November 2024 Update

San Diego Superior Court Judge Joel Wohlfeil has ruled to allow a lawsuit aimed at stopping rodeos at Petco Park to proceed. The lawsuit, filed by the Animal Protection and Rescue League (APRL) and Showing Animals Respect and Kindness (SHARK), alleges that the rodeos violate San Diego’s municipal code, which prohibits the presence of non-service animals at events held at the stadium.

The court granted a demurrer filed by the Mayor and the City of San Diego, removing them from the case. However, the judge overruled a demurrer filed by the San Diego Padres, which allows the lawsuit against the baseball team to continue. It is important to note that this ruling was procedural, determining that the plaintiffs’ claims warrant further examination in court, but it does not address the merits of the case.

While the full trial is scheduled for November 2025 and expected to last three days, the next rodeo event, planned for January 2025, will not be affected and is set to proceed. Earlier attempts by the plaintiffs to secure an injunction preventing the event were either denied or delayed.

The legal dispute follows the rodeo at Petco Park in January 2024, which drew widespread protests from animal rights groups. Controversy intensified after a 6-year-old horse named Waco Kid collided with a barricade during the event and required emergency care. According to C5 Rodeo, the company organizing the event, the horse sustained no major injuries. Nevertheless, the incident has become a focal point for critics alleging that rodeos inherently jeopardize animal welfare.

Summary of the Debate

Opponents’ View: Animal welfare advocates contend that the tools used on animals in rodeos, including electric prods and bucking straps, inflict pain and cause injury, making rodeos inhumane. They argue that the event violates city codes designed to protect animals and limit their presence in certain urban settings. They hope that legal action will prevent further rodeos in San Diego.

Supporters’ View: The Padres and rodeo organizers emphasize that animal welfare standards are strictly enforced, with organizers having extensive experience in livestock handling and care. The Padres argue that the rodeo is a long-standing cultural event and can be held safely with appropriate protocols, much like other annual rodeos in surrounding areas.

PETA’s Involvement

PETA has continued its campaign against the San Diego Rodeo, urging supporters to pressure the Padres and city officials to end the rodeo tradition in urban settings. The organization issued a formal letter to event sponsors and has organized protests during rodeo events to draw greater public attention to animal welfare concerns.

About the Rodeo

The San Diego Rodeo is scheduled to return to Petco Park in January 2025. Despite ongoing legal challenges, the event will proceed, though its future remains uncertain as the City Council considers potential legislation to ban rodeos in city venues.