December 23, 2019
DEAR FRIENDS,
SHARK is exposing how the The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has betrayed animals abused in rodeos. As you will read in the following letter that SHARK sent to them, we went to their offices to ask for them to enforce their own rules regarding animal welfare, but they have failed to do so.
DEAR FRIENDS,
SHARK is exposing how the The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has betrayed animals abused in rodeos. As you will read in the following letter that SHARK sent to them, we went to their offices to ask for them to enforce their own rules regarding animal welfare, but they have failed to do so.
Watch our new video HERE
A steer injured at the 2019 Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo
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John Howe, President, AVMA
Dr. Howe,
On August 19, 2019, I went to the AVMA headquarters in Schaumburg [IL] with a thumb drive containing a video file of steer busting, aka steer tripping, aka single steer roping. This event, which is sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) is one of rodeo’s most brutal events. Steer busting regularly injures and kills animals.
I spoke with Carole Jordan, Assistant Director, Governance Administration. Ms. Jordan would not take the thumb drive I offered. She instead requested a video link, which I provided later in the day via email. Ms. Jordan acknowledged receipt of the link.
That was the last I heard from Ms. Jordan. Further attempts to communicate with her via email have failed. I do not believe that she is derelict, but rather, that the AVMA simply refuses to say or do anything. To say that I am disappointed with the AVMA’s carelessness and lack of dedication to its mission is an understatement.
Because of its utter brutality, and its attendant body count, steer busting occurs in only about a dozen states. It is typically held during slack, when only rodeo hardcores are present.
Here is a video link of not only the activity, but also of one of your members giving a rather wanting representation of your organization:
On August 19, 2019, I went to the AVMA headquarters in Schaumburg [IL] with a thumb drive containing a video file of steer busting, aka steer tripping, aka single steer roping. This event, which is sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) is one of rodeo’s most brutal events. Steer busting regularly injures and kills animals.
I spoke with Carole Jordan, Assistant Director, Governance Administration. Ms. Jordan would not take the thumb drive I offered. She instead requested a video link, which I provided later in the day via email. Ms. Jordan acknowledged receipt of the link.
That was the last I heard from Ms. Jordan. Further attempts to communicate with her via email have failed. I do not believe that she is derelict, but rather, that the AVMA simply refuses to say or do anything. To say that I am disappointed with the AVMA’s carelessness and lack of dedication to its mission is an understatement.
Because of its utter brutality, and its attendant body count, steer busting occurs in only about a dozen states. It is typically held during slack, when only rodeo hardcores are present.
Here is a video link of not only the activity, but also of one of your members giving a rather wanting representation of your organization:
Regarding animals used in entertainment, shows, and for exhibition, the AVMA has a policy that states in part:
Animal welfare guidelines and standards must prohibit intentional animal injury or death and activities that substantially compromise or risk animal welfare.
Steer busting clearly violates the AVMA’s policy regarding “…activities that substantially compromise or risk animal welfare.”
Going forward, SHARK is going to expose the AVMA at every opportunity until such time as you should choose to actually exercise your policy.
Sincerely,
Steve Hindi, President
SHowing Animals Resect and Kindness (SHARK)
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Please contact the AVMA leadership and ask them to do their job to protect animals:
AVMA President: John Howe, DVM
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AVMA President Elect: Douglas Kratt, DVM
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AVMA Vice President: Grace Bransford, DVM
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AVMA Treasurer: Arnold Goldman, DVM, MPH
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AVMA Executive Vice President: Janet Donlin, DVM
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AVMA Assistant Executive Vice President: David E. Granstrom, DVM, PhD, DACVM
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AVMA Board of Directors Chair: Rena Carlson, DVM
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AVMA Board of Directors Vice Chair: Lori Teller
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AVMA President Elect: Douglas Kratt, DVM
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AVMA Vice President: Grace Bransford, DVM
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AVMA Treasurer: Arnold Goldman, DVM, MPH
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AVMA Executive Vice President: Janet Donlin, DVM
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AVMA Assistant Executive Vice President: David E. Granstrom, DVM, PhD, DACVM
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AVMA Board of Directors Chair: Rena Carlson, DVM
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AVMA Board of Directors Vice Chair: Lori Teller
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