**PRESS RELEASE**
LA CITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY PASSES BLUMENFIELD’S AMENDMENT TO BAN RODEOS IN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES
Today, Councilmember Bob Blumenfield and the LA City Council voted unanimously to support drafting a new ordinance to ban rodeos throughout Los Angeles.
The ordinance will define a rodeo as an exhibition, performance, or competition for live public entertainment that includes at least one of the following events, defined in California State Law: bareback bronc riding, saddle bronc riding, bull riding, calf roping, steer wrestling, team roping, or other event or activity that involves physically taking down an animal, roping an animal, or attempting to ride a bucking animal.
“It is imperative that the City of Angels makes it clear that animal cruelty is wrong and take steps to ensure that events that have a proven track record of harming animals are no longer allowed,” said Councilmember Blumenfield. “I’m grateful to the countless advocates who helped make this happen. At the end of the day, this is about ending animal cruelty.”
Blumenfield worked with Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez on an amendment that will ensure the definition of rodeo shall not include equestrian events as well as American Indian, Native American, Indigenous Rodeo, Mexican Charreria, and Escaramuza events that do not involve the prohibited aforementioned rodeo activities. For example, the trick roping that is performed by horse riders without lassoing animals or choreographed riding to music would not fit the definition of rodeo.
Recently, the LA Times reported injuries of animals participating in rodeos ranging from minor maladies to crushed skulls, broken legs, gored flanks and snapped spines suffered as panicked animals rushed out of their chutes. In 35 of the injury reports reviewed by the Times, the animal died immediately or within minutes of the accident, or had to be euthanized — or in one case, slaughtered — in the following hours or days. In 14 cases, the reports leave the fate of the severely injured animal unclear. In these cases, either the attending veterinarian was denied access to the animal, or the report did not provide information on the animal’s fate.
Several activists and animal welfare organizations including Last Chance for Animals, Animal Legal Defense Fund, Animal Defenders International, PETA Latino, spcaLA and more voiced their support during the meeting.
“Today the Los Angeles City Council sent a message — that an ordinance is needed to protect animals from inhumane practices and suffering that take place at rodeo events,” said Animal Legal Defense Fund Campaigns Manager Matt Rossell. “We thank Councilmember Blumenfield for his leadership and advocates for their efforts to pass the ordinance and we look forward to a final passing vote.”
Action to address inhumane treatment of animals at rodeos and rodeo-like events is long overdue. Numerous American cities have rodeo prohibitions or restrictions in place including: Pasadena, Irvine and Napa County in California; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Fort Wayne, Indiana; St. Petersburg, Florida; Southampton, New York; and others.
The vote specifically directs the City Attorney to draft the ordinance banning rodeos which should come before committees and the full city council for a final vote next year.
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