Faqs

WSPA Canada wanted to create a stir and cut through the many messages we’re competing with in order to educate people and introduce them to WSPA. One of the foundations of TBWA’s approach is to develop campaigns that are, as they say, ‘disruptive’. Their approach resonated with us.

Although Exotic Fights is a fictitious event, in many parts of the world they are a reality. Blood sports are common forms of human entertainment. WSPA Canada felt that this campaign would build awareness of this sad reality and cause people to act on behalf of animals.

We apologize if we upset anyone, it was not our intention. We were careful not to show the injuries or violence that really takes place at these events and made sure there were no references to real locations or individuals.

Blood sports are a really upsetting reality, and the animals involved live truly tragic lives. This campaign was designed to get people’s attention and move them to act on behalf of animals.

WSPA finds it distasteful that hundreds of thousands of animals die in blood sports every year. These animals are either bred specifically for fighting or are taken from the wild and trained to fight.

Bringing an end to blood sports is just one of the many distasteful injustices towards animals we work to end.

No. In Canada the law states that anyone who wilfully kills, maims, wounds, poisons or injures cattle, dogs, birds or other animals is guilty of an indictable offence. It is also an offence to wilfully cause or permit to cause unnecessary pain, suffering or injury to an animal or a bird; and in any manner encourage, aid or assist at the fighting or baiting of animals or birds.

However, while this may seem like strong legislation, in fact there are loopholes that make it difficult to prosecute animal cruelty cases in Canada. Improving Canadian legislation, and legislation around the world, is something that WSPA works actively on. It’s part of the reason why we felt it so important to run the Exotic Fights campaign.

Blood sports such as cockfighting and dog fighting happen – illegally – in Canada, but to the best of our knowledge bear baiting doesn’t.

However, these events are common in other parts of the world, and WSPA is working internationally to put them to an end.

Bullfighting

Within Europe, bullfighting can be found in Spain, France, and Portugal. Approximately 40,000 bulls die in bullfights every year in Europe.

In Latin America, bullfighting can be found in Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. Approximately 210,000 bulls in bullfights die every year in Latin America. ‘Bloodless’ bullfights can also be found in the USA, and sometimes in Canada.

Cockfighting

Although illegal, cockfighting rings are still found in Canada and the USA. There are many countries around the world in which cockfighting is seen as a cultural event or tradition. It is one of the Philippines’ national sports, and in Peru and Mexico there are cockfighting arenas in which it is seen as a family event.

Bear baiting

Bear baiting was popular in England until the 1800s, and only outlawed in 1835. The practice now only occurs in Pakistan and affects Asiatic black bears and brown bears that are usually poached from the wild as cubs to supply the ‘sport’.

In all blood sports, the animals suffer -- both mentally and physically. Animals who don’t die during the events usually suffer critical injuries and must live with the anguish of having to fight over and over again.

Bullfighting

In the Spanish style, which is the most common, there are three stages:

1. The bull enters the ring, and toreros wave capes so that the bull charges. Picadors then enter on horseback (also stressing the horses and putting them at risk) and drive a long spear into the bull's back. These two stages are designed to tire the bull, weaken its neck and shoulder muscles, and cause it to drop its head.

2. Men called banderilleros enter the ring and stab weapons called banderillas (short spears with harpoon ends) into the top of the bull's back.

3. The matador enters with a cape and sword, further tires the bull further with several runs at the cape, then thrusts the sword through the bull's back. The intention is for the sword to sever the aorta, but it often misses, piercing the lungs and the bull drowns in its own blood – as can be witnessed when bulls are often be seen with blood pouring from their nose and mouth at the end. If the bull does not die quickly, a small knife is used to sever its spinal cord at the neck. If the crowd deems it a ‘good’ kill, the matador is ‘awarded’ the bull’s ears and tail which he cuts off himself (the bull is often still alive during this).

The whole process takes approximately 20 minutes – and the bull suffers an agonizing and torturous death.

Read about WSPA's work to end bullfighting >>

Cockfighting

The roosters, or game-cocks as they are called in cockfighting, are specially bred to be aggressive and there are specific breeds of fighting cocks. Before they fight, the birds have their combs removed (usually without anaesthetic) so that they are not ripped off during combat.

Steel blades, called gaffs, are attached to the legs of the game-cocks and they are put into a pit where they will fight to establish dominance. The fights are brutal, and the birds cannot escape the pit or the other bird. At least one bird usually dies from its injuries, and the violence can last up to 15 minutes.

