Peter Hamilton: PNE is not fair to animals
While some folks may celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Pacific National Exhibition, we must not forget its legacy of animal-rights abuses. An untold number of animals were repeatedly subjected to psychological and physical suffering at the fair. They were forced to perform tricks on cue and used in games as prizes. PNE could have stood for “promoting non-human exploitation”. Although some cruel practices continue today, the lessons learned have influenced the way animals are treated in Vancouver.
One of my first victories for animal rights was stopping the “Oscar the Mouse” gambling game. The numerous imported “Oscars” were kept in safety-deposit-type boxes. The carnie would wave the boxes to attract gamblers while the mice would be banged about inside. The battered “Oscar” would be released onto the play board and the colour of his escape hole would determine the winner.
Later exploitation that was stopped included the ring toss with gold fish and chameleons in fish bowls, which were usually tossed in the garbage by day’s end; photos with baby chimps who were taken from their moms; animals in vending machines misleadingly called the “IQ Zoo”; Playland petting zoo animals kept caged in a truck; pony rides endlessly circling on hard pavement; rodeo; and exotic animal acts in circuses. Pig and duck races were stopped because they were kept in crates and deprived of free access to food and water. The hungry animals race to get food, not because they enjoy it. After the fair circuit they are sent for food slaughter. The Abbotsford Agrifair recently stopped doing this, but the PNE reinstated it with slightly improved conditions.
Society is becoming more aware of factory-farming animal abuses, health hazards, and global warming due to mass production and over-consumption. However, the agriculture fair component heavily promotes the meat and dairy industries over those healthy fruit and veggies. The 4-H clubs train kids to treat animals as commodities that are valued more as price per pound rather than sentient beings. Although the occasional farm child crying over sending their buddy to slaughter raises some hope.
Media were and, in some cases, are still conned by PNE public-relations spin. Cute tiger cubs with a glamorous gal were portrayed while tigers and lions were crowded in “beast wagons”. Some were sick, emaciated, and wounded. Show birds were kept in shoebox-sized containers. Rhesus monkeys couldn’t even sit or stand in their cages, and declawed, defanged bears were inhumanely housed in tiny trailer pens. The elephants were chained, repeatedly kicked, and jabbed with knives and the bull stick.
As for “domestic animals” in circuses, a less-than-humane local humane society claimed that they didn’t need to be banned. But dogs were often in transport kennels except for show time. One time, after a leg injury caused by jumping through a hoop, an audience member shouted out that the act be stopped. And one of the worse circus abuses that I witnessed was a horse being pulled to the ground and repeatedly kicked and whipped during a training session.
Lifeforce investigations included taking photos and video. I often met with physical and verbal threats. At one point taking photos were not allowed at circuses. They wanted to hide the truth because they couldn’t justify the abuses. Lifeforce’s exposing of the mistreatment of animals helped stop a lot of the exploitation. But the PNE is still not fair to all animals.
The land for the PNE was once to be turned into parkland for green space. The city had decided to give deprived East Siders a similar amount of parkland as that afforded to West Siders. If the PNE continues, we can hope that its very sad legacy of exploiting animals for financial profits will eventually end.
Peter Hamilton is the founding director of Lifeforce.
Comments
7 Comments
Ursa Minor
Aug 20, 2010 at 7:44am
Because of a 'legacy' of animal rights abuses, the PNE should be razed to the ground to make way for "green space" (i.e. small parks bordering overpriced condos like the rest of Vancouver)?
Unlike what takes place at the Calgary Stampede every year, Hamilton can't even cite any current abuses that take place at the Fair, and instead chooses to throw out cheap shot anecdotes of evidence for some kind of boycott.
I live in East Vancouver, and I plan to go to the PNE three times this year. People like Hamilton should keep their self-serving strident irrelevancy to themselves.
RodSmelser
Aug 20, 2010 at 7:56am
Who is in charge of investigating animal cruelty charges? The SPCA or Lifeforce?
