THE LOS ANGELES RODEO BAN
Los Angeles Councilmember Bob Blumenfield introduced the Rodeo Ordinance in February 2021. The Ordinance, #20-1575, will effectively ban rodeos in the City of Los Angeles. On 12/5/2023, the L.A. City Council unanimously voted YES in support of the Rodeo Ban, but referred the language to Committee to finalize.
You can help get the rodeo ban finalized! Use the red box below to make a public comment of support on the Los Angeles Rodeo Ban - file #20-1575. It's simple, just write, "I support the Los Angeles Rodeo Ban. There is no excuse for animal abuse" and click submit at the bottom of the page.
LCA's President and Founder Chris DeRose spoke at the press conference with L.A. Councilmember Bob Blumenfield (CD3). DeRose also spoke out against animal abuse when he confronted the pro-rodeo opposition protesters in front of City Hall.
LCA would like to thank Councilmember Blumenfield and his staff who are fighting to pass the rodeo ban, everyone who came out to the demonstration, and everyone who took action on behalf of the rodeo ban.
We will keep you updated on the next steps. In the meantime, if you live in Los Angeles, contact your Council Member and let them know you want the Rodeo Ban to pass out of committee A.S.A.P.
Animals abused by the rodeo industry are chased, wrangled, roped, and tormented for entertainment. Horses, bulls, steers, and calves can suffer painful injuries, including broken ribs, back, legs, and tails, punctured lungs, internal organ damage, snapped necks, and agonizing deaths.
Polling conducted of 600 Los Angeles voting residents showed 72% support the ordinance. READ THE POLL HERE.
Download and share our rodeo fact sheets - "DEBUNKING THE BS" and "SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT."
RODEO CAMPAIGN TIMELINE
APRIL 5 & 6, 2024 - YUCAIPA RODEO 2024 - YUCAIPA, CA
LCA and local animal activists protested the "Yucaipa Rodeo 2024." This was the seventh year for the circus-like event, which included events such as bull riding, calf roping, breakaway roping, bronc riding, team roping, and mutton busting. Each of the events are tragically abusive and injurious to the animals involved. Bulls, calves, horses, and sheep are purposefully caused to unnaturally buck or run from harm all in the name of entertainment and to turn a profit.
MARCH 15 & 16, 2024 - PBR BULL RIDING PROTEST, PALM SPRINGS, CA
Protesters went out on behalf of the animals to protest the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) circus-like bull riding show at the Acrisure Arena near Palm Springs, California.
FEBRUARY 16 & 17, 2024 - PBR BULL RIDING PROTEST, LOS ANGELES, CA
Protesters spent the weekend in Los Angeles speaking out against the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) in front of the Crypto.com Arena, where bulls are exploited for the sake of entertainment. We released this press release, and the PBR lawyers tried to get PR Newswire/Cision to take the press release down. PBR reported the content was inaccurate, and damaging to PBR/Endeavor, and libelous. PBR FAILED. Our press release was circulated to hundreds of news outlets and viewed by thousands of people.
DECEMBER 5, 2023 - L.A. CITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY VOTES YES ON RODEO BAN
During a hectic day at city hall, the L.A. City Council unanimously passed Councilmember Bob Blumenfield's amendment to ban rodeos in Los Angeles City. Per CM Blumenfield's press release, “It is imperative that the City of Angels makes it clear that animal cruelty is wrong and take steps to ensure that events that have a proven track record of harming animals are no longer allowed.” The vote specifically directs the City Attorney to draft the ordinance banning rodeos which should come before committee and full city council fo a final vote in 2024.
LCA's President and Founder Chris DeRose spoke at the press conference with CM Blumenfield. DeRose also spoke out against animal abuse when he confronted the pro-rodeo opposition protesters in front of City Hall.
OCTOBER 14 & 15, 2023 - RODEO PROTEST IN INDUSTRY, CA
Activists protested against the Industry Hills Pro Rodeo in Industry, CA. Calf roping, steer wrestling and bronc riding were among the rodeo events.
