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FUN
How our entertainment choices impact animals
Today, we have thousands of entertainment options right at our fingertips. From community sporting clubs to theatre, dance, art, games and social media on our mobile devices, there is seemingly no end to the number of ways we have to relax, unwind or have fun. With so many options to keep us entertained, now, more than ever, there is no reason our fun should come at the expense of another living being.
Entertainment is a universal language, and we're rewriting the narrative to include kindness and consideration for animals. From circuses to rodeos, we're shedding light on the impact of our entertainment choices and exploring alternatives that spark joy without causing harm. Let's reimagine fun with compassion as the star of the show.
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Fast Facts
Pledge to play kind
Spare animals from suffering for 'entertainment'
Say "no" to events that use animals, and spare them from suffering for our 'entertainment'
From horses bred to be discarded to greyhounds injured or even lost in the racing industry, and animals forced to perform in circuses or tormented in rodeos — the world of entertainment can hide a darker side. Choosing compassion means saying 'no' to someone else's suffering for our amusement. Today, we have countless forms of entertainment that celebrate joy without causing harm to animals. Join us in making kinder choices that shine a light on empathy and respect. Pledge to say 'no' to horse and dog racing, and to boycott rodeos and animal-involved circuses, helping create a world where animals can thrive without being exploited.
THE GREAT COST OF THE SPORT OF KINGS
Thousands of horses are bred into the Australian racing industry every year. Only a third of these will survive to make the race track, and those that do face lengthy confinement, cruel practices like tongue ties and whipping, and the risk of injury or death. If they survive the average career length of 2-3 years on the racetrack, the industry is not obligated to provide ongoing care. Instead, horses can be discarded with very little oversight and through the sheer numbers being bred and limited homes available, a high chance of ending up at the knackery.
HOW CIRCUS LIFE IMPACTS ANIMALS
The public has been campaigning to end the use of wild animals in Australian circuses for several decades. This has now become a reality, sadly only due to difficulties for circuses obtaining insurance to continue working with exotic animals. Today, no circuses in Australia use exotic animals in their performances. However, several circuses still use dogs, goats, pigs, camels, llamas, cows and horses as part of their show. While these animals are domesticated, they are still vulnerable to the impacts of constant travelling, forced performances and less-than-ideal housing methods.
Rodeos
ELICITING FEAR FOR FUN
Almost every event held at rodeos relies on eliciting a fear response in animals. The spectacle of the rodeo event, calf roping, steer chasing, and bull or bronco riding all rely on the animal fleeing, fighting or attempting to escape the human in pursuit. This is a frightening situation for a prey animal to be placed in, and it only creates the desired spectacle if the animal acts in this way.
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In fleeing from torment in a frightening, confined area, animals used in rodeos are at a high risk of injury and even death.
Greyhound Racing
GONE TO THE DOGS
Greyhounds are intelligent, gentle dogs with a quiet disposition. Although they possess great athletic ability, most greyhounds are quite content spending much of the day sleeping. In greyhound racing, the needs and well-being of these sensitive creatures come second place to their owner's interests in profiting from them. Greyhounds in the Australian racing industry face injury, death, high doping rates, horrific training, widespread neglect and a very uncertain future with limited rehoming options after only a few years of racing.
PETTING ZOOS
HOW ZOOS AND PETTING ZOOS IMPACT ANIMALS
Petting zoos claim to provide a meaningful opportunity for children and adults to interact with animals and establish meaningful connections and educational opportunities, but is this the case? Children have a natural affinity for animals, and this should be fostered through thoughtful experiences that teach meaningful lessons.
CAMEL RIDING
TROUBLING TOURISM
Dromedary camels are fascinating and often misunderstood animals, originally native to the deserts of Africa and Asia. Introduced to Australia in the 1840s, they have since formed a significant wild population. While the mistreatment of elephants in the tourism industry has garnered much attention, the exploitation of camels for rides remains largely overlooked. This is particularly concerning given that camels are highly intelligent creatures, comparable to elephants in their cognitive abilities.
LIFESPANS
Typical lifespans of animals used for entertainment
