Image Credit: League Against Cruel Sports
To the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge,
It was disappointing to read that you decided to attend the Calgary Stampede last week during your visit to Calgary, Alberta. As you know, The Calgary Stampede is a 10-day long rodeo, exhibition and festival billing itself as the “Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.” For the animals involved, the show is far from “great” – for some animals it is scary and dangerous. The Humane Society of Canada has called for a boycott of the Stampede’s rodeo and chuckwagon events. Your attendance serves as a tacit approval of this event, which has at its core the cruel and inhumane treatment of animals for the purpose of human “entertainment”. Considering rodeos were banned in the UK in 1934, I find it surprising that you would support the Calgary Stampede through your very public attendance.
Last year, 6 horses died during the Stampede. In 2005, 9 horses died after falling off of a bridge into a river during a trail ride where 200 horses were spooked. One of the more dangerous events, chuckwagon racing, will include 500 horses racing around a track, many of whom are pulling wagons with a driver and full of supplies. The horses pull the wagons in teams. In 1986, 9 horses were killed chuckwagon racing–5 in a single crash! Over the years, horses, racers and a spectator have been killed during chuckwagon racing. And even the racers admit the sport is dangerous as it isn’t unusual for at least one horse to die each year.
Many letters, calls and faxes were sent by those concerned about animal welfare to Clarence House. It’s unfortunate that you chose to turn your backs on the individuals and organizations who contacted you about this important issue. The eyes and attention of millions of Canadians and Americans have been focused on you for the past weeks (not to mention those of your own British people), and this was a good opportunity for you to make a stand on an important issue. Surely your staff or schedulers would never consider placing a dogfight or cockfight on your itinerary, and I certainly hope you reconsider before attending any other such event in the future. If “the greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated,” surely the people of every country should expect more compassionate leadership from those they look up to.
Sincerely,
Jacob Jones Martinez