OCTOBER 10, 2023 - L.A. BOARD OF ANIMAL SERVICES COMMISSIONERS UNANIMOUSLY SUPPORT A RODEO BAN
A Los Angeles Board of Animal Services meeting was held on 10/10/2023. The Board unanimously recommended Los Angeles ban rodeos, citing concerns the rodeo is inherently cruel to animals. "The best rodeos have a vet on site. To me, that's an acknowledgement that this process is inherently unsafe for those animals. This is not about preserving culture," said Staycee Dains, head of Los Angeles Animal Services. The board previously recommended a ban in 2019 and pledged support again during the 2023 meeting.
AUGUST 12 & 13, 2023 - BULL RIDING PROTEST IN ANAHEIM, CA
LCA, Orange County Animal Liberation, and local activists protested against the PBR bull riding event at the Honda Center in Anaheim, CA, to speak out against the inherent abuse of animals in bull riding.
FEBRUARY 25 & 26, 2023 - BULL RIDING PROTEST IN LOS ANGELES, CA
Protesters spent a rainy weekend protesting PBR (Professional Bull Riders) in front of the Crypto.com Arena, where bulls were tortured and forced to perform in the "Unleash the Beast" bull riding events. READ PRESS RELEASE HERE.
FEBRUARY 11, 2023 - BULL RIDING PROTEST IN PALM DESERT, CA
PBR (Professional Bull Riders) brought its exhibition of animal cruelty to the newly opened Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, California. Local activists joined LCA to speak out against the inherent abuse of animals in bull riding.
DECEMBER 7, 2022 - LOS ANGELES RODEO DEVICE BAN PASSES THE PAAW COMMITTEE
The Los Angeles Rodeo Device Ban passed the Personnel, Audits, and Animal Welfare (PAAW) Committee. Councilmembers Paul Koretz and Marqueece Harris-Dawson both voted in favor of the Ordinance. The Ordinance will now advance to the L.A. City Council for a full vote. READ PRESS RELEASE HERE.
NOVEMBER 14, 2022 - A POLL OF 600 LOS ANGELES VOTING RESIDENTS SHOWS 72% SUPPORT THE "TOOLS OF TORMENT" RODEO ORDINANCE
As the L.A. City Council considers an ordinance that would ban "Tools of Torment" from rodeo events in the city of Los Angeles, a new poll, by Washington D.C. based Lincoln Park Strategies commissioned by LCA, found overwhelming support for the ban. A poll of 600 Los Angeles voting residents found 72% support banning electric prods, flank straps, and other tools that force animals in rodeos to perform.
The poll showed strong support for the Ordinance across all demographic groups, including 70% approval among African-American respondents and 67% among Latino respondents. 80% of respondents did not know the rodeo was held in Los Angeles or knew very little about them. Only 11% of respondents ever attended a rodeo event in L.A. and over 50% of people who attended a rodeo event supported the ordinance. READ PRESS RELEASE HERE.
OCTOBER 2022 - ALAMEDA COUNTY, CA BANS WILD COW MILKING
LCA submitted letters of support to the Board of Supervisors for an amendment to Alameda County Ordinance 5.08, that would ban wild cow milking events. In October 2022, the Board of Supervisors passed the ban unanimously.
AUGUST 12-13, 2022 - BULL RIDING PROTESTS IN ANAHEIM, CA
LCA, along with Orange County Animal Liberation, hosted two protests against the Professional Bull Riding (PBR) event at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. READ PRESS RELEASE HERE.
FEBRUARY 22, 2022 – BULL RIDING PROTEST IN LOS ANGELES
PBR (Professional Bull Riders) brought its exhibition of animal abuse to the Crypto.com Arena for the "PBR Pluto TV Invitational" bull riding competition.
