BRING AN END TO BULLFIGHTING

Dear Friend, How much would you pay to watch an innocent animal being tortured, maimed and killed in front of a cheering crowd? How much is it worth to see a confused, defenseless animal being stabbed, tormented and terrified by a group of men with weapons? These questions should never have to be asked, or answered.  But they are, every year, by hundreds of thousands of people around the world who attend bullfights.  At these cruel spectacles, defenseless bulls are brutally tortured in front of paying audiences.  WSPA is working to end this, but we need your help. Cruelty in the name of entertainment What exactly happens at a bullfight? Don't be fooled by the name - a bullfight is no 'fight' at all, and the winner is never in doubt.  At these events, a bull is methodically attacked and tormented over a gruesome twenty minutes before finally being killed: Before the event begins, the bull is already at a disadvantage as his horns are filed down and he is beaten and drugged, leaving him defenseless and disoriented. For the first part of the fight, the 'toreros', a group of men on foot, use capes to provoke and confuse the bull while 'picadors' on horseback stab him with lances.  They stop only once the bull is exhausted and his neck muscles are so torn that he is no longer able to lift his head. Next, the 'banderillos' run at the bull, plunging brightly colored harpoons into his back and further opening up the wounds from which he is slowly bleeding to death. Only then does the matador come out to taunt the injured, dying bull with his red cape before stabbing him with a three-foot long sword. The collapsed bull, often still conscious, has his spinal cord severed and his tail and ears cut off to be awarded to the matador as a trophy. Finally, the bull is tied by his horns and dragged out of the ring by horses. This needs to end - help us stop it You're probably wondering how anyone could find this torture even remotely entertaining.  Yet, bullfighting events continue to take place at arenas in Spain, France, Portugal, Mexico, Colombia, and several other countries.   WSPA is working with our member societies to tackle this issue from every angle - from speaking directly to people who attend bullfights to creating change in individual cities and regions, to gathering support countrywide and internationally.  We've already made great progress, and with your support we can achieve even more.  Don't just sit by and watch - tell the world that you're against bullfighting by supporting WSPA's campaign to ban it around the world.  Make your gift now to bring an end to this horrible bloodsport and other forms of cruelty to animals around the world.  Thank you for your generosity and compassion. Sincerely,  Dena Jones Program Manager WSPA USA © All photos credited to ADDA

All gifts to WSPA represent a contribution to WSPA's entire mission. Donations will be used where they are most needed to help animals. 

WSPA USA, Lincoln Plaza, 89 South Street, Suite 201, Boston, MA 02111, 1-800-883-9772