So sorry to see the recent article promoting the children's "mutton busting" event at the local rodeo.
Children — often in tears — are coerced by their thoughtless parents into riding terrified sheep. It’s likely only a matter of time before some child gets a sheep's hoof in the eye or is paralyzed or killed when a panicked sheep runs into the fence.
There's also the E. coli problem. Back in 2010, a 3-year-old little boy named DerekScott "Bubba" Kirby ingested a mouthful of E. coli-infested dirt at a Texas rodeo. He went into a two-week coma, swelled up twice his normal size and suffered heart, lung and kidney failure. Parents beware.
New Zealand dropped this inane event from the rodeo program years ago at the recommendation of the NZ Veterinary Association, which deemed the sheep "not built to carry the weight." The cowboys agreed. Here in California, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors has outlawed "mutton busting" (2019), "wild cow milking" (2022) and both "horse tripping" and "steer tailing" (1993).
Others should follow suit.
A statement from world-renowned animal behaviorist Dr. Temple Grandin, of Colorado State University, bears repeating: "The single worst thing you can do to an animal emotionally is to make it feel afraid. Fear is so bad for animals, I think it's worse than pain."
That alone is more than enough reason to outlaw these cruel non-sanctioned events. Rodeo is not a sport — it's a mostly bogus, macho exercise in domination, having little to do with ranching. It needs to end.
Be aware that nearly every animal welfare organization on planet earth condemns rodeo due to its inherent cruelty. The United Kingdom (England, Scotland and Wales) outlawed rodeos back in 1934, followed by Germany and the Netherlands.
Can the U.S. be far behind?
Legislation is in order in every state.
The Chronicle owes its readers (and the animals) a follow-up story from the animals’ point-of-view.
Eric Mills, coordinator
Action for Animals
Oakland, California
