I had forgotten that rodeos and stampedes exist. Besides Calgary, there are many lesser known rodeos and stampedes in western Canada.
In 1979, I was a summer engineering student at a mine in B.C., in a town called Williams Lake. They held what is called the Williams Lake Stampede. At the boarding house I was staying at, they tried to convince me to attend. "It will be fun." I resisted, knowing even then it was no fun for the non-human animals.
Thanks Ed for casting light on another form of animal cruelty.
Thank you for sharing your experience, Perry! It is interesting to hear about your time in Williams Lake and the local stampede. It's great to see that even back then, you were mindful of the impact on animals. I'm glad the article resonated with you and helped shed light on the ethical concerns surrounding rodeos. Let's continue advocating for compassionate alternatives that honor our heritage without causing harm.
Feels like we have a long way to go given how embedded rodeos are in our culture (and how the average person doesn’t know or realize the negative impacts on the animals) but events like the Cowboy Poetry Gathering give me some hope.
I understand how you feel, Yvonne, Rodeos are deeply ingrained in many cultures, and raising awareness about their impact on animals can be challenging. However, events like the Cowboy Poetry Gathering does offer hope by showcasing how we can celebrate Western heritage in compassionate and creative ways. Let's keep spreading the word and supporting these positive alternatives!
Geoffrey, thank you for sharing that there is strong anti-rodeo opposition in New Zealand. Anti-bullfighting sentiment is also growing in South America! It's important to keep raising awareness and advocating for the rights of animals. Together, we can continue to push for positive change and ensure that compassion prevails. Keep up the great work!
I had forgotten that rodeos and stampedes exist. Besides Calgary, there are many lesser known rodeos and stampedes in western Canada.
In 1979, I was a summer engineering student at a mine in B.C., in a town called Williams Lake. They held what is called the Williams Lake Stampede. At the boarding house I was staying at, they tried to convince me to attend. "It will be fun." I resisted, knowing even then it was no fun for the non-human animals.
Thanks Ed for casting light on another form of animal cruelty.
Thank you for sharing your experience, Perry! It is interesting to hear about your time in Williams Lake and the local stampede. It's great to see that even back then, you were mindful of the impact on animals. I'm glad the article resonated with you and helped shed light on the ethical concerns surrounding rodeos. Let's continue advocating for compassionate alternatives that honor our heritage without causing harm.
Feels like we have a long way to go given how embedded rodeos are in our culture (and how the average person doesn’t know or realize the negative impacts on the animals) but events like the Cowboy Poetry Gathering give me some hope.
I understand how you feel, Yvonne, Rodeos are deeply ingrained in many cultures, and raising awareness about their impact on animals can be challenging. However, events like the Cowboy Poetry Gathering does offer hope by showcasing how we can celebrate Western heritage in compassionate and creative ways. Let's keep spreading the word and supporting these positive alternatives!
Exactly right, Ed. We've the same situation here in NZ, but a strong anti-rodeo opposition is very active!
Geoffrey, thank you for sharing that there is strong anti-rodeo opposition in New Zealand. Anti-bullfighting sentiment is also growing in South America! It's important to keep raising awareness and advocating for the rights of animals. Together, we can continue to push for positive change and ensure that compassion prevails. Keep up the great work!