It is Big Week in Salinas and as Steinbeck Equine prepares to care - TopicsExpress

It is Big Week in Salinas and as Steinbeck Equine prepares to care for the animal athletes at the California Rodeo Salinas, we thought it was a good time to re-share our feelings about why we donate so much to the Rodeo every year. The following letter from Dr. Tim Eastman says it all: To our Clients and Friends, Because I have recently been under attack for my involvement in the California Rodeo, I thought I would take a moment to explain how I came to be involved and why I continue to do lead the Veterinary Committee at the rodeo each year. While no members of my family ever competed in rodeo, I grew up in a household very much involved with the California Rodeo as a community service activity. From a young age I was taught that your community is only as good as the people who are in it. Volunteering for the rodeo was just one of the many ways I was taught to give back to my community. The California Rodeo has an extremely small paid staff. 52 volunteer directors and 1000 volunteer committee members run every department of the Rodeo. Each year $300,000- $400,000 are raised by the rodeo and donated to local charities. Additionally, the California Rodeo is estimated to bring 3-5 million dollars in revenue to the city of Salinas each year during Big Week. The Salinas Sports Complex was funded largely by money raised from the California Rodeo. In addition to hosting the California Rodeo, the sports complex hosts softball tournaments, football and soccer games and multiple other concerts and community events year-round raising the economic impact on the community to 18-20 million dollars annually. I became a veterinarian because I always loved animals, not because I wanted to be a rodeo vet. I want the best care for the animals that come to Salinas for the Rodeo each year. Our team is able to provide not only on-site care for the animals at the rodeo but a full service hospital capable of handling any emergency that arises. Because of our location and the caliber of veterinarians on our team, we are uniquely positioned to provide outstanding care for the animals participating in the Salinas Rodeo. As long as I have been involved in the Rodeo, the Vet Committee has worked hand in hand with the SPCA with the common goal of providing proper and professional care to the rodeo livestock. The Rodeo Board, though not required to do so, provides all-area access bands to the officers of the SPCA, who attend the performances every year. I am proud of the working relationship I have with the SPCA to insure the proper care of the livestock. As a result of my volunteering for the Rodeo, I have become a target of animal rights extremists that question my integrity and intentions and accuse me of providing misinformation and not providing adequate care. These activists wish to ban rodeo and many other uses of animals. California requires me by law to report any injuries requiring veterinary treatment within 48 hours of the Rodeo ending. Extremists have called into question by reporting. I have checked with state and national authorities and they agree with what I consider significant, treatable injuries. During the 2013 rodeo, three animals were severely injured. One steer was involved in an accident and died almost immediately. Two other bovines broke legs during competition. Both breaks have been set and are healing well. Our clinic donated the time and equipment to treat and care for these animals. It is unfortunate that extremists using social media and the internet to attack the very people working to protect and help the livestock make young veterinarians not want to work rodeos. If this trend continues, livestock at future rodeos may not receive top care. One of the reasons I enjoy working with the Salinas rodeo directors is that they are always looking for ways to improve the rodeo and make the rodeo safer for the competitors and livestock. The Salinas rodeo had a veterinarian present before it was the law to have a vet on-site or on-call. Because we are uniquely situated in the heart of the California agriculture industry, millions of dollars in equipment are on site to work the ground to provide solid footing for the animals each day. The rodeo owns a custom-built livestock ambulance trailer to transport any injured animals that need further treatment. Each year the rodeo committee is receptive to evaluating the safety of each event. The rodeo events have greatly evolved over the years to improve the safety of the animals. The California Rodeo Salinas has been a model for other Rodeos with our livestock welfare efforts. In summary, I am proud to be the veterinarian of one of the most prestigious rodeos in the world and I assure all of you that when the Rodeo comes to our town, I will do everything within my power and capabilities to treat any livestock injuries that may occur. Sincerely, Dr. Tim Eastman, DVM