Tuesday May 7, 2013
Riverdale, CA – The Riverdale Rodeo is under fire from animal protection group SHowing Animals Respect and Kindness (SHARK) for its “Barnyard Scramble” event. The event is where a large group of children chase animals including chickens, goats, pigs and rabbits for a competition. In a SHARK investigation at the May 5, 2013 rodeo, the terrified animals can be seen being dropped, kicked, held by their wings and roughly handled. The event can easily result in many serious injuries to the animals.
SHARK is demanding local officials ban the “Barnyard Scramble” and is calling on the local Animal Control to investigate the rodeo for animal abuses. SHARK president Steve Hindi stated, “It is shocking that children are being taught to abuse and dominate animals in this way. The animals are clearly mistreated.” Throughout the video animals are shown being thrown to the ground, baby ducks being picked up by their delicate wings, chickens being kicked and goats and pigs being roughly handled. The animals run terrified around the ring trying to escape their ordeal. Any animals the children catch they keep dooming them to an unknown fate.
Karen Davis, President of United Poultry Concerns stated, “This "Barnyard Scramble" is a reign of terror, orchestrated by adults, on helpless, frightened and bewildered chickens, ducks, goats and pigs by children who are being used by their parents to act out behaviors the children do not understand. The "scramble" comprises both child abuse and animal abuse. Children are always abused whenever they are taught and, as in this situation, basically forced by the adults they are dependent on, to enjoy tormenting animals and to fear being ridiculed if they refuse or are scared to participate in such a heartless, moronic, and injurious activity that defiles a child’s natural empathy for animals.”
SHARK investigates cases of animal abuse at rodeos around the country. The illegal electro-shocking of horses at the Riverdale rodeo was also captured on tape along with other animal injuries. Video footage of these incidents will be released at a later date.
CONTACT: Steve Hindi - (630) 640 1889
