Activists calling for more humane events at Williams Lake Stampede

The Vancouver Humane Society is calling for an end to what it terms cruel rodeo events at the Williams Lake Stampede after witnessing what it calls 'appalling animal abuse' at the event.

The group sent a photographer to the event last week, who took pictures of calf-roping and steer-wrestling events where the society says animals were clearly being abused.

"Its pretty obvious from the pictures, where you see ropes tightened around calves' necks ... you can see distress on bulls faces being ridden," said Peter Fricker with the Vancouver Humane Society.

"Anyone ... who looks at these pictures would find it difficult to say these animals are enjoying this experience."

The group is calling on Walt Cobb, the mayor of Williams Lake, to ban the calf and steer-roping events at the rodeo

"I don't have a problem ... with the steer wrestling, those steers are bigger than the cowboys," Cobb told CBC News.

"The calf roping is the only one I generally hear comments on — the many times the calf gets thrown on its back. I guess its a matter of opinion."

Fricker says Cobb may want to look to the positions of animal agencies beyond B.C.

"I think he might want to talk to some of the animal welfare agencies around the world ... who are opposed to rodeo, including our own B.C. SPCA," said Fricker.

"It's the official view of most animal welfare agencies."

Fricker says that for a start, his group would like to see calf-roping dropped from the rodeo.

"As the mayor indicated, people aren't comfortable with that," he said. "If you go to a rodeo, you often hear a crowd gasp when that calf is pulled off its feet."

The Williams Lake Stampede Association says a vet was on site during the four-day event and that no animal athlete injuries were reported.

The Vancouver Humane Society has been campaigning against the rodeo for more than 10 years.

With files from Daybreak Kamloops