Raise your hand if you want to run with the bulls!

WARNING: This activity and your participation in that activity can cause serious injury or even death, and you hereby agree to assume all risks related thereto.

One of my friends sent me a Care2 petition to sign against the running with the bulls in Cave Creek, Arizona.

While I think it would be a huge liability to the city of Cave Creek, I can’t seem to stop fantasizing about who I would want to run with the bulls, whose ass I want gored.

Could I dictate who had to participate in this fun run? I better not name names in public.

But in reality, what a stupid idea. Every time I think Arizona cannot get more offensive, it does.

According to the article, the town staff approved the permit last month, allowing the promoter to move forward with the project under the condition that he provide $5 million in insurance coverage.

“The bull run was on my list of wishes for the town. It would be nice to be a part of because it is so Cave Creek,” Mayor Vincent Francia said. By the way, Francia is also the general manager of Turf Paradise (horse racing) and a practicing Buddhist. That seems so incongruous to me.

The promoter thinks $5 million is too much and has not signed any contractual agreements. The event still may happen on private property in October.

According to Running with the Bulls USA website, the event is going to happen: “The 4th Running of the Bulls in America will take place. Over 1,000 thrill seekers will experience an adrenaline rush of a lifetime by running a quarter mile in front of forty 1,500 lbs. raging bulls.”

According to the website, the event is sponsored by Cox, Cricket Wireless, and some other businesses.

The event has been produced three times in America. Two times in Mesquite, Nevada (1998 & 1999) which produced 10,000 attendees and 700 runners. It also filled 3,000 hotel rooms. The third event was produced in Scottsdale, Arizona in 2002 which generated 10,000 attendees and 1,000 runners. Here’s a Youtube video from 2002.

Runners must sign a waiver – WARNING: This activity and your participation in that activity can cause serious injury or even death, and you hereby agree to assume all risks related thereto.

Runners must also sign a waiver as to their health:

I further certify that I am not aware of, or currently under any treatment for, any physical, emotional, or psychological infirmity or chronic illness, including, but not limited to:
1. Cardiac or pulmonary conditions or disease
2. High blood pressure
3. Fainting spells or convulsions, including epilepsy
4. Neurological disorders
5. Chronic back or neck problems
6. History of aneurysm
7. History of dislocation
8. Pregnancy
9. Back, knee, or other muscular, skeletal disorders
10. Alcoholism or drug dependency

There is no mention about bull welfare as to where the bulls come from and what happens if they become injured.

This all sounds like a bunch of bull crap to me.

To sign the petition, go here.

Pawsitively Fun!

March 31 – Barks, Books, & Benefits
Desert Foothills Library + Foothills Animal Rescue
Dogged Tucson-based author and dog rescuer Edie Jarolim will be traveling to our neighbors to the north (Phoenix area) for a very special yappy hour event of wine for the humans, doggy playtime, book reading, Q&A, and book signing. Jarolim’s book, Am I Boring My Dog + 99 Other Things Your Dog Wishes You Knew, gives the reader lots of useful information in a bite-size format, some of it poignant but most of it humorous and laugh aloud funny. If you can’t make it to Cave Creek, you can follow Edie’s blog and the great Yorkie bark-off contest. Her dog by the way is Frankie and he has his own video.

Location & time:
38443 N Schoolhouse Rd
Cave Creek, AZ
5 to 7 p.m.
480.488.2286

March 31 – HOPE Animal Shelter
Chik-fil-A has selected HOPE to participate in their “Spirit Night” Fundraiser! HOPE will receive a portion of the proceeds when presented with the flier. You must present the flier in order for HOPE to benefit.

Locations & times:
El Con Mall
3605 E. Broadway
4 to 9 p.m.

Oracle Rd at The Auto Mall
4585 N.Oracle Rd.
5 to 8 p.m.

At the Oracle location, proceeds from the fun game of Plinko with all go to HOPE.

Volunteering with Your Pet – Information Sessions
Saturday, April 2 – 10 to 11:15 a.m.
OR
Wednesday, April 20 – 6 to 7:15 p.m.
Learn how you and your pet (dog, cat, rabbit, or other domesticated species) might qualify to cheer up patients in hospitals, bring joy to seniors in assisted-living centers, help children learn to read, and much more. This is a great session to gain a better understanding of all that is involved with becoming part of the Loving Angel Paws volunteer group as a Delta Society Pet Partners therapy animal team. Meet and talk to current volunteers. Humans only invited to the informational sessions.
Place: Carondelet St. Joseph’s Hospital
Cost: FREE
Pre-registration is required as space is limited. RSVP to TherapyPetsAZ@gmail.com.

Don’t take dog treats from strangers
Neighborhood Watch – Caution for Dog Owners
This alert from the Prince Tucson neighborhood was received via the Richland Heights East mailing list and then I received it from a friend and I also saw it on Facebook:

“Our neighbor who is a dog lover and walker forwarded this note to me to alert dog owners in the Prince Tucson Neighborhood. In the dog parks as well as along the Rillito is a man that hands out treats to dogs. One dog that received it died, the other one was rushed to the Emergency (bloody stool) and saved. The man is described as well groomed, wearing something like a uniform, maybe the shirt of the Pima Space Museum.”

This is disturbing if it’s true. If yours is the dog who died or the dog that was rushed to the emergency vet, please contact me at tucson.tails@yahoo.com.