Vancouver Humane Society says other rodeos have dropped steer wrestling. Calgary Stampede steer death doesn’t sway supporters
Calgary Stampede steer death a rare events, says event officials.
A Calgary Stampede steer death Wednesday during the steer wrestling competition has critics calling again for the event to be dropped from the rodeo’s events.
The steer suffered a severe neck injury that Calgary Stampede officials say was untreatable. As a result, it was “humanely euthanized.”
According to the officials, a post-mortem will not be performed, as the veterinarians believe the injuries were self-evident and do not require further investigation.
The steer failed to rise after his event and the cowboy competitor immediately called for assistance, three veterinarians who were in the arena rushed to assess.
The run appeared to be normal; however the Calgary Stampede and independent livestock specialists will be reviewing the event video to determine any contributing factors.
“Why should animals suffer and die just to entertain a crowd,” said Vancouver Humane Society spokesperson Peter Fricker. ”If these events are so hard on the animals that it can kill them, it’s obvious they are suffering pain and stress.”
Fricker called for the Calgary Stampede to suspend streer wrestling, arguing that it is has no historical connection to ranching and was invented for rodeos.
“It has nothing to do with agricultural heritage,” he said. ”It’s just a cruel and dangerous circus act.”
Recent rule changes by the Calgary Stampede include a “dog fall” rule, preventing a cowboy from continuing to wrestle a steer that has splayed its legs and cannot fall safety. This does not appear to have been in the case in this situation.
The Stampede says the steer’s death is a rare occurrence and that over the past decade more than 1,000 steers have been involved in the event, with only one other steer fatally injured.
Calgary Stampede steer death angers opponents
Opponents and supporters of the Calgary Stampede quickly took to Facebook to comment on the steer’s death.
“Just hope this doesn’t turn fuel another ‘end the stampede’ campaign… sad story though. Glad the personnel were there to handle the situation quickly and humanely,” wrote Erin Forster Fuhr.
In reply, Devin Carraway wrote, “Another ‘end the stampede’ campaign ? As far as I’m concerned the campaign is ongoing and will not end until the stampede stops torturing and killing animals.”
Beacon News readers also weighed in:
“The death of a steer is beyond rare…To even ask if this should be shut down is abhorrent. Calgary is united behind the Stampede,” says Calgarian Craig Chandler.
Comedian Daryl Makk’s comment was succinct, if a bit mysterious: “Medium rare, please!”
“It is more likely the cowboys will get hurt than the steers. There is risk in anything. Reminds me of a safety joke: Everyone stop working … no one gets hurt,” says engineer Rejio Silvennoinen.
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