AR-News: (US-CA)Rodeo Accused Of Brutality

[Ronda Roaring]

Rodeo Accused Of BrutalityVideotape Shows Alleged Abuse
POSTED: 11:57 am PDT May 7, 2004
UPDATED: 12:03 pm PDT May 7, 2004


SAN DIEGO -- An advocate for the humane treatment of animals says she has evidence of animal abuse at a local rodeo, NBC 7/39 reported. 

FeedRoom  
Rodeo Abuse?    
The allegations involve last year's Valley Center Rodeo. Thursday, Pat Vinet and the San Diego Humane Society took Dave Misner Rodeo, the company that put the rodeo on , to court on charges of animal abuse. 

Vinet videotaped the action at the rodeo. She hoped to introduce the tape in court, but before she could, the judge dismissed the case on a technicality. Vinet's attorney didn't have written permission from the San Diego County District Attorney's Office to handle the case, so the judge refused to hear the case, NBC 7/39 reported. 

Vinet provided the television station with the tape. 

"Show it to the viewers and let them decide if animal abuse occurred," she told NBC 7/39. 

The station played the tape for John Van Zante with the Helen Woodward Animal Center. He said that it appears to show a man using a Taser gun or cattle prod to shock animals. 

"It's enough of a jolt that it makes the animal leap and run in fear for its life," Van Zante said. 

Van Zante said that an electrical shock can prompt a bull or horse to buck more, making for a more exciting rodeo. But he said that it is illegal in California to shock animals for entertainment purposes. 

Dave Misner Rodeo would only comment on the case through attorney Gary Nelson. Nelson said the device held by the man in the tape did not have batteries. 

"You can reach out and touch [animals] with something that even looks like [a cattle prod,] and they'll jump and move, because they anticipate it's going to be a shock," Nelson said. 

Vinet rejected Nelson's explanation. 

"That's so absurd, it's not even worthy of a response," she told NBC 7/39. 

If Dave Misner Rodeo had been convicted of abuse charges, it would have faced up to $2,500 in fines, according to NBC 7/39. Vinet said that she is now considering a civil lawsuit against the company. 
Copyright 2004 by NBCSandiego.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.






		
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