By CHRISTINE WIGREN

Before attending another rodeo, consider the following quoted from https://sharkonline.org/index.php/animal-cruelty/rodeo-cruelty/755-locations-with-prohibitions-or-restrictions-on-rodeos-or-rodeo-events:

“Within the United States

¯ Pittsburgh has exposed the sham of rodeo by banning their “tools of torture.” By prohibiting the use of electric prods, shocking devices, flank or bucking straps, wire tie-downs, sharpened or fixed spurs, and rowels in rodeos, the rodeos can’t force the animals to ‘perform’. Pittsburgh is a blackout city for rodeos and their cruelty.

¯ Leestown, Va., has also effectively banned rodeo by restricting the use of flank straps, electric prods and spurs.

¯ San Francisco prohibits rodeos.

¯ Nevada prohibits steer roping. Nevada’s state veterinarian says steer roping causes animals to get “hurt too often.”

¯ Pasadena, Calif. prohibits rodeos.

¯ Alameda County, Calif., a veterinarian must be present at the rodeo.

¯ State of Ohio bans use of flank straps.

¯ California prohibits the use of electric prods once an animal is in the chute.

¯ In California a written reports of animal injuries must be submitted to the California State Veterinary Medical Board within 48 hours of the conclusion of the rodeo.

¯ Rhode Island and California require a veterinarian present at every rodeo.

¯ Southampton, N.Y. effectively bans rodeos by prohibiting the use of electric prods or shocking devices, flank or bucking straps, wire tie-downs, sharpened spurs, bull hooks and bullwhips at rodeos.

¯ Baltimore County, Md., prohibits calf roping

¯ Montgomery, N.J., bans the use of electric prods at the annual rodeo.

¯ Rhode Island prohibits all calf roping except breakaway roping, thus also resulting in steer roping being illegal.

¯ Baltimore prohibits use of spurs in rodeos.

¯ Napa County, Calif. prohibits rodeos.

¯ Fort Wayne, Ind., prohibits rodeos.

¯ St. Petersburg, Fla., prohibits rodeos.

¯ Greenburgh, N.Y., prohibits rodeos on town property.

¯ St. Charles, Ill. prohibits the use of electric prods once the animal is in the holding chute.”

It is important to understand that animals used by rodeos don’t endure the use of this equipment in order to force “performances” for just a couple of days each summer. These animals, who have no choice and no voice, must endure this treatment day in and day out being hauled from town to town. Yes, they can get injured, and, yes, they can feel pain and fear.

My hope lies with future generations who won’t tolerate this nonsense in the name of “fun” and money raising. Circuses that use animals are, thankfully, going “extinct,” and that is what needs to become of rodeos in my opinion.

I hope that Chautauqua County residents will think about what goes on behind the scenes and in front of their very own eyes at these types of events. I hope they will follow the kindness and decency of the residents of the above cities, states, and counties who have found effective ways to say “No thanks” to rodeos.

It is quite possible to have fun and to raise money and to teach children to be kind all at the same time.

Christine Wigren is a Jamestown resident.