Animal rights groups take aim at Winter Fair

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This article was published 20/03/2024 (590 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

BRANDON — Animal welfare groups have urged organizers to pull “mutton busting” from next week’s Royal Manitoba Winter Fair, arguing it causes needless suffering and may be illegal in Manitoba.

Animal Justice, a national animal law organization, and the humane societies in Winnipeg and Brandon want the event, and a second attraction called “barnyard challenge” to be scrapped, said Kaitlyn Mitchell, director of legal advocacy for Animal Justice.

“Wrangling events involve chasing animals, tackling animals and grabbing onto their bodies,” said Mitchell. “Not only does that put the animals at risk of physical injury, but it can also cause really serious stress, fear and panic.”

The winter fair will run from March 25 to 30 at the Keystone Centre.

Mitchell, who is a lawyer, said Manitoba’s Animal Care Act states that some activities, such as fairs, are exempt, but standards are “so old, that they don’t actually exist anymore.”

“So, what we’re left with then is a law that says you cannot cause distress to animals unless it’s consistent with generally accepted practices, but any generally accepted practice cannot cause needless suffering,” said Mitchell.

“Our perspective is that this is the very definition of needless suffering — so events where children or young adults are chasing, tackling, grabbing on to animals may very well be unlawful,” she said.

In 2022, just days before the fair opened, pig and calf scrambles were cancelled after a protest by the same groups.

Sheep wrangling went ahead last year and is scheduled again this year. While there is no calf scramble, a new event called “barnyard challenge” will go ahead, said Mark Humphries, general manager of the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba.

“How they are describing the events, to be honest, is not accurate,” Humphries said.

“There are no animals that are wrestled to the ground or put in distress or fear… The animals are familiarized with the arena before the show even starts, which obviously these guys aren’t aware of.”

The provincial exhibition invited representatives from Manitoba’s chief veterinary office as well as the animal protection office to the fair last year “to be part of our show at every aspect,” said Humphries.

Manitoba’s chief veterinary officer is responsible for enforcing the Animal Care Act, which says animals must be given adequate food, water, shelter, exercise and medical attention, as well as be kept in areas that are uncrowded, sanitary, have adequate lighting and are well-ventilated.

Emotional or physical suffering, injury, harm, anxiety or distress must be avoided.

“The animal protection office witnessed both events last year,” Humphries said. “We asked them to rigorously observe and report back on their findings. We did not have any wrongful interventions within the Animal Care Act, or with any of our protocols and practices. We asked them to review, and all the reviews came back as good,” he said.

A government spokesperson said communication with fair organizers and stakeholders is essential to maintaining the well-being of animals.

“The chief veterinary officer remains committed to attending the (fair) and ensuring the highest standards of animal welfare are upheld throughout the event,” said the emailed statement.

The barnyard challenge is described as an event “featuring calves/sheep wrangling/obstacle course” for teams of one or two within the same age group of 15 to 21 years of age, as per the exhibition website.

“It’s not an educational way to teach children about kindness and care and respect for animals,” said Mitchell.

Humphries said he wishes the groups had requested a meeting with him.

“Hands up to the humane society, they do a fantastic job in protecting animals and we’re not wanting to distance ourselves from that. We’re much more open to having a conversation rather than this attack,” Humphries said.

“I would like people to come and see, come look, and take note of the event. We’re full of youngsters that are coming to experience every part of the fair, including the agriculture aspects,” he said.

— Brandon Sun