CFD loses $1.3 million in two years

Do you think it's a coincidence that SHARK has also exposed CFD for animal cruelty the past three years?

CHEYENNE -- A review of Cheyenne Frontier Days' tax returns shows its financial situation in recent years has been much like one of its rodeo events -- a bumpy ride.

SHARK Files Animal Neglect Complaint Against Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo

On August 10, 2009, SHARK contacted the Cheyenne Police Department and requested that an investigation for animal neglect be initiated against the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo (CFD). The complaint stems from the large number of animals that were injured at the rodeo but apparently denied veterinary treatment.

A press release issued by CFD following the rodeo stated: "Veterinarians treated a total of seven animals."

Unfortunately many, many more than seven animals should have received medical treatment and SHARK has the videotape to prove it. A portion of the injuries and deaths can be seen in the two videos below:

CFD spokesperson Bob Budd has admitted that a detailed list of animal injuries is kept by CFD officials, but as for releasing the report Mr. Budd stated: "It doesn’t really serve any purpose (to the public)." Mr. Budd later added that the detailed injury report “isn’t going to be made public.”

Of course, a real sport and a legitimate organization would insist that such information be made public. Transparency earns legitimacy. There is only one reason the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo will NOT release its animal injury reports. It’s the same reason no rodeo association releases such information -- because if the public knew the true number of animals sacrificed at rodeos, the industry would lose a tremendous number of attendees and corporate sponsors.

Corporate sponsors such as Dodge (which is now supported by US taxpayers), Southwest Airlines (cited by the FAA for serious violations of safety rules), Marriott Hotels and Coca-Cola (which won’t admit to sponsoring rodeos in spite of being proclaimed the “Official Soft Drink of the Cheyenne Frontier Days),” count on deniability of animal injuries and deaths, and the rodeo industry is only too happy to oblige.

The Cheyenne Rodeo has been awarded “Large Outdoor Rodeo of the Year” honors for ten years by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. In fact, it appears that the more controversial the Cheyenne rodeo has become, the more the rodeo industry works to cover it up by throwing more awards their way.

Now we’ll wait for the Cheyenne Police Department to conduct an investigation and we’ll update this webpage as more information becomes available.

Click below to see SHARK's video of the brutal death of a horse named Strawberry Fudge at the 2009 Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo:

Rodeo Fears SHARK's Investigative Documentation

LATEST NEWS - Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo organizers have yet another new camera policy:

Can I bring my camera to the rodeo or Frontier Nights events?

You may use photographs, videotape or digital images obtained from Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo solely for private or personal, non-commercial purposes only. Any other use, including for any commercial, issue advocacy or fundraising purposes, is strictly prohibited without our express prior written consent. Systematic retrieval of images from the rodeo, whether to create or compile, directly or indirectly, a collection or compilation is prohibited absent our express prior written consent.

You can read the entire discriminatory policy here.

The new policy demonstrates just how deathly afraid the rodeo mafia is of SHARK's video documentation. The truth hurts animal abusers, and never has that been clearer than in the case of the Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo.