Protect The Harvest | Los Angeles Board of Animal Services Commissioners Recommends Ban of Rodeo Events

On October 13, the Los Angeles Board of Animal Services Commissioners submitted a letter to the City Council recommending an outright ban of rodeo events Los Angeles. The events listed in the recommendation are bull riding, bronc riding, calf roping, steer wrestling, team roping, tie-down roping, and “similar events and activities.” The animal services commissioners are appointed by the City Council, and have virtually no experience with livestock. The recommendation is expected to be put to a vote in coming weeks.

This blatant, ill-informed assault on western traditions and lifestyles came despite over two years of outreach and education by rodeo and livestock industry professionals, who initiated a focused campaign to preserve the sport when the initial proposal to ban certain pieces of equipment used in rodeo surfaced. The pieces of equipment in question were spurs, flank straps, and electric cattle prods.

The rodeo and livestock industry professionals thoroughly demonstrated to the city council that the use of these items is humane and necessary, and that their use is strictly monitored and regulated by existing rules and regulations of various rodeo associations. The newly released recommendation entirely disregards the input of actual livestock and rodeo experts, and instead falls in blind lockstep with the animal extremist agenda.

Head of Los Angeles Animal Services, Staycee Dains, was quoted as saying:

“The best rodeos have a vet on site. To me,