Comment: Unfortunately, the Pacific National Exhibition and fairs like this are held in cities and towns all across the country. The exploitation of animals as entertainment is rampant. There are many animal advocates who speak out on behalf of those who have no voice and the following is one sample of such an effort.
Open Letter:
August 15, 2007
To: PNE Board of Directors, Vancouver Mayor and Council, Vancouver Parks Board
Commissioners, Safeway Farm Country Sponsor
From: Peter Hamilton, Lifeforce Founding Director
Re: Cancel the Cruel Con Game
The Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) continues to promote performing animal
acts such as Richard's Racing Pigs. People are being conned and animals are
suffering. People are deceived into thinking that the animals are having fun
competing with each other. The animals are cruelly confined for approximately 23
hours each day, pigs have no free access to food, ducks have no free access to
food/water and both are deprived of their basic behavioural needs.
All animals are kept in the transport trailer - some pigs can barely turn around
in pens approx. 18" x 48", the pigs do not have food (only water taps - don't
know if they are left on), numerous ducks are in an approx. 18" x 60" enclosure,
the ducks have no food or water, the ducks can't flap their wings and on hot
days its like a sweatbox for all the animals. They are only let out for a quick
snack when they "perform" (four times a day at approx. 10-15 minutes per show).
They do not race or do tricks because they want to - they're forced to do it
because they are food/behaviourally deprived. Ducks need free access to a
swimming pool for cooling/play and water to clean themselves/eat (so they don't
choke). Pigs need to root and run freely.
The Past
In 1986, Lifeforce and the SPCA complained to the PNE and both the pig races and
animals in vending machines were cancelled for several years. In view of
Hastings Park not being returned to parkland and the PNE reinstating this
performing animal act Lifeforce is calling for the permanent cancellation of
this cruel, con game that deceives people and harm animals.
The Present
Lifeforce investigated the operation of Richard's Racing Pigs (and ducks) at the
Abbotsford Agrifair and Rodeo on August 3rd and 6th. Our video exposing the
above abuses can be obtained from Lifeforce. Failure to provide proper food,
water, shelter and social/behavioural needs is subject to the Criminal Code of
Canada - Section 401 Cruelty to Animals.
We also discovered that the future plans of this business includes a performing
"duck band". This would be similar to the previous animals in vending machines
("IQ Zoo") that ended in 1986. The animals were forced to mimic musicians and
playing games in order to get food.
From creating Animal Rights Day in 1983 to banning animal performances in
circuses to the PNE stopping other animal "acts" ("Oscar the Mouse", photos with
baby chimps, live animal prizes etc.) to banning rodeos to stopping the
exploitation of animals in a Vancouver Art Gallery exhibit - Vancouver has been
a leader in developing respect for all animals.
Lifeforce is urging the PNE, the City of Vancouver and sponsors to act
responsibly and humanely. The cruel con game should stop immediately. Lifeforce
looks forward to your responses.
(contact info)
August 18, 2007
- To: PNE President and BoD
- Mayor Sam Sullivan & Council
- & Safeway Farm Country Sponsor
Subject: Animal Exploitation as Entertainment
While the advertising would have us believe that the PNE keeps getting better and offers an assortment of entertainment for the whole family I would like to point out that the exploitation of animals is in no way entertaining. I’m referring to the Safeway Farm Country exhibits which include Richard’s Racers (pigs) and ducks doing tricks. Certainly this type of ‘amusement’ is a thing of the past.
Animal welfare and advocacy groups, as well as the public, have become increasingly sensitive to the way in which our animals are treated and now boycott petting zoos and fairs. Who wants to see livestock denied the freedom to move about, chickens cooped up all day or, rabbits stuck in tiny cages? Such enclosures are completely inadequate to meet instinctive needs, and combined with all the activity and new surroundings it is extremely stressful to all these animals.
And the 4-H Club, teaching impressionable young kids, who are still forming opinions about treatment of animals, that it’s okay to betray your friend for slaughter at auction time, and profit from it as well. Kids grow attached to their goat or cow, and from their experience know full well that these are sentient beings.
The PNE isn’t fun for the animals and as Mr. Hamilton of Lifeforce points out, what goes on behind the scenes and away from the public is far from humane.
I look forward to hearing from you regarding this matter.
Sincerely,
- Carmina Gooch, Director Pets In Need Society; Pacific Animal Foundation; Rabbit Advocacy Group of BC www.rabbitadvocacy.com
- North Vancouver
August 31, 2007
From: Peter Hamilton
UPDATE Stop the Cruel Con: Richard’s Racers
The Lifeforce investigation of Richard’s Racers (pig and duck “races”) exposed
numerous animal rights violations at the Abbotsford Agrifair and Rodeo from
August 2 – 8. Lifeforce sent a letter to the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE),
city officials and Safeway (a sponsor) in which we outlined our concerns and
urged them to cancel this performing animal act.
The business was hired for the fair that runs August 18 to Sept 3. Some changes
were made as compared to what we documented at the Agrifair. Acting upon
Lifeforce call to the Vancouver SPCA an inspector went to the PNE and later
advised us:
The pigs and ducks are now let out of the transport trailer before and after the
four daily shows.
