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An animal rights organization is demanding a crack down on animal cruelty in the rodeo scene following the death of a horse that was removed from a chuckwagon race at the Calgary Stampede on Monday.
According to a release from the Calgary Stampede (CS), a chuckwagon race horse required veterinary care due to a "serious internal medical condition" during a race yesterday.
Comin’ into the week at full speed!
— Calgary Stampede (@calgarystampede) July 8, 2019
Got a case of the Monday’s? The perfect cure is grabbing a seat at the Evening Show. Action-packed races at the @GMCcanada Rangeland Derby, followed by a dazzling spectacular—the @Bell Grandstand Show.
Tickets: https://t.co/DKuyuYkcS0 pic.twitter.com/vFcO22kZVI
The 14-year-old gelding, owned by Troy Dorchester, later died as a result of that condition.
A post-mortem exam is underway to "learn as much as possible" about the horse's death, who had passed a veterinary exam prior to the chuckwagon races, CS says.
"At this time there is no indication that this medical condition is specific to chuckwagon racing," the release noted.
Day 4, heat 2:
— CS Chuckwagons (@CSchuckwagons) July 9, 2019
2. Obrey Motowylo 1:15.98
3. @MooreRacing007 1:16.15
4. Troy Dorchester NT
Animal Justice, an animal rights group, is calling for an investigation into the incident, alleging that the rodeo is engaging in animal cruelty.
“It’s time for law enforcement to finally crack down on animal cruelty at rodeo events. This latest heartbreaking horse death must be fully investigated,” said Camille Labchuk, a lawyer and executive director of Animal Justice.
“It’s illegal under Alberta’s provincial animal welfare laws to cause distress to animals, and rodeo events are not above the law. Predictably, animals die and suffer serious injuries nearly every year in chuckwagon races and other dangerous rodeo events at the Stampede. This crisis of cruelty urgently needs to be addressed by law enforcement and the courts.”
Animal Justice is calling on authorities to investigate the @calgarystampede after the first horse death of 2019. Causing distress to animals is illegal and rodeos aren't exempt from the law. Enough of this cruelty. https://t.co/hJ0YsiCX6J
— Camille Labchuk (@CamilleLabchuk) July 9, 2019
Labchuk cites an animal death tracker being done by Vancouver Humane Society, stating that 100 animals have been killed in the rodeo since 1986.