In past decades, bullfighting has been an accepted and admired 'sport'. It has been portrayed as courageous and matadors have been made into heroes. In reality, bullfighting is a murderous, vicious bloodbath with no bravery. 35,000 bulls are inhumanely slaughtered annually in Spain alone.
Prior to a bullfight, the bull has his sight diminished by petroleum jelly, strength eliminated by tranquilizers, given laxatives and severe beatings to the kidneys. Additionally, heavy weights are hung around his neck weeks prior to the actual fight, and confinement in darkness for hours preceding the fight. Over 90% of bulls in fights have had their horns 'shaved'. This means that several cm's of the bull's horns have been shaved off, and the bull misses the target he is aiming for because of the altered angle.
Although the matador is represented as brave to face the bull; the truth is the poor animal is much too weak to defend himself when it comes time to fight. The bull is released into the ring and stabbed repeatedly by the matador, two picadors on horses and three men on foot. Horses are also a victim to this cruel Spanish tradition. The bull, frightened and angered by the attacks induced on him, fights back by thrusting his horns at his torturers. Unfortunately, his opponents are on horseback and the bull instead strikes the horses. Prior to being used in a bullfight, horses are shot behind the ear with dope, blindfolded, gored and have wet newspaper stuffed in their ears. Their vocal cords are also cut so their terrified, pained cries do not distract or disturb the crowd. Promoters of bullfighting claim to be 'saving' the horses from glue factories; as old plow horses are used.
Subsequent to the degrading and vicious attack to the bulls and horses, the matador waits until the bull is decimated by blood loss and exhaustion before attempting to make a clean kill with a sword to the heart. He rarely succeeds and often pierces the bull's lungs instead, thus prolonging his torture. To spare the audience the sight of a helpless animal about to die; often a dagger is used to cut the bull's spinal cord, thus finalizing his murder. The bull is also victim to having his ears and tail hacked off, whether conscious or not.
Adding to the horror of this disgusting execution of an innocent animal is "baby bullfights". Bulls, 3-4 years old, are brought into the arena and stabbed to death by the fights' spectators. The ears and tail are then sliced off, often when the baby bull is still conscious - and therefore very aware of pain. Bulls are now especially bred for bullfighting in 280 ranches across Mexico. Selective breeding ensures that bulls are created to return to the torture of the matador time and time again, and die in the most 'pleasing' way possible for the audience.
Perhaps the reason this murderous sport still exists is the profit bullfight owners pull in, $1.2 million/year. If a bull could speak, would his murder still be allowed for profit? Is $1.2 million justification for torturing and murdering 35,000 bulls per year? Is it right to torture, torment, destroy and slaughter a living creature solely for entertainment?
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Okay, the above was written by me gathered from facts I researched over a number of weeks. I just wanted your views about it - it's taken from a new section on my site.
http://www.bittergirl.net
bullfighting sucks.
Prior to a bullfight, the bull has his sight diminished by petroleum jelly, strength eliminated by tranquilizers, given laxatives and severe beatings to the kidneys. Additionally, heavy weights are hung around his neck weeks prior to the actual fight, and confinement in darkness for hours preceding the fight. Over 90% of bulls in fights have had their horns 'shaved'. This means that several cm's of the bull's horns have been shaved off, and the bull misses the target he is aiming for because of the altered angle.
Although the matador is represented as brave to face the bull; the truth is the poor animal is much too weak to defend himself when it comes time to fight. The bull is released into the ring and stabbed repeatedly by the matador, two picadors on horses and three men on foot. Horses are also a victim to this cruel Spanish tradition. The bull, frightened and angered by the attacks induced on him, fights back by thrusting his horns at his torturers. Unfortunately, his opponents are on horseback and the bull instead strikes the horses. Prior to being used in a bullfight, horses are shot behind the ear with dope, blindfolded, gored and have wet newspaper stuffed in their ears. Their vocal cords are also cut so their terrified, pained cries do not distract or disturb the crowd. Promoters of bullfighting claim to be 'saving' the horses from glue factories; as old plow horses are used.
Subsequent to the degrading and vicious attack to the bulls and horses, the matador waits until the bull is decimated by blood loss and exhaustion before attempting to make a clean kill with a sword to the heart. He rarely succeeds and often pierces the bull's lungs instead, thus prolonging his torture. To spare the audience the sight of a helpless animal about to die; often a dagger is used to cut the bull's spinal cord, thus finalizing his murder. The bull is also victim to having his ears and tail hacked off, whether conscious or not.
Adding to the horror of this disgusting execution of an innocent animal is "baby bullfights". Bulls, 3-4 years old, are brought into the arena and stabbed to death by the fights' spectators. The ears and tail are then sliced off, often when the baby bull is still conscious - and therefore very aware of pain. Bulls are now especially bred for bullfighting in 280 ranches across Mexico. Selective breeding ensures that bulls are created to return to the torture of the matador time and time again, and die in the most 'pleasing' way possible for the audience.
Perhaps the reason this murderous sport still exists is the profit bullfight owners pull in, $1.2 million/year. If a bull could speak, would his murder still be allowed for profit? Is $1.2 million justification for torturing and murdering 35,000 bulls per year? Is it right to torture, torment, destroy and slaughter a living creature solely for entertainment?
*******
Okay, the above was written by me gathered from facts I researched over a number of weeks. I just wanted your views about it - it's taken from a new section on my site.
http://www.bittergirl.net
bullfighting sucks.
