Celebrating our community and creating urban-rural connections are at the heart of the Calgary Stampede. Each year, more than one million guests from within our community and around the world seek out animal experiences as a key component of their Stampede visit. Our competition, exhibition and educational programs showcase horses as both athletes and working animals, as well as the tremendous impact that cattle and other livestock have on our daily lives. Based on ongoing research, our community values the engagement and interaction they have with animals at Stampede Park.
We are proud of our connection with animals and believe that treating them with respect is care is part of how we celebrate our Western heritage and values. This connection drives our ongoing commitment to the review and evolution required to sustain our programs and experiences in the long term, with priority on animal welfare.
In the spirit of continuous improvement, we look to the advice of experts and the latest in science to better understand animal behaviour, response and performance related to western events. Throughout the year we consult with professional veterinary advisors, world-class researchers and many other experts in livestock care, health and handling. As a result, our Fitness to Compete program is considered one of the most comprehensive animal care programs in North America and we are fortunate to be able to share our learnings with other fairs, rodeos and exhibitions.
The Calgary Stampede takes a disciplined approach to animal care, focused on meeting three distinct standards:
The regulations set out in Alberta's Animal Protection Act. These regulations are monitored by the Calgary Humane Society and Alberta SPCA year-round;
The codes of best practices for each animal species as recommended by Canada's industry experts; and
The Stampede's own animal care code of practice. During the Calgary Stampede, a team of veterinarians is on site day and night to ensure the best possible care is available.
The Stampede's strict adherence to Alberta's Animal Protection Act also means the Calgary Humane Society and Alberta SPCA have all-access privileges to Stampede Park.
The Calgary Stampede has a long history of showcasing animals in the safest manner possible while providing our guests with exciting and educational experiences. In doing so, we place the highest priority on the care and safety of the animals that participate at the Stampede. Even with best practices in place, some level of risk is inherent, and we acknowledge that incidents may occur. In response, we are constantly evolving our programs to minimize known risks, continually engaging industry-leading researchers to identify areas of potential improvement, and maintaining preparedness in the event of an incident, including the assembly of a world-class team of on-site veterinarians.
Animal Incident Disclosure
Each July, community members, industry participants and contractors bring thousands of animals to participate in the Calgary Stampede’s Western events, agriculture exhibitions and competitions.
As the host of these events and exhibitions, the Calgary Stampede provides industry-leading facilities, protocols, and health care services, including onsite world-class veterinary support, for all the animals that participate. While the Stampede sets and enforces the highest standards related to animal care, owners are ultimately responsible for decisions regarding the care and well-being of their animals.
Our partnership with the owners in the implementation of animal safety and welfare protocols includes our approach to reporting incidents. In respecting our relationship with owners, we are not in a position to share details on all animal incidents. We will, however, generally provide a statement in the event of a major incident.
The Calgary Stampede is a global leader in the livestock exhibition and Western sports industries. We partner with many independent third-party experts to continuously enhance and evolve our animal welfare programs and minimize risk.