Pam Anderson calls for end to Chilliwack rodeo events

Celebrity Pamela Anderson has thrown her support behind the Vancouver Humane Society and its protest against the Chilliwack Fair.

“Let’s end rodeo cruelty in Chilliwack,” tweeted the B.C.-born actress, model and animal rights advocate on Tuesday, linking to the society’s online campaign. Anderson has more than a million followers on Twitter.

The Humane Society has been urging organizers annually to drop what they call “inhumane” events such as calf-roping, steer-wrestling and team-roping from the fair’s program, and for attendees and local businesses not to support the event. Its website also features information on the fair’s key sponsors and urges individuals to contact them and voice their opposition to the fair.

“There is no doubt that animals suffer in rodeos and people who care about animals should take a stand against the cruelty involved,” said society spokesman Peter Fricker. “We appreciate Ms. Anderson’s support and acknowledgment of the inherent cruelty involved.”

Last year following pressure from the humane society, organizers agreed to review their calfroping and steer-wrestling events and discuss possibly removing the events from the fair.

In the end, organizers opted to keep the rodeo events, but did introduce some rule changes to reduce animal stress, including a rule that disqualifies the roper if a calf is yanked off all four feet and its body touches the ground before the roper reaches the animal. The Humane Society maintains those rule changes aren’t enough.

This year, the fair is inviting the public to learn about animals and agriculture by making several animal-related groups available on site to answer questions. Among those is the B.C. Rodeo Association.

“There is a growing disconnect between urban and rural, and it is our goal to have the fair help bridge that gap,” Cathy Oss, president of the Chilliwack Agricultural Society, said in a statement last month.

The Chilliwack Fair begins Friday and continues over the weekend. The Fraser Valley Animal Rights Association also plans to host a “peaceful protest” outside the fair on Sunday, beginning at 12:30 p.m.

Anderson was born in Ladysmith. She was discovered after appearing on the Jumbotron at a 1989 B.C. Lions game and soon after hired as a Labatt model and appeared in Playboy. She has since starred on shows such as Home Improvement and Baywatch, and is a vocal animal rights advocate and a vegan.