KELOWNA—National animal law organization Animal Justice and the Vancouver Humane Society have alerted police and the BC SPCA regarding possible violations of British Columbia’s Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (the Act) and Canada’s Criminal Code that will likely occur during the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) event happening at Prospera Place in Kelowna on July 18, 2024.
The Act prohibits causing an animal to be in distress and prohibits a person responsible for an animal from permitting the animal from being in distress. Additionally, it requires a person responsible for an animal to protect them from circumstances that are likely to cause distress.
If the event proceeds as planned on Thursday, bulls will be compelled to buck through the use of hard metal spurs and flank straps specifically designed to cause discomfort, combined with the unnatural sensation of a rider gripping tightly to their back in a loud, chaotic environment in front of thousands of spectators. This noise and commotion likely exacerbate the stress experienced by these animals.
While the PBR frequently claims that bulls are enthusiastic “animal athletes” who enjoy participating in events, even suggesting they possess a “prideful zeal” for their role in the spectacle, such claims lack scientific backing and ignore the core issue: the bulls’ physical behaviour is primarily a fear response, induced by spurs, flank straps, and the overwhelming environment of the arena—concerns supported by Dr. Malgosia Mosielski, a veterinarian who previously worked in the animal welfare branch of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
Upon reviewing video recorded by Animal Justice at a PBR event last month in London, Ontario, Dr. Mosielski described what she witnessed as “troubling” and said it was “clear that the bulls were subjected to further stressors in order to amplify their fear response.”
“Examples include increasing noise levels, using a flank strap to irritate or cause the bull pain, and the use of spurs. It is also clear that the bulls did not want to be in the show environment, as evidenced by the fact that many of them chose to exit the arena as soon as they were able to,” Dr. Mosielski told Animal Justice.
At one point in the footage from the London event, an agitated bull can be seen charging a horse.
Because the event is for entertainment and serves no valid purpose, Animal Justice has also advised authorities that it will likely violate the Criminal Code, which forbids causing unnecessary pain, suffering, or injury to an animal.
“Bull riding events are not exempt from BC’s animal cruelty laws. If the PBR proceeds with these events, we want organizers to be held accountable for any breaches of the Act, particularly given the distress these bulls will likely endure in an intentionally loud and chaotic environment and the use of spurs, and flank straps to irritate bulls’ sensitive underbellies,” said Alexandra Pester, staff lawyer at Animal Justice.
Due to concerns about animal welfare, tools like flank straps, metal spurs—and in some cases rodeo events in general—have been banned in jurisdictions including Pittsburgh, Baltimore, and the United Kingdom, as well as in Canadian cities such as Vancouver, Port Moody, and North Vancouver.
Contact:
Josh Lynn
Public Relations Manager
[email protected]
