A video that the Vancouver Humane Society (VHS) said shows 鈥渟tressed and frightened animals being roughly handled鈥� at rodeos in Langley and Chilliwack drew criticism from organizers of the events, who said the footage showed eagerness, not fear, on the part of the animals seen in the clips, released on Wednesday, Oct. 5.

A VHS press release pointed to clips showing animals 鈥渢hrashing around鈥� in the chutes prior to being released into the rodeo arena, and of 鈥渉andlers pulling on the ears and tails of a number of animals.鈥�

Society spokesperson Emily Pickett said the footage contradicts claims by rodeo supporters that the animals love to perform.

鈥淭his footage, once again, proves otherwise,鈥� Pickett commented. 鈥淚f the animals love to perform, why is it necessary to twist their ears, drag them by their tails, and fasten uncomfortable straps around their sensitive underbelly to make them do so?鈥�

Pickett added the events 鈥減ut animals at risk of injury and death, all for the sake of public entertainment.鈥�

Organizers of the Langley and Chilliwack rodeos said it was stretching things to say animals were being harmed, or frightened.

Held in early September, the Valley West Stampede was hosted at the Langley Riders Association (LRA) grounds in Brookswood.

LRA president Paul Ritchot said no animals or people were injured during the three-day event.

鈥淭hey are not being harmed in any way,鈥� Ritchot told the Langley Advance Times.

鈥淚t鈥檚 like any sport. We treat the animals as athletes. They鈥檙e extremely well looked after.鈥�

LRA treasurer John Scotton said a longer version of a VHS clip showing a bull falling to its knees, would show the animal got dizzy after 鈥渟pinning around and around鈥� to shake its rider off.

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Valley West Stampede board member Shannon Claypool said they invited the B.C. SPCA to visit the Langley event, but their contact person with the animal protection agency contact declined, saying they wouldn鈥檛 attend unless there was a complaint.

Claypool said no animals or humans were injured at the Langley event.

鈥淲e had a veterinarian on site during all rodeo performances 鈥� and an ambulance [for the cowboys].鈥�

Chilliwack Rodeo Association president Len Blackstock said seeing a horse or bull trying to climb out of a chute doesn鈥檛 mean they are frightened, it means they are impatient.

鈥淭hey鈥檙e bred to do that, they鈥檙e anticipating [getting in the arena],鈥� Blackstock commented.

Blackstock said the animals are 鈥渨ell-looked-after, they鈥檙e well-fed.鈥�

As for injuries at the Chilliwack rodeo held over three days in August, 鈥渨e had a couple bumps and bruises on the guys, but no animals were injured鈥� he said.

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The VHS has been calling on organizers for both rodeos and local city councils to remove what they term inhumane rodeo events, including roping, bucking, wrestling and mutton busting, from event programs.