Rodeo Atrocity - Broken Back

An incident at a Tasmanian rodeo in early 2006 has highlighted yet again the horrendous cruelty to animals that is an integral part of Autralian Rodeos. Two amazingly courageous people attended the Carrick Bull Ride in northern Tasmania and filmed an incident involving a bull, whose back was broken. The very distressing film, provided by Against Animal Cruelty Tasmania, shows the bull, unable to walk, being kicked in the face, and dragging his hindquarters by his forelegs. The bull was kicked and beaten to get him to a truck - where he remained for some two hours - before a veterinarian arrived from Launceston (well over an hour away). Finally, the critically injured and badly suffering animal was destroyed. After admitting that the bull with a broken back was kicked in the head as he was being put onto a truck, Rodeo organiser Mick Wyllie said 'we did follow the guidelines and yes we treat the animals with the greatest respect we can'. This is what the public regards as "entertainment".

What you can do

Write to Primary Industries Minister Steven Kons (steve.kons@parliament.tas.gov.au) and ask that Rodeos be banned. Don’t attend rodeos or any other events where animals are abused for human entertainment, and tell your family and friends why. You can also become an ALV supporter and help us in the fight against cruelty to animals.

click here to return to the Rodeo Cruelty issues page