Bad News for Animals and Local Governments as PA Legislature Preempts Pittsburgh’s Decades-Long Ban on Cruel Rodeos 

Pittsburgh, PA — Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy, along with Humane Action Pittsburgh, expressed profound disappointment and outrage over a last-second addition to Pennsylvania’s fiscal code that will undo the state’s long-standing ban on rodeos.

The state Senate’s surprise maneuver yesterday undoes more than 30 years of progress in preventing one of the most egregious forms of animal cruelty from occurring in Pennsylvania and sets a dangerous precedent for the invalidation of countless other local laws across the state.

“The decision by the Legislature to include this underhanded amendment defies both ethical reasoning and the will of our local community,” said Natalie Ahwesh, Pennsylvania state director of Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy. “It’s a bad decision and terrible for the animals we strive to protect.”

The groups have been staunch advocates for the rodeo ban since its inception, and Humane Action Pittsburgh used the language as a model to ban the circus from coming to town. The organizations are committed to challenging this decision and will continue to advocate for cities’ rights to make their own determinations about what is best for their communities.  

“The addition of this amendment without proper debate or consideration, or time for constituents to weigh in, is not only a setback for animal welfare but also a blow to the democratic process,” added Ahwesh. “We are particularly disheartened that 125 House members voted in favor of a fiscal code that included such a deceptive amendment that has nothing to do with the budget. Our city has demonstrated its commitment to animal welfare, and we will not back down from this fight.”

Rodeos are inherently cruel events that inflict unnecessary pain and suffering on animals for the sake of entertainment. The practices involved, such as calf roping, steer wrestling, and bull riding, subject animals to extreme stress, fear, and physical harm. Calves are often chased, violently roped, and thrown to the ground, causing injuries such as broken bones and internal bleeding. Bulls and horses used in bucking events are provoked into aggressive behavior using tight flank straps, electric prods, and other painful stimuli. These animals are not naturally aggressive but are forced into these behaviors, leading to both physical injuries and significant psychological distress.