October 2004
When PETA learned that a chicken-roping contest is held every year in Albany, Texas, as part of the Watt Matthews Cowboy Day, an activist in the area agreed to videotape the event. We asked chicken experts to review the video, which depicted chickens who were roped, then dangled by their necks, wings, and legs and others who were repeatedly whipped with ropes by small children. The experts stated that the contest was extremely stressful for the chickens and that the cruel handling of the chickens could cause serious injuries. After presenting the evidence to city officials and urging that the event be canceled for violating Texas cruelty statutes, the county sheriff convinced the Watt Matthews Cowboy Day organizers to nix the contest for good!
