EDMONTON—Animal Justice is disappointed Alberta’s newly passed animal protection law undermines its own welfare reforms by explicitly shielding rodeo and chuckwagon racing from accountability.
The Animal Protection Amendment Act, which received Royal Assent on Thursday, is Alberta’s first major overhaul of animal protection legislation in more than 20 years. The law introduces stronger penalties, expands the definition of animal distress, and adds new duties related to animal care.
But during debate on the bill, the Alberta government added an amendment specifically inserting “chuckwagon racing and rodeo” into an exemption for sporting activities conducted according to “reasonable and generally accepted practices.”
The Act also introduces a new offence related to “frivolous or vexatious complaints,” which could potentially discourage members of the public from reporting suspected mistreatment. Animal Justice regularly files complaints regarding rodeo activities and other animal abuse in Alberta.
Together, the provisions are concerning. Legitimate animal welfare complaints tied to rodeo and chuckwagon races could result in legal repercussions for complainants, while shielding animal abusers from scrutiny.
“It’s telling that rodeo and chuckwagon racing are being specifically shielded from application of the law,” said Alexandra Pester, Senior Staff Lawyer at Animal Justice, Canada’s leading animal law organization. “The government appears to recognize that these events cause distress to animals and may have violated the previous version of the legislation.”
The statistics year after year during the Calgary Stampede show the extreme danger chuckwagon racing poses for the horses involved, placing tremendous strain on their bodies and involving a high risk of injury and death. Horses are killed as a result of the Stampede’s chuckwagon events nearly every year.
Public polling shows that Canadians, and most Albertans, are opposed to cruel rodeo events that cause animal distress, suffering, and deaths.
“Alberta is sending a mixed message by strengthening protections for some animals while simultaneously carving out legal protection for troubling rodeo events that regularly cause animal deaths and injuries,” said Ms. Pester, who is based in Calgary. “If these activities are truly in keeping with animal welfare standards, it raises the question of why they require special protection from legal scrutiny.”
Contact:
Josh Lynn
Public Relations Manager
[email protected]
Alexandra Pester
Senior Staff Lawyer (Calgary)
[email protected]