Rodeos: What You Can Do!

Above: "Team roping", photo from Cloverdale, British Columbia 2005 Rodeo.

Pictured above is a "bucking strap", which is tied around an animal's abdomen and genitals to make it buck to rid itself of the pain. Note also the scarring on the animal.

The First Annual Great Markham Rodeo will be taking place on Saturday May 27th in the town of Markham. If you wish to take the time to send an email to the rodeo's sponsors letting them know of your opposition to the rodeo and their sponsorship of this event, there is a pre-written letter available for you below as well as the emails of all the businesses involved.

Hello,

I am writing to let you know that I am very dismayed and appalled at your decision to sponsor the Great Markham Rodeo.

Rodeos are a severe form of animal cruelty. The animals are not “athletes”. They are unwilling participants in an act that causes them severe distress, injury, and even death. Did you know that horses and steers buck because they are forced to wear a “bucking strap”, which is tightly cinched around their genitals? Or that the animals are tormented with electric prods in the chute prior to their release into the ring?

During calf roping, calves are violently slammed to the ground by a rope thrown around their neck. This often causes broken necks and ripped tracheas. Many die. Do not forget that these are infant animals.

Injuries to animals, such as deep internal bruising, torn ligaments and muscles, ripped tendons, and broken bones are commonplace. These animals are not given a time to heal and to receive treatment post-injury--they are simply sent to the slaughterhouse.

The Great Markham Rodeo has claimed that they have support from the OSPCA. This is blatantly false. The OSPCA clearly states that they are opposed to rodeos. The rodeo is not a “sport”, as they would have you believe, but a brutal bully fest in which animals are routinely tortured.

I will be boycotting your business due to your sponsorship of this event and I will urge my friends and family to do the same. Cruelty is not entertainment.

Sincerely,

_______________________


Markham Rodeo Sponsors:

York Regional Newspaper Group: shows@yrng.com
FTT Limited: arthurb@fttweb.com
Wild Wing Restaurant: info@bestchickenwings.com
Jungle Interiors: 2jungle@rogers.com
Town Centre Montessori Schools: admin@tcmps.com
Markham Village BIA: markhamvillage@on.aibn.com

Markville Ford Lincoln: info@markvilleford.com
Roger Carlson Photography: cameraguy@rogers.com
Computer CPR: hlp@computer-cpr.com
Hilton Suites Markham: daniel_mathew@hilton.com
Live Tour Artists: darcy@livetourartists.com
Markham Fairgrounds: office@markhamfair.ca
Simul Corporation: info@simulcorp.com
Eventing Canada: jennifer@eventingcanada.com
M & M Meat Shops: humanresources@mmms.ca
Country Style: info_csd@countrystyle.ca
King Brewery: hbrewer@kingbrewery.ca
Mandarin: info@mandarinbuffet.com
Main Street Travel and Cruises: rebecca.hughes@mytravel.ca
Olde Markham Coffee Shop: coffee@beanloft.com
Mug and Truffle: info@mugandtruffle.com
Masquerade Costume Shop: info@costumerentals.ca
Flight Exec: info@flightexec.com
Spill the Beans: spillbeans10@hotmail.com
Ye Olde Fudge Pot: yeoldefudgepot@cogeco.ca
High Fields Country Inn and Spa: info@highfields.com
Travel Only For Charity: flogan@travelonly.net
Eclipse Concerts: kerri@eclipseconcerts.com
John Procenko, Realtor: john@procenko.com
Main Street Magazines: editorial@mainstreetnews.ca
Life's Ruff: lifesruff@rogers.com
Rogers Television:
Bruce Mann, VP, Investor Relations - bruce.mann@rci.rogers.com
Eric A. Wright, Director, Investor Relations - eric.wright@rci.rogers.com
Jan Innes, VP, Communications - jan.innes@rci.rogers.com
Taanta Gupta, VP, Communications - taanta.gupta@rci.rogers.com

Rona:
Robert Dutton, President and CEO - robert.dutton@rona.ca
Claude Bernier, Executive Vice President, Traditional and Specialized Stores - claude.bernier@rona.ca
Pierre Dandoy, Executive Vice President, Big Box Stores - pierre.dandoy@rona.ca
Normand Dumont, Executive Vice President, Merchandising - normand.dumont@rona.ca
Jean Emond, Executive Vice President, People & Culture (Human Resources) - jean.emond@rona.ca
Claude Guevin, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer - claude.guevin@rona.ca
Michael Brossard, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Development - michael.brossard@rona.ca
Sylvain Morissette, National Director of Corporate Communications and Public Relations - mors@rona.ca

Future Shop:
Pamela Saunders, Corporate Communications - psaunders@futureshop.com
Heather Buksh, Corporate Communications - hbuksh@futureshop.com

Angus Glen Golf Course
Gordon Stollery, Owner - gstollery@angusglen.com
Kevin Thistle, Vice President - kthistle@angusglen.com
Leanne Bernardo, Marketing - lbernardo@angusglen.com
JC Cunningham, Director of Operations - jc@angusglen.com
Dennis Firth, Executive Membership - dfirth@angusglen.com
Kelly Wayling, Tournament and Bookings - kwayling@angusglen.com
Will Koopnans, Director of Golf -wkoopnans@angusglen.com

We are providing you with the emails of Markham's mayor, Don Cousens, and Markham's city councillors if you would like to let them know that you are opposed to the rodeo taking place in Markham.

dcousens@markham.ca
fscarpitti@markham.ca
jheath@markham.ca
jjones@markham.ca
bodonnell@markham.ca
sdaurio@markham.ca
jvirgilio@markham.ca
gmckelvey@markham.ca
jwebster@markham.ca
dhorchik@markham.ca
kusman@markham.ca
achiu@markham.ca
eshapero@markham.ca - Councillor Shapero is fully opposed to the rodeo. Please send her an email thanking her for her support of animal rights.

**UPDATE: The town of Markham is NOT IN SUPPORT of the rodeo! The Markham Fairgrounds are privately operated and can be rented out by anyone even if the town is not in agreement with the planned event. Most of the Markham city councillors have responded to emails saying that there "is no connection between the town and the fair grounds" and that "the town is not giving support to the event".

**AS OF MAY 16, 2006, VANCOUVER HAS BANNED RODEOS! They are the first city in Canada to do so. The Vancouver Humane Society hopes to send the message to other Canadian cities that the rodeo is "no longer acceptable in modern society" and that Vancouver "will no longer tolerate the use of animals as entertainment".**


Read more about what's wrong with rodeos here or at Rodeo Cruelty.