The pigs and ducks are not kept in the transport trailer overnight at the PNE.
The pigs and ducks are only fed at show times and they are given food at the end
of the day. Now that the animals are not confined to the trailer the ducks had
water and pigs had at a nipple inside the trailer.
Although the SPCA said that the pigs were fed according to agriculture
standards, pet pigs are given freer access to food and water. Also, ducks should
have free access to food and water. The SPCA did not
determine if the two pigs that do “tricks” – one pig per show - are fed two or
four times during the day.
These animals are forced to performed stupid acts for human entertainment. And
many people are conned into thinking that the animals are doing it for enjoyment
– not for the food. They are “conditioned” by
food deprivation at the PNE. They were “conditioned” by food, water and
behavioural deprivation at the Agrifair.
The Vancouver SPCA inspector said they maybe not agree with it but it is not
illegal and the only way to stop it is to stop people going to see it. Well,
Lifeforce will continue to educate people about what goes on
behind the scenes and what people are actually seeing – hungry and deprived
animals. One day we will make it illegal. One day animals will not be forced to
perform on cue and exploited for the entertainment bucks.
September 3/07
Hi All:
During the BCCTV last show at
the Pacific National Exhibit they did their annual stunt with their weather
person "racing" with the Richard's Racers pigs. But the pigs did not race. They
stayed at the starting gate. All TV folks appeared quite surprised. One News
Anchor jokingly accused the weather person of dropping feed. Well, the pigs were
eating what may have been extra food.
As Lifeforce said in our "Stop the Cruel Con" campaign to stop this exploitation
the pigs and ducks run because they get food at the end of the race. Not so this
time - they got the food at the beginning and chose to not run.
- Peter Hamilton www.lifeforcefoundation.org
Comment: CTV has broadcast live from the PNE again in 2008. My letter, asking that they stop condoning this "entertainment."
The PNE
finally winds up Labour Day. Safeway Farm Country was back again where kids
could "play" with the petting zoo animals, try their hand at milking a cow, and
"maybe even watch one being born." They were also invited to check out one of
the "entertaining" demonstrations where they could see where their food comes
from. And who'd want to miss out on getting some "top grade meat" at the 4-H
Auction? The very same cows, pigs, or lambs that kids raised and befriended,
now betrayed, and sold to the highest bidder. Richard's Racers, a crowd
pleaser, had CTV's Rena Heer racing four of the pigs on closing day. She placed
second, ahead of Sir Hamelot. 
I can hardly wait for next year.
Carmina Gooch
E. coli infects 13 who visited PNE petting zoo
September 16th, 2009
Vancouver (News 1130) - Several PNE-goers have had a rough ride following their visit to the petting zoo. It's the first time in its 99-year history that the fair has ever been linked to cases of E. coli.
Eleven children and two adults came down with the bacterial infection three days after the fair closed for the summer. It was so bad that three people required hospital care, with one child remaining there.
While E. coli is more commonly transmitted in uncooked meat, the pathogens can also be transmitted through contact with fecal matter picked up by petting animals or touching hand rails or fences. There are significant precautions taken by the PNE to prevent the spread of infection - including signs promoting hand washing and many sanitizers.
September 25, 2009 Five more cases of E.coli have been confirmed by Vancouver Coastal Health in connection with the PNE's petting zoo, bringing the total to 18.
August 25, 2010 Thanks to all those who put themselves at risk to expose the brutalities of the animal exploitation industry. Behind the public façade are the horrors and abuses that animals of all kinds are forced to endure. And why? Because there’s money to be made - all at the expense of those with no voice. We must unite and fight on their behalf - take action - whatever that may be.
CTV
broadcasts live from the PNE and
on August 24th we were shocked to hear Pamela Martin reporting a
story on a young boy with a pig named Miss Oink. He belongs to the 4-H, and when
questioned on whether he felt sad knowing his 4-month old companion he had
raised would be going to slaughter, he said “ a little bit, but you get used to
it.” What a shocking and upsetting commentary. Betrayal and selling out an
innocent animal, all for a few dollars. Seems like life has no value, (or at
least it’s subjective) and we wonder why society is becoming more violent?
Nothing will ever get better unless this pervasive attitude changes. Shame on
CTV and all the sponsors who reinforce archaic stereotypes regarding animals as
expendable commodities for human use. On this year’s 100th
anniversary, how far have we come? 
August 23, 2011 Yet again we see a 4-H member crying and undoubtedly wracked with guilt over what she’s about to do. This year, as reported by CBC, a young girl from the Comox Valley Club was in tears as she led the steer she raised over the last year into the auction ring at the PNE. She knows this is the last time she’ll see her beloved animal. She knows it’s going for slaughter and that she’s betrayed a trust and a bond. Yet adults insist on desensitizing our young people by teaching them that an animal’s value lies in the bottom line. Exploitation for financial gain. To the purchasers, the sponsors, the corporations, the media, - all of us - take a second to think about what is being taught here. It certainly doesn’t make one optimistic for a better and compassionate world.