Davie Rodeo


	Rodeo: Animal Abuse in Action The rodeo displays and encourages brutal treatment of animals and insensitivity to their suffering. Like dogfighting and cockfighting, rodeo is a form of entertainment grounded in violence. Every major animal welfare organization in America, including the A.S.P.C.A. and the Humane Society of the United States, is opposed to rodeo. The Town of Davie (west of Fort Lauderdale) hosts monthly rodeos at its Bergeron Rodeo Grounds. Rodeo Events: The Violent Abuse of Animals During the steer-wrestling event, cowboys compete to brutally wrestle animals to the ground as fast as possible. Steers are subjected to painful tail-twisting to make them run from chutes. In the calf-roping* event, animals running as fast as they can are snapped to a stop by a lasso tightened around their necks. It is common for the animals to suffer injuries. In the bronc riding or bull riding events, the animals are physically provoked into displaying “wild” behavior through the use of bucking straps or electric prods. Take away the tail-twisting, the electro-shock prods and bucking straps, and you take away the rodeo. *this event has been renamed "tie-down roping" to deflect criticism.
	How Can I Help?
	Please, never attend a rodeo! Although the Bergeron Rodeo Grounds was established as a rodeo arena, the facility is now commonly used as a venue for craft fairs, dog shows, concerts and holiday events. If you live in Davie, please contact Mayor Judy Paul and ask that the Town of Davie end its support of the rodeo. E-mail: judy_paul@davie-fl.gov
	Please contact the sponsors of the Davie rodeo and urge them to reconsider their support of this cruel and exploitive event.
	Rodeo Sponsors: Todd Stephens, President Stephens Distributing Company 185 Anglers Avenue Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 Phone: (954) 989-4350 Fax: (954) 981-5911 Stephens Distributing is listed as a "Major Sponsor" of the rodeo in Davie, paying over $10,000 every year to support the abuse of animals. Julio Abreu, General Manager Bobcat of Metro Dade 11913 NW 99th Avenue Hialeah Gardens, FL 33018 Phone: (866) 262-2285 or (305) 362-6632 Fax: (305) 362-6861 E-mail: julioa@bobcatzone.com Victor Weiger, Chairman Palm Truck & RV Center 2441 S. State Road 7 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33317 Phone: (954) 584-3200 Fax: (954) 584-3228 E-mail: vweiger@palmtruck.com Click here to submit comments via their website. Miami Tiresoles 7800 NW 103rd Street Hialeah, FL 33016 Phone: (305) 821-2121 Bobcat of Metro Dade, Palm Truck Center and Miami Tiresoles are "Secretary/Press Box Sponsors" For that title, they pay the rodeo over $2000/year. UPDATES — past sponsors: Until 2009, HomeLenders, Inc. and Port Consolidated were both major sponsors of the rodeo in Davie. Bennett Auto Supply Bennett Auto Supply, a long-time sponsor and advanced ticket location for the rodeo, is no longer a sponsor. BankAtlantic “BankAtlantic is not budgeted to sponsor the Davie Rodeo after this year.” - Hattie Hess, VP, Public Relations Rick Case Honda “While we are a sponsor of the Orange Blossom Festival, we are not a sponsor of the rodeo.” - Rick Case Automotive Group
	For more information about rodeos, ARFF recommends these links: — RodeoCruelty.com (SHARK) — RodeoAbuse.com (Mercy For Animals) — BuckTheRodeo.com (PETA)