July 8, 2013
Psychology Today
Marc Bekoff, Ph.D
Just this weekend I learned about a most horrific event, namely, the shocking of horses at the Cowtown Rodeo in New Jersey and the horrific death of one of these most amazing beings, a nine-year old named Duke. This tragic event was filmed by an investigator of the organization called SHowing Animals Respect and Kindness (SHARK) and is being formally investigated by the New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). You can read the SHARK report here.
It's okay to shock horses because injuries happen to family members, "equine, bovine, or humankind", claims rodeo announcer
There is a video accompanying the news story about which I must caution you that can also be seen here, because not only is the footage of the convulsing horse sickening, but so too are the words of the announcer. As the horse is convulsing and dying the announcer monotonically and heartlessly tells us that horses are part of our family and injuries do happen to family members, "equine, bovine, or humankind." He notes that people really do love the animals who they use and brutally abuse in rodeos and I always say when I hear this claim, I'm glad they don't love me.