LCA, joined by local animal rights groups and dedicated activists, protested the cruel "sport" of bull riding and the abhorrent abuse bulls are routinely subjected to at rodeos - including tools of torture (flank straps, spurs, electric prods) and the resulting physical traumas of bull riding (broken limbs, torn ligaments, and pulled muscles).
A few days before the event, a bull was injured at a different PBR event in Knoxville, TN. Click here to see the video. Rodeo lobbyists claim that bulls forced to compete in riding competitions claim the animals are so "well-treated", they have won 'the animal lottery'. Suffering gruesome injuries and being subjected to tools of torture does not resemble hitting the lottery.
FEBRUARY 22, 2022 - PETITION CREATED URGING CRYPTO.COM ARENA TO BUCK THE RODEO
7,260 signatures were gathered on LCA's petition created to urge the Crypto.com Arena to cancel the bull riding event scheduled for February, 22, 2022. Animal abuse was on full display at the “PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Pluto TV Invitational” event.
LCA's group sign-on letter, signed by a coalition of nine animal rights groups, was directed at the Crypto.com Arena (link to letter) demanding the cancellation of the PBR event on the 22nd. The Crypto.com Arena did not respond. READ PRESS RELEASE HERE.
JANUARY 2, 2022 - L.A. RODEO ORDINANCE STALLED
LCA learned the L.A. City Rodeo Ordinance, that would ban the use of rodeo torture devices that torment animals into performing, is stalled in committee. While the city council dragged their heels, the rodeo will came to the Crypto.com Arena on 2/22/2022. The rodeo industry has lobbied heavily for the city council to vote against the pending bill. It is important for all of us to speak up against the rodeo performing in Los Angeles and keep the pressure on the rodeo industry and L.A. City Council.
DECEMBER 22, 2021 - L.A. CITY ATTORNEY POSTS PROPOSED RODEO ORDINANCE - PUTTING BILL INTO MOTION
The L.A. City Attorney's office posted the proposed Rodeo Ordinance on the City Council website, officially putting the bill in motion for a vote. The next step is for the Personnel, Audits, and Animal Welfare Committee to vote on the Ordinance. If the vote is favorable, the Ordinance will be referred to the L.A. City Council to be voted on and passed into law.
The newly posted language of the Ordinance reads, "It shall be unlawful for any person to conduct, operate, or participate in a Rodeo at which any animal is induced or encouraged to perform through the use of any practice or technique, or any chemical, mechanical, electrical, manual device, or other similar device or implement, that will cause, or is likely to cause, physical injury, torment, or suffering. Prohibited devices include, but are not limited to, electric prods or shocking devices, flank or bucking straps, wire tie-downs, sharpened or fixed spurs or rowels, and lariats or lassos". READ FULL ORDINANCE.
OCTOBER 2021 - L.A. ANTI-RODEO BILLBOARDS ARE PLACED THROUGHOUT THE CITY
LCA placed 20 billboards around Los Angeles in support of the Rodeo Ordinance that would ban torture devices at rodeos. The billboards feature a bull roped in the mouth with the text "L.A.: Help Ban Torture Devices at the Rodeo" to raise public awareness about the issue.
In October 2021, LCA placed 20 anti-rodeo billboards thoughout the city of Los Angeles
FEBRUARY 23, 2021 - LOS ANGELES CITY COUNCIL VOTES YES TO DRAFT ORDINANCE BANNING TORTURE DEVICES AT RODEOS
L.A. City Council unanimously voted in favor of a motion, (File 20-1575),to draft an Ordinance banning the use of inhumane implements in rodeos and rodeo events. The next step is for the City Attorney to draft and then post the Ordinance on the City Councili Website.
FEBRUARY 17, 2021 - LOS ANGELES CITY COUNCIL "PAAW" COMMITTEE MOVES FORWARD TO BAN TORTURE DEVICES AT RODEOS.
A Personnel, Audits, and Animal Welfare Committee meeting was held, and a rodeo inhumane implements ban was one of the items on the agenda. The Committee voted in favor of the ban and it will now be referred to City Council to vote on. If City Council votes in favor of the ban motion, it will be referred to the LA City Attorney to draft the official Ordinance.
