Plan for Running Bulls in Nevada Town Assailed
Decrying the planned event as animal cruelty and “an unprecedented act of bad judgment,” an animal rights group attacked plans to Americanize the running of the bulls by bringing the tradition to a small Nevada town.
The Humane Society of the United States attacked the Mesquite City Council on Wednesday for voting 3-2 to emulate an event that has been held for more than 400 years in Pamplona, Spain.
Phoenix-based Running of the Bulls America Inc. hopes to coax 1,000 people to pay $50 each to run one-fourth mile through the town July 11, chased by a dozen range bulls.
“We’re rather shocked that the City Council would exhibit such poor judgment in sanctioning events that threaten human safety and animal cruelty,” said Wayne Pacelle, Humane Society senior vice president.
Promoter Phil Immordino has promised that the bulls will not be agitated the way they are in the annual run in Pamplona, where at least 13 people have been killed.
Immordino tried to sell the bull run idea to Long Beach and Phoenix before turning to Mesquite, a town of 10,000 near the Arizona border.
Long Beach backed out after animal rights groups protested, he said. In Phoenix, the issue was safety.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
