SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — A group of animal rights activists says Governor Pritzker and the Legislature are ignoring animal torture at local rodeos.
On Tuesday, Showing Animals Respect and Kindness (SHARK), decided to grab lawmakers’ attention with an eye-catching display that put that practice front and center.
Cruising around the Illinois Capitol Tuesday afternoon was a TV truck showing videos of bovine tailing — a rodeo event where riders on horseback grab a steer by its tail and drag it to the ground.
SHARK, the group behind the truck, said the event often leaves steers with severe injuries including broken bones. The group said they have brought the issue to lawmakers and even the governor, but little has been done.
They hope the graphic videos played on the truck will motivate lawmakers to take action during the veto session.
"It’s easy to ignore an email and not open that link to the video, so we’re going to be on the street showing it to everybody," said SHARK Campaign Director Jodie Wiederkehr. "And if the elected officials — if Governor Pritzker refuses to look at it, then the members of the public will see it, and we’ll tell them how the governor is not stopping it."
Earlier this session, the Illinois Senate did pass a resolution condemning the practice of steer tailing, but that resolution was only symbolic, and SHARK says further action is needed to protect the animals.
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October 29, 2025 at 04:52PM
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