The Green Party is backing the League Against Cruel Sports in its campaign to persuade the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge not to attend the Calgary Stampede during their forthcoming visit to Canada.
Rodeo's have been banned in the UK since 1934 and in 2006 Vancouver City Council banned a number of Rodeo events because of concerns over the welfare of the animals involved. Unfortunately the Calgary Stempede still allows these cruel events, such as calf roping, where young calves are goaded into the arena, chased at high speeds and then roped around the neck causing them to be suddenly jerked and thrown to the ground, and chuckwagon racing, which killed 6 horses last year, all in the name of entertainment.
Caroline Allen, the Green Party's spokesperson on animal issues and a veterinary surgeon said:
"Having seen images of calf roping and other rodeo events I am in no doubt that the animals involved are suffering from fear, stress and a real risk of pain and injury, even death. William and Kate's visit will be seen as an endorsement of this animal cruelty.
"I find it hard to believe that this is an image of their country that many Canadians would want to see projected to the UK and beyond, particularly as scenes of animal cruelty tend to have a negative effect on tourism."