14 DAY TRIAL // This coming August 24, a bull run is to be held in Richmond, Virginia. Others will shortly follow in Georgia, Texas, Florida, California, Minnesota, Illinois and Pennsylvania.
By the looks of it, thousands of people have already signed up to take part in them, and many others are expected to do the same in the days to come.
For those unaware, a bull race boils down to shoving loads of people in a confined area, together with about a dozen bulls. The idea is fairly simple: run as fast as you can, or risk getting trampled and even killed.
Animal rights activists say that, while it is true that those who take part in bull races often sustain serious injuries, the animals aren't exactly having the time of their lives either.
On the contrary, they experience a lot of stress and, on some occasions, are killed immediately after the race ends.
Talking to the press, Ann Chynoweth, the current senior director of The Humane Society of the United States' End Animal Fighting & Cruelty Campaign, argues that, “These events are a shameful example of cruelty for the sake of nothing more than entertainment and profit.”
“These companies put the health and safety of both humans and animals at risk, without the required federal oversight,” she adds, as cited by Ecorazzi.
Rob Dickens, the co-founder and chief operating officer of The Great Bull Run, disagrees and says that the bulls chosen for the races about to take place in the US are properly looked after by veterinarians and will not be killed at the end of the chase.
Therefore, there is nothing to worry about or protest against.