Rodeo: What would Jesus think?

    Humane Society ad puts question to Abbotsford Christians

    VANCOUVER, July 29 /CNW/ - The Vancouver Humane Society (VHS) is asking
Christians in Abbotsford, B.C., whether Jesus Christ would condone the
treatment of animals in the city's Mighty Fraser Rodeo which starts this week
(July 31-August 4).
    VHS is running a full-page ad in the Abbotsford Times showing an image of
Jesus alongside photos of rodeo animals in distress. An identical poster is
also being distributed locally. The text states:
    "The words of Jesus speak of kindness, mercy and compassion. A far cry
from the values on display in rodeos, where fear, pain and distress are used
to make animals perform for human amusement. Would Jesus have condoned such
brutality for the sake of entertainment? Do you?"
    The poster has been sent to local churches and is being posted throughout
the city. VHS spokesman Peter Fricker said the ad and poster are designed to
provoke thought about the morality of rodeo. He added that the Abbotsford
Times had reneged on an agreement to run the ad on the paper's back page and
would only carry it on an inside page because of the disturbing images of the
treatment of rodeo animals.
    "The Times was concerned about people seeing the images landing on their
doorsteps, but we simply want Christians to ask themselves if their values are
compatible with the values of rodeo," said Fricker. "Since they believe in and
promote kindness and compassion it would be difficult to support rodeo, as
there's nothing kind or compassionate about it. In fact, it's brutal and
cruel."
    VHS is calling on the organizers of the Mighty Fraser Rodeo to drop all
roping events from its program. The society says calf-roping, team-roping,
steer-wrestling and wild cow-milking are the most inhumane events and these,
at least, should be banned.
    Last year, after years of pressure from the humane community, the
Cloverdale Rodeo dropped all roping events, a move VHS wants Abbotsford and
other rodeos to follow. "The absence of these events apparently didn't affect
attendance," says Fricker. "The Cloverdale Fair stated that they had some of
the biggest crowds in years."

    Note to editors: VHS's ad can be downloaded at
http://www.vancouverhumanesociety.bc.ca/media/rodeo_ad

For further information: Peter Fricker: (604) 266-9744, Cell: (604)
603-5401