To the guaranteed rage of local Peta members (who have already started a petition), and anyone who's been to a real Pamplona-style Running of the Bulls, organizers of the Cave Creek knock-off still have the green light for their event, currently slated for October 14, 15, and 16.
This week (in an attempt to really piss off the paint tossers) the crew at Running of the Bulls USA began to announce its lineup of contestants that'll chase participants down the town's main drag.
Name: Blood Money
Age: 4 years old
Weight: 1250lbs
Name: Border Patrol
Age: 6 years old
Weight: 1700lbs
Name: Dooms Day
Age: 7 years old
Weight: 1400lbs
Last week, Peta members sent a letter to the Cave Creek mayor that claimed the event -- described as "the thrill of a lifetime" and "better than drugs" by Running of the Bulls coordinators -- was a form of animal torture "carried out in the name of 'tradition' or 'religion.'"
Running of the Bulls USA countered: "While Running of the Bulls USA agrees with PETA that the bull runs in Pamplona, Spain, may be harmful and unfair to the running animals, the Americanized version brings a fun, safe festival for everyone to enjoy. The Rodeo bulls used for the event will be protected by law from any type of harassment or maltreatment and will even have their own 24-hour security to ensure their safety."
If the event takes place as scheduled, it'll be the fourth time a "traditional" bull run has been produced by Running of the Bulls America; they also hosted the event two times in Mesquite, Nevada, in 1998 and 1999, and once in Scottsdale in 2002. It'll also be the fourth time the organization has produced the event inspired by a 400-year-old bull running tradition in Pamplona, Spain.