Bear baiting

Bears are often poached from the wild as small cubs in order to supply this ‘sport’ with animals. The cubs have their claws removed and teeth filed down so that they pose less of a risk to the dogs that will be set upon them. A ring is often placed through the nose of the bear and a rope is inserted so that the bear can be tethered and controlled.

At the events, the bears are tethered to a pole with a rope. As many as four dogs, who have been trained to attack, are set upon the bear. The bears are brutally injured, and if the dogs bring the bear to the ground they are said to have ‘won’. The dogs are the other unfortunate victims of bear baiting events, as they also sustain serious injuries.

The fights usually last three minutes, and bears often fight several times during these events. The events can draw crowds of as many as 2,000 people.

Read about WSPA's work to end bear baiting >>  

WSPA is opposed to the use of animals for entertainment. In addition to working against bullfighting and bear baiting, WSPA also works against the use of animals in entertainment in many part of the world. Dancing bears in India, cetaceans (dolphins, whales & porpoises) in captivity, and Japanese bear parks are just a few examples.

Bullfighting

In Catalonia, WSPA is running the Culture Without Cruelty campaign with member society ADDA, and there have been a series of successes in the region in recent years. Forty-seven towns, including Barcelona, have declared themselves anti-bullfighting and later in 2009 the Catalonian parliament is voting on whether to ban bullfighting altogether.

In Spain, WSPA is supporting our member society Stop Our Shame (stopourshame.com) who are working to end the national subsidies (funded by Spanish taxpayers) given to the bullfighting industry, which total a staggering 530 million Euros a year.

In France, three towns have recently declared their anti-bullfighting status. You can find out more at Anticorrida.com.

WSPA is working closely with an alliance of ten other animal protection organizations from across Europe to tackle the issue at the European Union. The EU currently gives subsidies (funded by EU taxpayers) to breeders of fighting bulls, as part of its annual agricultural subsidy system. You can find out more at Bull-Fighting Free Europe (www.bullfightingfreeeurope.org).

In Latin America many of WSPA’s member societies are working towards bans of bullfighting across the region. The first two anti-bullfighting towns in the region have recently been declared: Baños de Agua Santa in Ecuador and Zapatoca in Colombia. In Medellin, Colombia, the first ever group of anti-bullfighting city councilors has been established.

Read more about WSPA's work to end bullfighting >>

Bear baiting

Since 2001, WSPA has been working with the Pakistan Bioresource Research Centre (BRC) on a holistic project. The aim of this project is to permanently eradicate the practice of bear baiting. To achieve this, WSPA and the BRC have been working with a range of organizations – from Pakistani wildlife officials to local religious leaders to former bear baiting organizers.

Together, WSPA and BRC work to:

• Improve enforcement by monitoring bear baiting activity, providing accurate field intelligence and training to government wildlife agencies, and strengthening anti-bear baiting laws

• Increase awareness among the local rural population of the animal welfare and conservation arguments against bear baiting

• Develop alternative livelihoods for event organizers and bear owners that are sustainable, viable and animal welfare friendly

• Provide sanctuary for bears that have been rescued from bear baiting

Last year, WSPA and BRC employed teams to work with the Pakistani authorities to find and stop bear baiting activities in two provinces – we have stopped more than 75% of the bear baiting events in those areas to date.

WSPA and BRC also run the Kund Park sancturay in Pakistan. We persuaded a number of bear owners to send their bears to WSPA’s Kund Park sanctuary (two of whom received alternative livelihoods in exchange). In total, 15 more bears were rescued from the cruelty of bear baiting in 2008.

We believe that focused pressure will bring about an end to this practice as early as 2013.

Read more about WSPA's work to end bear baiting >>

Cockfighting

WSPA doesn’t run a campaign specifically on cockfighting. We support member societies around the world who, either actively or indirectly, are working on this issue in their regions. The OSPCA, HSUS and the ASPCA are examples of WSPA member societies who work against cockfighting.

Yes, bullfighting is seen by some people as a cultural event in many countries, but we want to challenge the idea that it’s ok if deemed a ‘cultural practice’. WSPA believes that these spectacles, and animal suffering, have no place in modern culture. We want people seeing this campaign to think about the consequences of using animals for entertainment.

The latest polls in Spain show us that over 72% of Spanish people have no interest in bullfighting. This climbs to over 80% in the autonomous region of Catalonia. Anti-bullfighting sentiment is growing across Europe and Latin America – people are standing up against the protection of bullfighting as part of national heritage and calling for an end to this cruel spectacle.