A new welfare code for rodeo animals is too weak, the SPCA says.
"An important opportunity has been missed to ban rodeos entirely or, at the very least, to ban those rodeo events resulting in blatant cruelty," SPCA chief executive Peter Blomkamp said yesterday.
The code rubber-stamped rodeos without addressing important
animal welfare concerns, including practices that result in pain, fear and distress, he said.
"We are dismayed that our submission to Nawac [National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee] has been largely ignored."
Nawac is responsible for recommending the Animal Welfare (Rodeos) Code of Welfare 2004, which Agriculture Minister Jim Sutton approved last week. The code comes into force next month.
The SPCA submission said electric prods, flank straps, spurs and ropes were used to force rodeo animals into becoming aggressive and violent.
Such practices resulted in stress, torment and fear for the animals, and exposed them to pain, injury and sometimes death.
Rodeos instilled values that were contrary to the spirit of the 1999 Animal Welfare Act, and contained "blatant displays of humans dominating animals in a cruel, callous and violent way".
The code did not have a requirement for water to be available to animals in pens at all times, ban use of electric prods or ensure veterinarians were present during rodeos. It allowed vets to be called away to deal with emergencies.
Nawac chairman David Mellor said yesterday that because the rodeo industry already met most of the minimum standards outlined in the code there would not be substantial changes to the way in which such events were managed.
"Nawac has recommended that a veterinarian and an animal welfare officer must be present at each rodeo event," he said.
The recommendation was already in use by the Rodeo Cowboys Association.
Nawac studies had concluded roping did not "impact hugely" on calves' welfare. But it recommended a limit on the number of times calves could be used.
The code sets out obligations of owners and animal carers, stockmanship and quality assurance practices.
Failure to meet these standards could result in a prosecution under the Animal Welfare Act.
- NZPA