July 3, 2024

DEAR FRIENDS,

Thank you so much to all of you that wrote to the Boone County Board to call for the permit to be pulled for Capron, IL rodeo.


Despite the unfortunate continuation of the rodeo, we see some hopeful change that we can attribute to our collective efforts.


A veterinarian was present for most of the event, and this may have impacted the treatment of the animals. Unfortunately, the vet arrived only after the event had gone on for almost an hour, and she left before all the animals were loaded. 


The reason that is important is that the last steer had a lot of trouble getting up the ramp of the trailer, possibly because of an injury. The veterinarian saw part of the loading, and knew there was a problem with this animal, and she neverthless left before the steer was loaded. Worse yet, the steer had collapsed again in the trailer.

On the positive side, we saw the vet treat a tail injury that we probably would not have spotted, but she did not treat almost a dozen animals that we did see injured. If these brutal events are going to continue for the time being, having a vet is extremely important, but they have to be the right vets, and this vet was not that.


While the persistence of these brutal exhibitions is frustrating, there is a lot to be thankful for. During our fight over the last three years, these rodeos are becoming fewer and farther between. So even though twelve animals were injured this weekend, and that is indefensible, that is substantially less than previous years. Our efforts for more positive change remains in high gear.


Thank you for your unwavering support!

Together, we will continue to fight until these rodeos are a thing of the past.


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