SAN DIEGO — The San Diego County Democratic Central Committee is calling on the city of San Diego and Petco Park to ban the San Diego Rodeo from taking place.
In September, Petco Park announced it will host its first-ever rodeo at the ballpark next year because of what it says are animal cruelty concerns.
The San Diego Democratic Central Committee is pressuring city leaders to cancel the upcoming rodeo at Petco Park.
“We’re calling on the mayor to not approve this as a special event and to stop repeating the rodeo’s false talking points about it,” Bryan Pease, an elected member of the county party.
Pease says democratic representatives are asking the city council and Mayor Todd Gloria to ban what they say are torture devices used at rodeos.
“The devices that we’re talking about include electric prods, shocking devices, flank or bucking straps, wired tie downs, sharpened or fixed spurs, and rowels,” said Pease.
The Padres are partnering with C5 Rodeo Company and Outriders Present to host the first rodeo in Petco Park history.
Top rodeo athletes are expected to take over for the weekend-long event.
“People might not necessarily know what goes into a rodeo when they think it’s a family fun event but when you see the way the animals are treated and what they’re subjected to its certainly not fun for the animal,” added Pease.
The Padres say the group hosting the event has assured them that the safety and well-being of the contestants and livestock are of the utmost importance.
The Padres told CBS in a statement: “We have been assured by the group that is hosting this event that the safety, security and well-being of the contestants and livestock of the San Diego Rodeo are of the utmost importance. They are event professionals who are experts in livestock handling and care, as well as pre-event, event and post-event care for the contestants. Animal welfare is a major ongoing initiative of the professional sport of rodeo and the San Diego Rodeo, and the event hosts pledge to continue the strict enforcement of these rules and regulations.”
The San Diego Rodeo is set to come to Petco Park January 12-14, 2024.