An animal rights group is asking the Court for an injunction to ban two rodeo events at the Festival Western de St-Tite on the grounds of animal abuse.
The lawsuit was filed Thursday in court.
The Quebec Animal Law Community (DAQ) wants the festival to draw a line under the activities of calf lassoing and steer terracing.
This is the first time that DAQ, a non-profit organization, has taken a claim to court to enforce animal rights.
“There is abuse and mistreatment, which can affect the health and safety of calves and steers,” the latter being calves that have become teenagers, explained Oana Zamfir of DAQ.
“These activities constitute a treatment that causes them severe pain, anxiety and excessive suffering, thereby placing them in a situation of distress”, is it alleged in the request for injunction.
This is based on changes made to the law, in particular to the Civil Code of Quebec, which now provides that animals are no longer things or property: “They are sentient beings and they have biological imperatives. And also, the Quebec legislator granted a new legal status to animals by adopting the Animal Welfare and Safety Act (“BÊSA Act”).
DAQ filed videos of the rodeos filmed in 2017, 2019 and 2021 in support of its animal abuse claims.
The Western Festival intends to react later by press release.
To see in video