with the couple to stay away from the Calgary rodeo, calling the sport ‘North America’s bullfighting.’
Moore says their attendance would be an endorsement of animal abuse.
“I’ve had no letter, no reply. I sent them a DVD which was very explicit on the cruelty involved in North American rodeo but we haven’t had a reply yet,” says Moore.
So far, it’s unclear what the couple’s plans are for their Calgary stop, only that they will participate in the opening of the Stampede in some capacity on July 8th.
The Stampede recently brought in a new set of rules governing chuckwagon races and rodeo, including provisions for mandatory rest days for horses, more vet checks and more frequent track grooming.
The Stampede said the moves were to address safety concerns.
