Santa Cruz Good Times

The Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Board of Directors has pulled the plug on plans for a rodeo in October, reversing the approval they originally gave to the rodeo’s organizers, Deputy Sheriff’s Association nonprofit Stars of Justice, at their June meeting. Stars of Justice had been planning the rodeo, which would be the first in the county in many years, as a fundraiser for local children. Although the Board’s decision was not based on the many pleas from animal rights activists, the protestors are still pleased with the outcome. “We are really supportive of the Stars of Justice wanting to raise money to help children,” says JP Novic, founder of the Center for Animal Protection and Education. “But we felt like the rodeo is the wrong venue because it’s inherently cruel. I hope that the Stars of Justice will look at other options for their fundraising event. There are so many wonderful, wholesome, non-cruel things they could do to raise money that don’t involve hurting animals.”