PETA Statement re Animal Deaths at the Calgary Stampede

For Immediate Release:
July 9, 2024

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

The death toll continues to climb at the Calgary Stampede, where two horses have been euthanized after sustaining catastrophic injuries in Friday’s and Saturday’s highly controversial chuckwagon races and a steer had to be put down after his neck was twisted backward and he crashed to the ground during a rodeo last night. PETA is calling for Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation RJ Sigurdson to end the chuckwagon races, long condemned by the humane community. Below, please find a statement from PETA Senior Vice President Colleen O’Brien:

The Calgary Stampede is a death trap for animals, as illustrated by the number of injured and dead ones hauled away from it nearly every year. More than 70 animals have died during the Stampede’s foolhardy and cruel chuckwagon races alone, and PETA is calling for an end to these deadly events in the name of decency and compassion and urging everyone to stay away.

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to use for entertainment”—points out that Every Animal Is Someone and offers free Empathy Kits for people who need a lesson in kindness. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow the group on X, Facebook, or Instagram.