Work is moving along in our efforts to prosecute abuses at the National High School Finals Rodeo. SHARK is in the process of sending 10,000+ photos and over 40 hours of footage to the Ag. Department, as requested.

Thanks to all of you who have contacted Governor Blagojevich and written letters to the State Journal- Register. Some excellent points were made by this attorney in her Letter to the Editor:

To the Editor:

As an attorney and the president of a humane society, I was pleased to read, "Video reveals rodeo abuse" and the corresponding editorial, "Abuse at rodeo can't be condoned" in Sunday's paper. I applaud reporter Bruce Rushton for being willing to investigate this problem and look at video of animal abuse that state officials would not.

Those of us who work hard to protect animals under the law cannot understand how the Department of Agriculture repeatedly fails to enforce the Illinois Humane Care for Animals Act. That law states that Cruel Treatment--a Class A misdemeanor--is when any person or owner beats, cruelly treats, torments, starves, overworks, or otherwise abuses any animal. "Animal" is defined as every living creature except man. (510 ILCS 70/3.01).

How then, does the Department of Agriculture veterinarian, Colleen O'Keefe, justify that rodeo animals--covered by the above statute--were jabbed with metal spikes and electronically shocked? Nonsense about rodeo "rules"--state laws always supersede! These acts should not only be prohibited, they should be prosecuted.

Sincerely,
Cherie Travis, Esq.

Ever since SHARK released video footage showing criminal abuses of animals at the National High School Finals Rodeo, there has been a string of mistruths and deceptive statements from the Illinois Department of Agriculture, the agency charged with enforcing humane laws. SHARK does not tolerate false accusations made regarding our organization, and SHARK President, Steve Hindi, has filed a formal complaint, detailing the Ag Department’s slanderous statements.

CLICK HERE to read SHARK's letter of complaint to the Director of the IL Ag Department.

We will soon be adding another dimension to our campaign at IllinoisCorruption.com. Those corporations that sponsor the NHSFR will be receiving documentation detailing the criminal abuse and cruelty that has gone on at this excuse for entertainment. Sponsors keep the rodeo industry alive, and those that choose to subsidize abuse should be ashamed. Stay tuned for developments.

(Signage to the right courtesy the brain trust that operates the Illinios State Fair Rodeo. Photo taken one week after the 2006 NHSFR.)

You can read the ground-breaking articles exposing NHSFR published by the State Journal-Register on our site here: Article 1, Article 2, Article 3

Watch the videos and forward them to friends. We will be releasing even more: Illegal shocking,
wire spiking,
calf foul- roping,
Injuries

Contact the Governor and tell him Illinois should be ashamed to shell out taxpayer dollars to bring animal- abusing criminals to the state.

The Honorable Rod Blagojevich
Governor of Illinois
207 State House
Springfield, IL 62706
Phone: 217-782-0244
Fax: 217-524-4049

Email Governor Blagojevich

Contact the State Journal-Register and thank them for keeping this important issue in the headlines. Urge the paper to disavow further sponsorship of the National High School Finals Rodeo.

Click Here to Email a Letter to the Editor

or Write:

The State Journal-Register
One Copley Plaza
P.O. Box 219
Springfield, IL, 62705-0219,
Fax: (217) 788-1551

The same people who organize the deadly race at the infamous Calgary Stampede, known as “chuckwagon” racing, are working to bring this event to the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo. News of the development came from a sharp activist in Cheyenne and can be read about it in the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle HERE.

Chuckwagon races (photo above) are an extremely dangerous event for the horses, where heart attacks, injuries and deaths are just an accepted part of the package. Teams have been known to give their horses a mixture of sugar and baking soda—called a “milkshake”—which causes the horses’ heart rate to increase, allowing the horses to run faster—AND have heart attacks.

Chuckwagon races have killed untold numbers of horses, either from collapse of the horse or the ensuing wagon pile-up. At the Calgary Stampede rodeo alone, there have been at least 15 animal deaths in just this event, likely more. This year at the Stampede two horses died in the race, and four years ago another collapsed and died. In 1986, 12 animals, including six horses, were killed during the chuckwagon race at the Stampede. Equine heart attacks among chuck wagon horses are not that unusual, according to one former chuck wagon driver. Read more about chuckwagon deaths at the Calgary Stampede here.

Many of you are aware of the horrific abuses that routinely occur at the annual Cheyenne Frontier Days. Our site, ShameOn Cheyenne.comtells the truth with graphic photos. SHARK exposed this rodeo in 2005 and used our photographic evidence to turn Starbucks Coffee, which had sponsored CFD, away from all future rodeo sponsorships. Then in August 2006 a damning article about the CFD Rodeo was printed in the Wyoming Tribune- Eagle showing the world the true character of rodeo people—callous, deceitful, and corrupt. So, why is this rodeo considering bringing back the chuckwagon races?

Email a Letter to the Editor of the Wyoming Tribune- Eagle urging the people of Cheyenne to call for a stop to the cruelty and abuse at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo. Chuckwagon Races will only bring the town more ill-fame.

Read the article here and email the newpaper here.

SHARK is determined to have investigators at the 2007 Cheyenne Frontier Days. Already, previous supporters such as Starbucks Coffee and Carrie Underwood have pulled out from CFD. Please CLICK HERE to support our efforts to put an end to this abusive rodeo!

A few weeks ago we told you about the Time Magazine article that glorified rodeo industry bull riders, but did little to address the inherent abuse of this event. Many of you wrote letters to Time voicing your opinion of their coverage. The October 16, 2006 issue contained this response from an advocate:

LETTERS; Pg. 10 Vol. 168 No. 16
No Fun for the Bulls

Re "Bring on the Bulls" [Sept. 25], on the popularity of bull-riding shows on TV: I was disappointed to see such a promotion of blatant animal cruelty. I grew up on a cattle farm and know that bucking is not normal behavior for bulls. Those exploited by the Professional Bull Riders are domesticated animals that "perform" out of fear and in response to irritation from electric shocks, painful bucking straps, tail twisting and flesh-gouging spurs. The supposedly aggressive behavior is actually a terrified animal's attempt to escape extreme pain. I urge fans of bull riding to find forms of entertainment that don't hurt animals.

MONICA BALL
Peoria, Ill.

Here’s another letter sent to Time that didn’t get printed, but should have been alongside the previous one:

Editor:

Why not tell the truth? It's not the bucking, it's the bucks. It's not manly, it's just manslaughter. Build up (and even name) the opposition, and you can be a hero for lasting a whopping eight seconds on an animal that has no interest in anything except getting a jerk off its back. Take away the posse of cowboys it takes to mount the "beast", the veal calf-sized "chute", the electric prods and tail twisting, the profit inspired hype, the clowns (all of them) in the ring, the rules favoring the "boys" and denigrating the animals, and put these "men" face to face, unarmed and unclocked, in the ring with these vegetarian critters, and see who really wins. If this is sport, then so is child abuse. At least the kids can run away from home.

Tim I. Martin Corona, CA

Finally, nationwide demos begin today in response to the release of the movie, Flicka. Two horses died in the making of this movie, and star Tim McGraw and Fox Films have been deathly silent on the travesty. To learn more and find out if there is a demo in your area, Cl ick HERE.

Kindest Regards,
Steve Hindi and your SHARK Team

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