The L.A. City Council File # 20-1575, is titled "Inhumane Implements / Electric Prods or Shocking Devices / Flank or Bucking Straps / Wire Tiedowns / Sharpened or Fixed Spurs or Rowels / Prohibition / Rodeo Events" and was put forward in December 2020 by CouncilMember Bob Blumenfield (District 3) and seconded by CouncilMember Mitch O'Farrell (District 13).
PREVIOUS RODEO CAMPAIGNS
FEBRUARY 8, 2020 - BULL RIDING PROTEST AT LOS ANGELES STAPLES CENTER
LCA and a coalition of animal rights groups held a demonstration at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA, to protest the Professional Bull Riders' (PBR) exhibition of animal cruelty. The demonstration drew a large crowd of passionate animal advocates to protest the abhorrent cruelty of bull riding - a "sport" that abuses animals for profit. LCA started a petition urging the LA City Council to ban rodeos and rodeo type events in Los Angeles. SIGN THE PETITION URGING L.A. CITY COUNCIL TO BAN RODEOS.
JULY 14, 2019 - HELP BAN CHUCKWAGON RACES IN CALGARY, CANADA
Three horses were euthanized after sustaining serious injuries during the final night of chuckwagon races at the Calgary Stampede's Rangeland Derby. In total, six horses were killed--making this 10-day event the deadliest in almost a decade! SIGN THE PETITION URGING THE CALGARY CITY COUNCIL TO BAN CHUCK WAGON RACES.
FEBRUARY 23, 2019 - BULL RIDING PROTEST AT LOS ANGELES STAPLES CENTER
LCA, along with actress/activist Donna D'Errico and a coalition of animal rights organizations, protested PBR's (Professional Bull Riders) abhorrent abuse of bulls for profit. The demonstration at the Staples Center drew a large crowd of protesters who educated passers-by on the cruelties of bull riding. This was the firs time PBR's "Unleash the Beast" Tour brought its exhibition of animal cruelty for their "Iron Cowboy" bull riding competition.
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JULY 16 - 19, 2015 - ANTI-RODEO ADS ON MAJOR NETOWRKS
LCA and fellow animal rights organization, SHARK (Showing Animals Respect and Kindness), released four anti-rodeo television ads showing the truth of animal cruelty in rodeos. The ads coincided with the Salinas Rodeo in California and aired on CNN, Fox News, MSNBC and other major networks. READ THE PRESS RELEASE.
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WHAT ARE RODEOS AND RODEO-TYPE ACTIVITIES?
Animals exploited by the rodeo industry, like bulls and horses, are generally tame creatures who must be provoked into battle. Rodeo contestants practice their "sport" on numerous animals, at times injuring and killing many of them before they even enter the ring. Depending on the event, a contestant's score is based on how long he can ride a struggling animal, or how quickly he can overpower an animal, e.g., calf roping and steer wrestling. Sprains, broken bones, muscle pulls, saddle blisters, spur and flank strap wounds, broken ribs, bruising, and broken necks are all very common.
BULL RIDING
Rodeo handlers often shock the bull repeatedly using an electric prod while he is trapped in the bucking chute in order to torment him. In the ring, the bull bucks and struggles due to a flank strap cinched around his abdomen, while "cowboys" try to stay on his back. Bucking straps and spurs can cause the bull to buck excessively outside of their normal bucking patterns, thereby causing injuries or death.
Bull Injuries
- Broken legs
- Broken back
- Broken neck
CALF ROPING
Three to four-month-old calves are released from a holding pen into a ring, running quickly. Contestants, who are on horseback, chase the calf, then lasso them around the neck. The rope often jerks the calf into the air, snapping their head back and causing them to gasp for air. They then fall to the ground where the contestant ties three of the calf’s hind legs together.