In Toronto recently charges were dropped against the Humane Society staff despite objections from the OSPCA. Could there be similar disputes among animal protection organizations in BC?
Rod Smelser
RealityCheck
Aug 20, 2010 at 9:33am
Peter reveals himself to be one of the nutbars that continuously try to deprive people in this city of its biggest family-friendly event. He's not happy that a large portion of the land was turned into park space. He wants ALL of it so that he and a dozen others can use it.
If he wants to actually do something about animal abuse, he should move to rural areas where the farming practices he abhors are rampant. He might also find the green space he craves, without stealing from the majority of Vancouverites who love and support the PNE.
James Barlow
Aug 20, 2010 at 1:32pm
"The 4-H clubs train kids to treat animals as commodities that are valued more as price per pound rather than sentient beings"
Absolutely disgusting. Hamilton would only have to spend 5 minutes with any 4-H club to see how dedicated those kids are to their animals. Not every 4-H project is sold at the end of the fair either.
Alison C.
Aug 21, 2010 at 1:56am
From what I know, I would totally agree that the 4-H kids are dedicated to their animals, and probably grow to love and greatly care about them, as children are apt to do. But the end result is clear: these animals are being bred and cared for to ultimately go to slaughter, is that not correct? As for "not every 4-H project is sold at the end of the fair either", I ask: "Then what happens to these these animals?" Are they kept as companions for the children to live out the rest of their lives in freedom? And I wonder how many of these "4-H Projects'" (aka sentient beings') lives are spared, as Mr. Barlow seems to suggest.
Ron Mayer
Aug 21, 2010 at 4:47am
But at least we don't have bull "fights."
But, ah, consciousness raising, what's it good for?
Callous indifference to the plight of others doesn't stop at the species wall. Granted, not every pig farmer is a mass murderer, and Native children finding amusement in drowning Brother Moose is probably not connected to substance abuse and suicide rates. But who knows. Was a time Indians were considered 3/5 human and therefore couldn't feel pain. Negroes were commodities and treated in kind.
We have to go a long way to treat animals as they deserve, as any self-declared moral species would. That bastion of white, narcissistic self-obsession, California is, ironically, the leading edge of compassion. Go figure. But they'll soon no longer be buying eggs from battery box chickens and being a quarter of the US market American farms will adapt, life will go on, eggs will cost 2 cents a dozen more, but people will, surprisingly not starve - indeed, eat better than necessary with beer money left over. And as a bonus fewer people will get sick from salmonella and 500,000,000 hard gotten eggs won't need to be squandered.
My God, what next? Eliminate tail docking for dogs and other useless cosmetic surgeries? Teaching 4H kids the truth - that fish do hurt when they bite into a hook, that mother cows miss their kids probably every bit as much as human mothers would if their kids were dragged off and imprisoned in light tight boxes. That other living sentient things in the world matter. That there's a point to leaving something in the sea not just to ensure food for future generations, but the whales and dolphins, seals and otters. That you're actually better off to eat less meat, and vegetarians are the healthiest people on the planet. Learn some 4H tofu recipes and spare the cows. These all seem like lunatic ideas but then so did laws against child labour and allowing women to vote just a few years back.
nick
Sep 5, 2010 at 2:41am
I eat meat. I eat fish. And it is my right to do so.
I am getting really tired of these "lifestyle activists" telling me what I should or should'nt do for the benefit of their cause.
I know animals feel pain,but it won't change my meal plan one bit.
In fact,the more I hear the naggie veggiephiles,the more I want a veal chop.
I also live in East Van,directly across from the park,and I love it.
I go every year,and have since the age of 5.
Don't tell me what I want in my neighbourhood. Keep your useless ideals down in your hippydome of Kits.
Now,excuse me while I tuck into a bag of those little donuts,that I purchased from the greatest event this town has.