It has only been a few days since bullfighting ended in Catalonia, but Spaniards are reportedly already coming up with new ways to keep matadors employed that are a lot less Conan the Barbarian and a lot more Conan O'Brien.

Also in the works: a tournament of bulls' favorite card game …? 

Written by Michelle Sherrow

The last bull has been stabbed to death in Barcelona now that the last scheduled bullfight has taken place in Catalonia, the Spanish region that's widely considered to be bullfighting's birthplace. Faced with nearly empty arenas and growing condemnation of killing bulls for "sport," the ban on this sadistic spectacle officially goes into effect January 1, and bullfighting is on its way out elsewhere as well.

Curious tourists who purchase tickets or those who simply go along with what's included on their travel itinerary are the only ones keeping the fights alive and bulls dying. By the time an appalled spectator rushes out of the arena in horror, the damage has been done—and more bulls will endure an agonizing death as a result.

Travelers to Spain, Mexico, and France can help end the carnage for good by refusing to buy a ticket and letting their travel agents know that they don't want bullfights included on their tour itineraries.

Written by Jennifer O'Connor

Hurrah! Hard work pays off: The Catalan parliament in Spain has voted to ban bullfighting! It was clear that no other outcome was possible after officials were presented with the signatures of 180,000 people who don't believe that bulls should be stabbed to death for entertainment. According to a 2009 Gallup survey, 76 per cent of Spaniards have no interest in attending or supporting bullfights, and public condemnation of this bloody spectacle is growing worldwide. Cities and towns all over the world have taken positions against bullfighting, joining Spain's Canary Islands, which voted to ban bullfighting back in 1991.

Earlier this month, PETA U.K. and the Spanish animal rights group AnimaNaturalis joined forces to give the bulls a say—check it out.

Saucy Spanish entertainer Charo is also jumping for joy in the wake of this news, as she has been working to end bullfighting for years. "I'm more proud to be Spanish today than on any other day of my life," Charo said. "This shows that the new generation in Spain wants to lose this barbaric tradition. And I look forward to doing the cuchi cuchi at PETA's gala in September to celebrate!"

Charo recently joined forces with PETA to fight bullfighting. You can join Charo in speaking out against bullfighting by asking Spain's Prime Minister to ban the cruel blood sport throughout the country.

Written by Jennifer O'Connor

When morning's chill is frigid and frightful, my husband and I can get into some pretty intense debates about whose turn it is to walk Charlie and Lucy. OK, I'm exaggerating: We just play a few rounds of rock-paper-scissors—and usually wind up walking them together.

But in Spain's Catalonia region, a heated battle is growing over a proposed bill to ban bullfighting, initiated by a citizens' lobbying group that opposes the hideous "sport." Of course, other politicians want to keep the bloody "tradition" alive.

stopbullfighting / CC

We're happy to report that the bill just passed a secret vote in the regional parliament (yay!). According to news reports, it was such a sensitive issue that some legislators actually used newspaper to cover their hands when they voted. Secret voting is rare in the Catalan legislature—so the cruelty behind bullfighting really hit home for the representatives who voted their conscience in defiance of tradition.

But the vote was close (67-59), and the bill still has a long way to go: Debates are sure to intensify before the final vote, which is several months away. If the bill passes, Catalonia will be the second region in Spain to outlaw bullfighting—the Canary Islands did it way back in 1991.

Of course, there's no question that my husband and I will call a truce long enough to sign this petition to end the Running of the Bulls. Won't you do the same?

Written by Karin Bennett