High School Rodeo Loses National Sponsor
Rules Violations, Animal Abuse Results in Early Termination of Contract

Choice Hotels, one of the largest and most successful lodging franchisers in the world, has terminated its sponsorship, scheduled to run until 2009, of the National High School Rodeo Association (NHSRA). The early termination follows a review of video documentation supplied by SHowing Animals Respect and Kindness (SHARK). Choice Hotels includes well-known brands such as Clarion, Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality Inn, Sleep Inn, Econolodge, Rodeway, Cambria Suites, Mainstay Suites, and Suburban Extended Stay Hotel.

The following is a statement from SHARK president, Steve Hindi:

"We supplied Choice with video documentation of what happened at the 2006 National High School Finals Rodeo in Springfield, Illinois. The company did not rush to judgement, but instead conducted a very thorough investigation. SHARK congratulates Choice Hotels for its sense of corporate ethics, and for doing the right thing. Violations of Illinois State Law, violations of even the rodeo association's own rules, and animal abuse have cost the National High School Rodeo Association its most prestigious sponsor.

We hope that other sponsors, especially local sponsors such as the Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau and the State Journal-Register newspaper, will follow the lead of Choice Hotels, and will carefully weigh the impact that sponsoring animal cruelty will have on their image both now and in the future."

The Sangamon County State's Attorney's Office is investigating pressing animal cruelty charges against the rodeo.