The Buck Stops Here is a live campaign to pass an ordinance prohibiting rodeo tools and techniques in the Town of Yucca Valley, California

What we want

We're asking the Yucca Valley Town Council to pass an ordinance prohibiting the tools and techniques used in rodeo events — flank straps, spurs, ropes, prods, and forced takedowns. It applies one standard of animal treatment consistently and lets the events that depend on those tools stand or fall on that standard. Bareback and saddle bronc riding, bull riding, roping events, steer wrestling, and mutton busting can't be conducted under it as currently practiced.

Read the full draft ordinance and explainer.

Where things stand (updated October 1)

During the September 15 Town Council meeting, the Council decided not to put the proposed ordinance on a future agenda. The Council also will not examine animal protections within existing municipal code in order to assess the applicability to animals used in rodeo events. To our repeated requests, the mayor said, “At this time, I really don't have any interest in adding any future agenda items or making any modifications or in introducing any new ordinances.”

What's next

The Town Manager has agreed to forward our letter to the Town Attorney. The attorney has no obligation, but we requested he review the code himself and make an assessment about the tools and techniques used in rodeo events. You can read that code and an explainer here. We're also seeking pro bono guidance.

You can continue to contact the Town Council with your concerns about the welfare of animals used in rodeos: Mayor Abel, Mayor Pro Tem Schooler, Councilmember Denison, Councilmember Drozd, Councilmember Lombardo, Town Manager Curtis Yakimow.