The Los Angeles-based animal advocacy organization Last Chance For Animals urged supporters Monday to call into the L.A. City Council meeting Tuesday before a vote on a motion that would take steps to ban electric prods, shocking devices and other tools from rodeos.
The motion, introduced by Councilman Bob Blumenfield, would request the City Attorney prepare and present an ordinance to prohibit the following devices from Los Angeles rodeos and rodeo-related events:
— electric prods;
— shocking devices;
— flank or bucking straps;
— wire tiedowns;
— sharpened or fixed spurs; and
— rowels.
Beyond banning those devices, Last Chance For Animals called on supporters to encourage the City Council to ban all rodeos and rodeo-type events in the city.
The organization’s leaders are circulating a petition, which has 21,830 signatures as of 1:30 p.m. Monday, to show support for banning rodeo events. The petition can be found at bit.ly/2NwvWPd.
“L.A. is very close to enacting this historic rodeo ban, but we need to keep the momentum going to ensure it passes,” Last Chance For Animals said Monday.
The motion to ban tools that cause harm to animals from Los Angeles rodeos was modeled after Pittsburgh’s 1992 ordinance, which banned the same tools, according to the motion.
“Rodeos often use a number of inhumane implements… to encourage aggressive behavior in animals to produce an entertainment product. Animals suffer significant injuries during common rodeo events such as bull and bronco riding, steer wrestling, and calf roping,” the motion stated. “Many animals are put down as a result of injuries sustained during these events … It is time for our city to act in the interest of animal welfare on this issue as it has in the past for other issues.”
The Los Angeles City Council will hear public comment shortly after the meeting begins at 10 a.m. People who want to express their view on the motion can call 1-669-254-5252 and use Meeting ID number 160 535 8466 and then press #. Callers should press # again when prompted for participant ID. Once admitted into the meeting, they can press *9 to request to speak.