A video that the Vancouver Humane Society (VHS) said shows 乌鸦传媒渟tressed and frightened animals being roughly handled乌鸦传媒� at rodeos in Langley and Chilliwack drew criticism from organizers of the events, who said the footage showed eagerness, not fear, on the part of the animals seen in the clips, released on Wednesday, Oct. 5.

A VHS press release pointed to clips showing animals 乌鸦传媒渢hrashing around乌鸦传媒� in the chutes prior to being released into the rodeo arena, and of 乌鸦传媒渉andlers pulling on the ears and tails of a number of animals.乌鸦传媒�

Society spokesperson Emily Pickett said the footage contradicts claims by rodeo supporters that the animals love to perform.

乌鸦传媒淭his footage, once again, proves otherwise,乌鸦传媒� Pickett commented. 乌鸦传媒淚f the animals love to perform, why is it necessary to twist their ears, drag them by their tails, and fasten uncomfortable straps around their sensitive underbelly to make them do so?乌鸦传媒�

Pickett added the events 乌鸦传媒減ut animals at risk of injury and death, all for the sake of public entertainment.乌鸦传媒�

Organizers of the Langley and Chilliwack rodeos said it was stretching things to say animals were being harmed, or frightened.

Held in early September, the Valley West Stampede was hosted at the Langley Riders Association (LRA) grounds in Brookswood.

LRA president Paul Ritchot said no animals or people were injured during the three-day event.

乌鸦传媒淭hey are not being harmed in any way,乌鸦传媒� Ritchot told the Langley Advance Times.

乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 like any sport. We treat the animals as athletes. They乌鸦传媒檙e extremely well looked after.乌鸦传媒�

LRA treasurer John Scotton said a longer version of a VHS clip showing a bull falling to its knees, would show the animal got dizzy after 乌鸦传媒渟pinning around and around乌鸦传媒� to shake its rider off.

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Valley West Stampede board member Shannon Claypool said they invited the B.C. SPCA to visit the Langley event, but their contact person with the animal protection agency contact declined, saying they wouldn乌鸦传媒檛 attend unless there was a complaint.

Claypool said no animals or humans were injured at the Langley event.

乌鸦传媒淲e had a veterinarian on site during all rodeo performances 乌鸦传媒� and an ambulance [for the cowboys].乌鸦传媒�

Chilliwack Rodeo Association president Len Blackstock said seeing a horse or bull trying to climb out of a chute doesn乌鸦传媒檛 mean they are frightened, it means they are impatient.

乌鸦传媒淭hey乌鸦传媒檙e bred to do that, they乌鸦传媒檙e anticipating [getting in the arena],乌鸦传媒� Blackstock commented.

Blackstock said the animals are 乌鸦传媒渨ell-looked-after, they乌鸦传媒檙e well-fed.乌鸦传媒�

As for injuries at the Chilliwack rodeo held over three days in August, 乌鸦传媒渨e had a couple bumps and bruises on the guys, but no animals were injured乌鸦传媒� he said.

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The VHS has been calling on organizers for both rodeos and local city councils to remove what they term inhumane rodeo events, including roping, bucking, wrestling and mutton busting, from event programs.