Calf Injuries
- Broken legs
- Back injuries and broken backs
- Spinal cord paralysis
- Neck injuries and broken necks
- Severed tracheas
- Internal hemorrhaging
- Damage to internal organs
- Bruises
- Torn ligaments
STEER WRESTLING
Contestants on horseback chase a steer out of a holding chute. They grab the steer’s horns, twist the animal’s neck, and slam him to the ground.
Steer Injuries
- Broken necks
- Torn ligaments
- Broken bones
- Severed spinal cords
- Severed tracheas
- Internal bleeding
BRONC RIDING
The “flank” is the area of the animal’s body behind his rib cage. An adjustable belt called a “bucking strap” or “flank strap” is placed around the horse’s flank. The contestant tightens the belt, which pinches the animal’s abdomen, causing them to buck from the pain. The horses are also kicked in their sides with spurs.
Horse Injuries
- Broken neck
- Snapped spine
- Back problems
- Tears in leg tendons
STEER TRIPPING
A steer is forced to run while the mounted contestant throws a rope around his horns. He then flips the rope to the right side of the steer, while turning his horse, who is galloping, to the left. The steer’s head and neck are jerked, causing him to be tripped, rolled, and dragged. His legs are then tied. If the steer does not stay down the first time, he will be tripped and dragged until he does so.
Steer Injuries
- Fractured horns
- Neck injuries
- Back sores
- Hip sores
TRICKS OF THE TRADE — PAINFUL TOOLS USED TO INCITE RODEO ANIMALS
- Electric prods or shocking devices
- Fixed or sharpened spurs or rowels
- Flank or bucking straps
- Wire tie-downs
- Lariats or lassos
RULES AND REGULATIONS
There is no overall code of rules applicable to all rodeos. The rules that do exist are inadequate and leniently enforced, and penalties are very weak. Rodeo contestants are rarely disciplined for injuring or even killing an animal. Even the rules requiring a veterinarian to be present at every event and to provide immediate veterinary attention to injured animals are often not enough, as rodeos will employ industry veterinarians who do not properly report concerns.
TRANSPORTATION
Rodeo animals travel constantly in cramped, double-deck trailers or pens. The trailers are frequently inadequately ventilated, and the animals are often fed and watered erratically.
DEATH
Some animals die performing in rodeo events. Other animals with desirable genetics are bred for profit. However, at the end of their sad, miserable and terrifying lives performing in rodeos, almost all animals exploited by the industry end up killed in a slaugtherhouse.
RESOURCES
Winnipeg Humane Society article about how Professional Bull Riders (PBR) events violate the five freedoms necessary for animal welfare.
American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) publication about performance disorders in bucking bulls. Winnipeg Humane Society quoted this in their article: "Results indicated bucking bulls were more likely than non-bucking bulls to develop horn and sinus disorders and musculoskeletal disorders of the vertebral region and pelvic limbs. The limb distribution of lameness for bucking bulls may differ from that for non-bucking bulls."
The Legislative Gazette: Assemblymember wants to prohibit the use of ‘cruel acts’ in rodeos - (February 2020) Peggy Larson, a large animal veterinarian and a former rodeo bareback bronc competitor herself, said the injuries sustained by animals in rodeos include broken bones, ruptured internal organs, massive internal hemorrhage, hemorrhage from torn muscles, dislocated joints, extensive bruising, torn ligaments, damaged tendons, hemorrhage, damage to the throat, and damage to the thyroid gland, and many of them die because of those injuries.
HSVMA: Rodeos: Inherent Cruelty to Animals - A blog written by former bareback bronc rider and veterinarian Dr. Peggy Larson in 2015, "Bull riding may appear less harmful, as the bulls are so large. However, in order to enhance the bull's performance, cattle prods are often used repeatedly to shock the bulls as they stand trapped in the bucking chute. Bucking straps and spurs can cause the bull to buck beyond his normal capacity and his legs or back may thus be broken. Eventually, when bulls cease to provide a wild ride, they too are sent to slaugther.
