For the first time in its history, the Maritime Fall Fair in Halifax is introducing a bull-riding event to its lineup. The Professional Bull Riding Canada Rocky Cup Series will take place on October 6 and 7 at Exhibition Park.
Rodeo promoters would like us to believe that these animals love to kick and squirm for our entertainment but that is a lie. Every single national animal-protection organization opposes the rodeo because inducing pain for cheers is not humane. These animals endure the use of spurs, tail-twisting, having their necks contorted, bucking straps cinched around their abdomens, tales and legs yanked and are shocked with electric prods, because they are social and docile by nature and won't even raise a leg to run into pastures unless scared or provoked.
Halifax needs to take a lesson from Vancouver and other cities, which realize that watching animals thrusting back and forth while carrying human cargo does not make for entertainment nor symbolize someone's manhood. The 18th century is gone and so should the redneck mentality that goes along with rodeos.
By Lisa Diana
