A cowboy performs in a rodeo event held in Daxing district on April 6, 2004. Plans to build a permanent bullring there were abandoned after pressure from animal protection activists. [Photo: CFP]

Chinese animal welfare associations banded together Friday to accuse an upcoming rodeo show of being involved in animal cruelty. Organizers of the Rodeo China show, to be held at the Bird's Nest from October 3 say they have "nothing to hide" and "everything is on track to go."

In a meeting on Friday, Las Vegas-based producers ZZYX Entertainment invited the animal welfare groups to address their concerns over the eight-day event.

"It's unbearable to see this show happening in the Beijing National Stadium or in the ZZYX-edited videos last Friday," said Zhang Dan, founder of China Animal Protection Media Saloon after the meeting. "The horses wear a tight 'flank strap' so they are forced to buck in a hopeless attempt to escape the pressure, and baby calves are roped and tied down; how could it be that no animal gets hurt?"

The announcement of the show on April 25 prompted the investigation into whether rodeos involve animal cruelty. Over 60 animal welfare associations signed a joint letter appealing for the show's cancellation, stating that rodeos have "long been criticized for animal cruelty and rejected by the overwhelming majority of Americans."

Elishia Nichole Appletun, a horse trainer from the University of San Diego, was invited to the meeting by welfare group Green Beagle, Beijing. Appletun said that rodeo is "definitely not a popular sport" in her country.

"It's a poor demonstration of American culture and doesn't belong in China," Appletun said. "Maybe people used the techniques a long time ago, but not anymore. America can bring a lot for culture exchange, but they are just taking advantage of China's market to make more money."

US sponsors guarantee there will be no animal abuse in this "important component of the China-US cultural exchange program in 2011."

The rodeo is jointly hosted by Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), the National Stadium, Less Is Forever More Inc. and ZZYX, who usually promote concerts. This is their first rodeo.

Guo Tiefu, account director of Golin Harris, the PR agency for ZZYX, said that "calling it off is not an option," as the event is part of a private sector engagement agreed during the second annual US-China Consultation on People-to-People Exchange.

Guo said ZZYX showed "convincing evidence" to answer all the allegations of cruelty. For example the cowboys have blunt spurs on their boots.

"We'll make sure there's no harm to the animals and anyone will be able to observe their living conditions. Everything the associations have accused us of has no factual basis," Guo said.

The cattle for the rodeo will be shipped in from Australia and the horses from the US. None would be able to return after the show. Responding to claims that animals might be badly treated after the event, Guo said "the horses and cattle will stay in China and probably be donated to some educational programs," although he was not yet sure what programs they would be.

Qin Xiaona, director of Capital Animal Welfare Association who has been in contact with CPAFFC, said they would produce detailed evidence demonstrating animal abuse in rodeos at a press conference this Friday to which both CPAFFC and ZZYX are invited.

Sun Mingde, a lawyer and animal welfare activist from Beijing Guolian Law Firm, doesn't think there's evidence of animal abuse from what she has seen so far.

"It looks similar to roping horses in areas like Inner Mongolia," she said. "But if there's proof showing the animals are being treated poorly, that could be another thing."

The Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of China banned animal performances in zoos from last November, while making no laws to regulate animal performances in circus-type events.

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