Counties within the state of California are considering the ban of certain rodeo devices. The two most prominent counties in contention are Los Angeles and Alameda counties. Los Angeles County does not host a rodeo within its borders but will still vote on an amended ordinance, and Alameda County hosts the Rowell Ranch Rodeo.
Alameda County is located in the Bay Area of the state and has proposed a potential amendment to current verbiage in Ordinance 5.08. This ordinance covers “animal control regulations generally.”
According to the Alameda County Board of Supervisors’ meeting on Aug. 9, the following is the current restriction in the ordinance in reference to the sport of rodeo:
“Adopted in 1993, language specific to rodeos was presented to the Board of Supervisors for adoption, as concerns were raised related to the treatment of animals. The existing ordinance currently prohibits intentionally tripping or felling equine or bovine animals and climbing on and attempting to ride ovine animals. The ordinance was last changed on November 5, 2019 with the adoption of an ordinance prohibiting sheep riding/mutton busting.”
On Sept. 20, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors is set to vote on the expansion of the ordinance, amending Chapter 5.08 of the Alameda County Code of Ordinances to prohibit specified devices and wild cow milking. Devices would include bucking straps, spurs and non-release ropes, which the supervisors say are harmful to rodeo animals.
“Furthermore, the wild cow milking competition, where lactating beef cattle that are not used to human handling are released, caught, and milked for sport, is not a sanctioned event by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association,” the supervisors wrote in their recommendation.
South of Alameda County, a similar recommendation was made by Los Angeles Councilmember Bob Blumenfield in February 2021 and voted on unanimously by the rest of the council.
The motion requests the city attorney to create an ordinance that would ban “electric prods or shocking devices, flank or bucking straps, wire tiedowns, and sharpened or fixed spurs or rowels at all rodeo or rodeo-related events in the city of Los Angeles.” The ordinance was written and provided back to the city council to be voted on, accompanied by even stricter language than originally installed.
This ordinance was written to mimic one that is currently in place in Pittsburgh, PA, with additional and modified language.
Pittsburgh Ordinance 635.04, “Use of Painful Techniques and Devices Prohibited at Rodeos,” lists,
“No rodeo or rodeo related event shall be permitted in which animals are induced or encouraged to perform through the use of any practice or technique, or any chemical, mechanical, electrical or manual device that will cause, or is likely to cause physical injury, torment or suffering. The following devices are specifically prohibited at all events: electric prods or shocking devices, flank or bucking straps, wire tie-downs, and sharpened or fixed spurs or rowels.”
Western Justice Legislative Fund, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit, works to engage with different political movements as a representative for western industries.
Through them, the Western Sports Industry Coalition was started as “a collective voice, presenting knowledge, experience, and legitimate, objective research to lawmakers to preserve and protect the future of western sports events and cultural traditions and to substantiate the industry’s unified commitment to the welfare of animals.”
The Western Sports Industry Coalition has a webpage on the Western Justice site and has an ongoing petition dedicated to western sports events in Los Angeles County. The page can be found at www.westernjustice.info/westernsportscoalitionsaverodeo.
Other counties and organizations, beyond those immediately affected, have stated their concern about the effects of the amended ordinances passing. California Rodeo Salinas has been active and outspoken about ways to contact councilmembers and individuals who have a vote on the decision in Los Angeles County.
They provide suggested language for comments, including, “No one involved in rodeo or the western industry was consulted by the Los Angeles City Council before they pushed the drafting of the ordinance forward. At least take the opportunity to educate yourselves about the equipment and usage before passing an ordinance.”
There is no definitive correlation that a movement in either Alameda or Los Angeles counties will affect the rest of the state or other locations on the West Coast. However, the concern is still present for many involved in the industry, leading to the creation of petitions and other measures.
Come Sept. 20, a decision will be made regarding the future of Alameda County’s Rowell Ranch Rodeo. Currently, there is not a day scheduled for the vote on the Los Angeles City Council’s proposed amended ordinance. — Chloй Fowler, WLJ correspondent
