UPDATE 1/17/08: Here's the video produced by SHARK. It will be interesting to see whether Peoria officials do anything about this outrage!
PEORIA -- Animal advocates say they filmed rodeo producer David Morehead shocking horses and bulls with a cattle prod at the so-called "Worlds Toughest Bulls and Broncs" rodeo held Jan. 11-12 at the Peoria Civic Center.
The shocking is illegal.
It violates the Illinois Humane Care for Animals Act, stated SHARK activist Steve Hindi in a news release. The prod delivered 5,000 volts of pain, Hindi stated.
SHARK, Showing Animals Respect and Kindness, plans to turn over the video on Jan. 15 to the Peoria Police Department and will request a criminal investigation against the shocker, David Morehead, owner of Three Hills Rodeo Company of Iowa. Morehead has been filmed before, going back to 2000, Hindi said.
Morehead was convicted of cruelty to horses in Pennsylvania in 2006.
It also will contact the Peoria Animal Welfare Shelter (PAWS) hoping this group will aid the prosecution effort.
The animals are shocked when they refuse to buck.
SHARK has succeeded in having other rodeo producers convicted for animal abuse in Illinois after filming the abuse.
Peoria animal advocates demonstrated at the rodeo and asked customers to check out SHARK's website with graphic videos of rodeo violence against animals. (See story below.)
Activist Monica Ball has suggested meeting with Civic Center officials to keep rodeos out of this public facility and banning the use of electctric prods at rodeos in Peoria.
It's indeed shocking that the Civic Center allowed or turned its back on this illegal activity at the rodeo. Like progressive circuses, rodeos should immediately get rid of abuse against animals, and entertain crowds with other western events.
Commercial sponsors of rodeos such as Dodge should be boycotted by the animal-loving public.
-- Elaine Hopkins
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