A video that the Vancouver Humane Society (VHS) said shows 含羞草研究社渟tressed and frightened animals being roughly handled含羞草研究社� at rodeos in Langley and Chilliwack drew criticism from organizers of the events, who said the footage showed eagerness, not fear, on the part of the animals seen in the clips, released on Wednesday, Oct. 5.

A VHS press release pointed to clips showing animals 含羞草研究社渢hrashing around含羞草研究社� in the chutes prior to being released into the rodeo arena, and of 含羞草研究社渉andlers pulling on the ears and tails of a number of animals.含羞草研究社�

Society spokesperson Emily Pickett said the footage contradicts claims by rodeo supporters that the animals love to perform.

含羞草研究社淭his footage, once again, proves otherwise,含羞草研究社� Pickett commented. 含羞草研究社淚f the animals love to perform, why is it necessary to twist their ears, drag them by their tails, and fasten uncomfortable straps around their sensitive underbelly to make them do so?含羞草研究社�

Pickett added the events 含羞草研究社減ut animals at risk of injury and death, all for the sake of public entertainment.含羞草研究社�

Organizers of the Langley and Chilliwack rodeos said it was stretching things to say animals were being harmed, or frightened.

Held in early September, the Valley West Stampede was hosted at the Langley Riders Association (LRA) grounds in Brookswood.

LRA president Paul Ritchot said no animals or people were injured during the three-day event.

含羞草研究社淭hey are not being harmed in any way,含羞草研究社� Ritchot told the Langley Advance Times.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 like any sport. We treat the animals as athletes. They含羞草研究社檙e extremely well looked after.含羞草研究社�

LRA treasurer John Scotton said a longer version of a VHS clip showing a bull falling to its knees, would show the animal got dizzy after 含羞草研究社渟pinning around and around含羞草研究社� to shake its rider off.

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Valley West Stampede board member Shannon Claypool said they invited the B.C. SPCA to visit the Langley event, but their contact person with the animal protection agency contact declined, saying they wouldn含羞草研究社檛 attend unless there was a complaint.

Claypool said no animals or humans were injured at the Langley event.

含羞草研究社淲e had a veterinarian on site during all rodeo performances 含羞草研究社� and an ambulance [for the cowboys].含羞草研究社�

Chilliwack Rodeo Association president Len Blackstock said seeing a horse or bull trying to climb out of a chute doesn含羞草研究社檛 mean they are frightened, it means they are impatient.

含羞草研究社淭hey含羞草研究社檙e bred to do that, they含羞草研究社檙e anticipating [getting in the arena],含羞草研究社� Blackstock commented.

Blackstock said the animals are 含羞草研究社渨ell-looked-after, they含羞草研究社檙e well-fed.含羞草研究社�

As for injuries at the Chilliwack rodeo held over three days in August, 含羞草研究社渨e had a couple bumps and bruises on the guys, but no animals were injured含羞草研究社� he said.

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The VHS has been calling on organizers for both rodeos and local city councils to remove what they term inhumane rodeo events, including roping, bucking, wrestling and mutton busting, from event programs.