A Letter to the Editor of Rodeo Attitude

By Response by Cindy Meyers, Rodeo Attitude
Posted Thursday, August 21, 2008

August 18, 2008

Dear “Rodeo Attitude”,

After reading a past article regarding the Letter to the Editor in the New York Times “Cruelty in Bull Riding”, I recognize your website as another “Cowboy Christian Ministry” comparable to some rodeo cowboy preachers, chuck wagons, stock contractors and contestants that use Christianity and rodeo as a sacrilegious method of assurance that God will aid to their monetary aspirations, rhinestone rodeo celebrity, just to hang with the cowboy’s, while endorsing the immoral actions of animal cruelty.

I am not a PETA member nor am I affiliated with any animal rights organization. I am a former spouse of a PRCA stock contractor. I know what kind of distress calves, steers, horses and bulls experience traveling to, during performance and traveling from rodeo events.

1. Calves used for the roping event are continuously treated with antibiotics due to the stress they endure. They are sold to meat packing plants once the reach a certain size that is not equivalent to the others in the herd.
2. I have witnessed bucking horses breaking their leg during a rodeo performance. I can still here the sound in my head. During a military rodeo in California, a horse with a broken leg remained in a pen until after the rodeo ended before it was euthanized. No veterinarian was on site during the event. She suffered in that pen alone for one and a half hours.
3. To witness a bull that breaks his back during his performance is sickening and barbaric.
4. Stock contractors claim, “I have saved this animal from slaughter by putting it in my rodeo string”. The truth is, if the animal fails to perform, it is sold to the slaughter house. I have witnessed this MANY times.
5. I have witnessed animals being hauled longer than 16 hours in one day. No unloading for water or rest.
6. I have seen fighting bulls shocked with electric prods to “heat ‘em up” before being released from the chute.

The following are scriptures regarding God and treatment of animals:

When animals were placed upon the earth, our Heavenly Father said that it was good. (See Gen. 1:25.) Since the creation of the earth, man has been given dominion over the animals. That animals are to be treated with kindness is indicated in the Law of Moses. The Lord enjoined the Israelites to show kindness to the ox by not muzzling it when it was treading the corn during the harvest threshing. (Deut. 25:4.) Undue strain on unequally yoked animals was forbidden as well. (Deut. 22:10.) The ancient Israelites were also to avoid destroying birds’ nests while working in their fields. (Deut. 22:6–7.)

The Lord instructed the Hebrews to help the overburdened animal, even if it belonged to an enemy. (Ex. 23:4–5.) Even animals were to be spared labor on the Sabbath. (Ex. 20:10.) A proverb observed that “a righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.” (Prov. 12:10.)

The prophet Isaiah revealed that during the millennial reign, cruelty to all living creatures would be abolished:

“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.

“And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.

“And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den.

“They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” (Isa. 11:6–9.)

The Lord further explained to Hosea concerning the millennial state of animals: “And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground: and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safely.” (Hosea 2:18.)

Again the Lord’s concern for animal life is revealed in Luke 12:6, where he states that of the sparrows that are sold, “not one of them is forgotten before God.”

Rodeo gives no “Glory to God”. Our society is now in the 21st Century. Do we really need to exploit innocent animals for our entertainment? Have we not evolved from this neanderthal need as humans? I am ashamed of my past affiliation of professional rodeo. This sport is no different than dog fighting, cock fighting or matador bullfighting. They all risk or endorse death to innocent animals for our amusement.

I am not an uninformed person regarding rodeo animal treatment. I lived it and witnessed it. Shame on you for not promoting the dignity and stewardship of all God’s creatures instead of their mistreatment and demise!

Sandra Houston
“Animal Attitude”
Buckeye, Arizona

Rodeo Attitude's Response:

Dear Sandra Houston,

I too have formed my opinions from my own personal experiences. I have lived in an environment that has always included domestic animals. I was raised on a farm in Iowa. We had a dairy herd and raised cattle for beef, hogs for pork, and chickens for eggs and poultry. From a very early age I understood the “circle of life” that God put in place when he created life. All living creatures were created to live together with man having dominion over the animals, fish, and birds. I won’t quote Bible versus but I do know that Jesus told the fisherman where to throw out their nets to catch fish. Jesus knew these fish were to be used for food. Throughout the Bible are references to man using animals for food and to assist them in their work. This is the “circle of life” as God planned it. When a species has no purpose history has proven that they will become extinct.

You refer to how things will be during the Millennium and I also believe that this is how things will be THEN…but in no way does this tell how man is to relate with animals NOW. Enough said.

You state that you saw calves being treated with antibiotics because of stress. Our cattle were not used in rodeos but we cared for them with vitamins and antibiotics when needed. Many people take extra vitamins or meds while traveling. Don’t confuse something that is done for proper care of the animals as abuse. These calves have a nice life and work for a few seconds a couple times a week. In return they receive everything they require. As far as ending up in the slaughter house, reality is that is where they would have ended up regardless of whether they had been used in the rodeo. Again, it is called the “circle of life”.

You state that in the 21st century we do not need rodeo for entertainment. I disagree. Rodeo is more than entertainment; it is a living example of our heritage. Cowboys and cowgirls used these skills to forge a wilderness into a nation. Through rodeo these skills are passed on to future generations. Today our youth live in the age of fictitious “super heroes” and a belief that hamburgers come from McDonald’s. Our heritage is full of real “super heroes” that settled America with a horse, a rope and clearly defined morals. It is our mission to preserve this heritage and the morals this country was built on. Maybe instead of spending time and money fighting rodeo and “protecting animals” one should spend those resources helping needy people in America – rodeo does.

Sincerely,
Cindy Meyers, Rodeo Attitude

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