Calgary papers shun ad against calf-roping

CALGARY, Alberta, June 29 (UPI) -- Calgary's two biggest newspapers say they've rejected an ad by a humane society calling for a ban on calf-roping at this week's famous Calgary Stampede.

The Calgary Herald gave no reason for the ad's rejection while Calgary Sun officials said they did not share the Vancouver Humane Society's opinion of calf-roping, a Canada News Wire release said.

The Vancouver Humane Society in 2007 convinced the Cloverdale Rodeo -- British Columbia's biggest rodeo -- to eliminate calf-roping. In Calgary, however, the Vancouver group is meeting opposition from other animal rights groups, including the Calgary Humane Society, which say the Stampede's roping events are strictly monitored to ensure animal safety.

The Vancouver Humane Society wanted the Sun and Herald to print an ad showing a cowboy about to throw a roped calf to the ground. The calf is labeled "baby" and the cowboy is labeled "bully."

The text of the ad said: "Every year rodeos subject 3-month-old calves to fear, pain and stress -- all in the name of entertainment. No way to treat a baby. It's time to ban calf-roping."